title: Endothelin-converting enzyme-1 mRNA expression in human cardiovascular disease.
abstract: Endothelin-converting enzyme-1 (ECE-1) plays a substantial role in activation of the endothelin (ET) system by cleaving the precursor, big ET-1, to the active peptide ET-1. The aim of this study was to investigate whether ECE-1 mRNA expression is modified in human cardiovascular disease. ECE-1 expression was related to echocardiographic data, drug treatment, age, sex, and NYHA heart failure classification. A quantitative PCR assay (qPCR) was established to measure ECE-1 mRNA in these samples. The ECE-1 measurements were normalized over a simultaneously performed GAPDH qPCR. The results indicate a higher ECE-1 expression level in atrial tissue samples of patients who have experienced a myocardial infarction compared with those who did not (ECE-1/GAPDH: 5.81 +/- 0.76 fg/ng; n = 21 vs. 3.20 +/- 0.51 fg/ng; n = 22; p = 0.007). The transverse diameter of the left atrium over 37 mm was associated with a lower ECE-1 expression (ECE-1/GAPDH: 3.11 +/- 0.69 fg/ng; n = 18 vs. 5.12 +/- 0.65 fg/ng; n = 25; p = 0.044). In assessing the drug treatment, decreased ECE-1 expression could be observed in patients who received a beta-blocker (ECE-1/GAPDH: 3.90 +/- 58 fg/ng; n = 31 vs. 5.81 +/- 0.76 fg/ng; n = 12; p = 0.077). These data suggest an involvement of the ET system is cardiovascular disease that may be clinically important.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Semmelweis Medical School, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bohnemeier
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Horkay
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tóth
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Juhász-Nagy
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Orzechowski
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paul
mesh_terms: D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000201:enzymology*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D000072396:Endothelin-Converting Enzymes; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000201:enzymology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; C000606923:ECE1 protein, human; D000072396:Endothelin-Converting Enzymes