title: Production of endothelin by cultured porcine endothelial cells: modulation by adrenaline.
abstract: Cultured porcine endothelial cells derived from aortas spontaneously released immunoreactive endothelin into the medium in a time-dependent manner. This release was completely inhibited by cycloheximide and is, therefore, directly related to de novo protein synthesis. The endothlin-induced release was further stimulated by adrenaline. Adrenaline-induced stimulation was completely inhibited by the alpha-adrenergic blocker phentolamine and was not inhibited by the beta-adrenergic blocker propranolol. Cycloheximide completely prevented the adrenaline-stimulated as well as the basal release. These results suggest that cultured endothelial cells release endothelin slowly but continuously and that this release can be stimulated by adrenaline via alpha-adrenergic receptors. We speculate that the endothelium generates vasoconstrictor signals through endothelin production, thus contributing to the regulation of vascular tone.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka City University Medical School, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kohno
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murakawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yokokawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yasunari
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Horio
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kurihara
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takeda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016232:Endothelins; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010452:Peptide Biosynthesis; D010455:Peptides / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D016232:Endothelins; D010455:Peptides; D004837:Epinephrine