Endothelins and asthma.
In the decade since endothelin-1 (ET-1) and related endogenous peptides were first identified as vascular endothelium-derived spasmogens, with potential pathophysiological roles in vascular diseases, there has been a significant accumulation of evidence pointing to mediator roles in obstructive respiratory diseases such as asthma. Critical pieces of evidence for this concept include the fact that ET-1 is an extremely potent spasmogen in human and animal airway smooth muscle and that it is synthesised in and released from the bronchial epithelium. Importantly, symptomatic asthma involves a marked enhancement of these processes, whereas asthmatics treated with anti-inflammatory glucocorticoids exhibit reductions in these previously elevated indices. Despite this profile, a causal link between ET-1 and asthma has not been definitively established. This review attempts to bring together some of the evidence suggesting the potential mediator roles for ET-1 in this disease.
Department of Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Nedlands, Australia. rgoldie@receptor.pharm.uwa.edu.au
R G
RG
Goldie
P J
PJ
Henry
D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016232:Endothelins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D017466:Receptors, Endothelin / Q000378:metabolism
D016232:Endothelins; D017466:Receptors, Endothelin