Plasma levels of endothelin-1 increase in patients with sarcoidosis and fall after disease remission.
BACKGROUND
Sarcoidosis is a chronic systemic disease, characterized by an imbalance of immunity processes and the presence of granuloma. Endothelin-1, a new vasoactive and bronchoconstrictive peptide, is a powerful mitogen for smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts and plays a role in the inflammation state. We postulate that endothelin-1 has a role in sarcoidosis.


METHODS
We studied the behaviour of circulating levels of endothelin-1 in 20 patients with sarcoidosis and its correlation with some biochemical parameters of activity disease, such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (SACE). We measured serum levels of ESR, SACE, calcium and plasma endothelin-1 levels in all patients at the beginning of the study and one again in 9 patients with clinical-biochemical remission of disease after steroid treatment.


RESULTS
In patients with sarcoidosis, circulating levels of endothelin-1, SACE and ESR were significantly higher (p<0.001) than those of healthy subjects. Moreover, in patients with pulmonary involvement, there was a significant statistical difference (p<0.001) between endothelin-1 levels and radiological stage compared to normal subjects. In the 9 patients with remission of disease, both endothelin-1 levels and parameters of activity disease normalized.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results seem to suggest that the increase of plasma endothelin-1 levels in active sarcoidosis can represent an expression of the endothelial dysfunction and reflect the picture of cellular activation.
Letizia
C
C
Department of Clinical Science, Chair of Internal Medicine, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy. claudio.letizia@uniromal.it
Danese
A
A
Reale
M G
MG
Caliumi
C
C
Delfini
E
E
Subioli
S
S
Cerci
S
S
D'Erasmo
E
E
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000097:blood; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D019332:Endothelin-1; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; D002118:Calcium