title: Endothelin converting-enzyme-1 mRNA expression in human cardiovascular disease.
abstract: Endothelin-1 converting-enzyme (ECE-1) cleaves the precursor, big-endothelin-1, to the active peptide endothelin-1. The aim of this study was to investigate whether ECE-1 mRNA expression is modified in human cardiovascular disease. Tissue samples from the left human atrium were analyzed for ECE-1 expression and related to different clinical parameters. A quantitative PCR assay (qPCR) with competitive and non-competitive standards was established. The ECE-1 measurements were normalized by a GAPDH qPCR. Patients who suffered from a myocardial infarction had elevated ECE-1 levels when compared to controls (5.81+/-0.76 vs. 3.20+/-0.51 fg ECE-1, ng GAPDH, p<0.05). Drug treatment with the beta-blocker metoprolol was associated with a decreased ECE-1 expression level (3.90+/-0.58 vs. 5.81+/-0.76 fg ECE-1, ng GAPDH, p<0.1). We conclude that the expression of ECE-1 is altered in the atrial tissue depending on the physiological status of the heart. This suggests a differential role of ECE-1 in cardiovascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Benjamin Franklin University Hospital, Free University of Berlin, Germany.
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: Böhm
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paul
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072396:Endothelin-Converting Enzymes; D005260:Female; D005987:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism; D006325:Heart Atria; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D008790:Metoprolol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D005987:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; C000606923:ECE1 protein, human; D000072396:Endothelin-Converting Enzymes; D008790:Metoprolol; D009543:Nifedipine