Diet-induced hypercholesterolemia increases endothelin-1 release by aortic endothelial cells.
Our previous studies demonstrated the morphological heterogeneity of endothelial cells (ECs) and the emergence of large multinucleated ECs in human and animal atherosclerotic lesions. To investigate the functional alteration of ECs in diet-induced atherosclerosis, immunoreactive endothelin-1 (irET-1) release by ECs of the rabbit aorta was correlated with scanning electron microscopy. Rabbits were fed a cholesterol diet for 12 weeks: by scanning electron microscopy, the area of ECs in the aorta increased in the hypercholesterolemic (HC) group as atherosclerosis progressed. Cultured ECs of the HC group released significantly more irET-1 than ECs of the control. The plasma irET-1 level was also elevated in the HC group. The results obtained suggest that accelerated secretion of ET-1 by ECs contributes to the development of atherosclerotic vascular lesions.
Uyama
H
H
Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Japan.
Haraoka
S
S
Shimokama
T
T
Goto
K
K
Dohi
K
K
Watanabe
T
T
D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004036:Diet, Atherogenic; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011817:Rabbits
D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D019332:Endothelin-1; D002784:Cholesterol