title: [Endothelins in cardiovascular diseases].
abstract: Endothelins are peptides with powerful vasoconstrictor and mitogenic properties. It has become evident that endothelins are involved in many regulatory mechanisms of the circulation in which they have a modulating role both in short and in long term. However, in many cases it remains unclear whether the alteration of the endothelin metabolism is a primary pathology or a secondary phenomenon. The synthesis of endothelin receptor antagonists and animal models with altered endothelin metabolism have opened a new era of endothelin research that will allow insight into the mechanisms of endothelin-action and eventually might lead to new therapeutic concepts. This review discusses the evidence both in favor and against pathogenic effects of endothelins in cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Universitäts-Krankenhaus Eppendorf, Abteilung Kardiologie, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Hamburg.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kähler
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Köster
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Hamm
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Meinertz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016232:Endothelins / Q000502:physiology*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D017466:Receptors, Endothelin / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D016232:Endothelins; D017466:Receptors, Endothelin