title: 17 beta-Oestradiol inhibits stimulated endothelin release in human vascular endothelial cells.
abstract: Oestrogen is believed to possess cardiovascular protective properties. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent vasoconstrictor and mitogen for vascular smooth muscle cells. We have investigated release of ET-1 from human endothelial cells in response to 17 beta-oestradiol. Serum was found to stimulate significantly ET-1 release during the first 4 h of culture. 17 beta-Oestradiol significantly reduced ET-1 immunoreactivity in the media of treated cells by up to 49% of control values after 4 h. This effect was found to be inversely related to the dose of 17 beta-oestradiol. Significant dose-dependent increases in nitric oxide synthase expression were observed in response to oestrogen after 24 h but not after 4 h. Serum-free experiments demonstrated that low doses of oestrogen were able to inhibit thrombin-induced ET-1 release whilst supraphysiological levels did not. These results provide a further perspective on the ability of oestrogens to maintain vascular health.
authors.affiliation: Wynn Department of Metabolic Medicine, Imperial College School of Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, London, UK.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Wingrove
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Stevenson
mesh_terms: D001790:Blood Physiological Phenomena; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016232:Endothelins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004790:Enzyme Induction; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D013917:Thrombin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D016232:Endothelins; D004958:Estradiol; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D013917:Thrombin