title: Endothelins and endothelin receptor antagonists: therapeutic considerations for a novel class of cardiovascular drugs.
abstract: The 21-amino acid peptide endothelin-1 (ET-1) is the predominant isoform of the endothelin peptide family, which includes ET-2, ET-3, and ET-4. It exerts various biological effects, including vasoconstriction and the stimulation of cell proliferation in tissues both within and outside of the cardiovascular system. ET-1 is synthesized by endothelin-converting enzymes (ECE), chymases, and non-ECE metalloproteases; it is regulated in an autocrine fashion in vascular and nonvascular cells. ET-1 acts through the activation of G(i)-protein-coupled receptors. ET(A) receptors mediate vasoconstriction and cell proliferation, whereas ET(B) receptors are important for the clearance of ET-1, endothelial cell survival, the release of nitric oxide and prostacyclin, and the inhibition of ECE-1. ET is activated in hypertension, atherosclerosis, restenosis, heart failure, idiopathic cardiomyopathy, and renal failure. Tissue concentrations more reliably reflect the activation of the ET system because increased vascular ET-1 levels occur in the absence of changes in plasma. Experimental studies using molecular and pharmacological inhibition of the ET system and the first clinical trials have demonstrated that ET-1 takes part in normal cardiovascular homeostasis. Thus, ET-1 plays a major role in the functional and structural changes observed in arterial and pulmonary hypertension, glomerulosclerosis, atherosclerosis, and heart failure, mainly through pressure-independent mechanisms. ET antagonists are promising new agents in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Zürich, University of Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Lüscher
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barton
mesh_terms: D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D065128:Endothelin Receptor Antagonists; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000072396:Endothelin-Converting Enzymes; D006801:Humans; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases
chemical_list: D065128:Endothelin Receptor Antagonists; D019332:Endothelin-1; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; C000606923:ECE1 protein, human; D000072396:Endothelin-Converting Enzymes