title: Modulation of the beta-adrenergic receptor system of vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro and in vivo by chronically elevated endothelin-1 levels.
abstract: Endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels are chronically elevated in several cardiovascular diseases and correlate with an increased mortality. However, in contrast to acute biological activities such as vasoconstriction, little is known about long-term effects of ET-1. In this study we determined the effects of ET-1 on the beta(2)-adrenergic receptor (AR) system. Incubation of smooth muscle cells with ET-1 for 72 hr led to increased beta(2)AR density as determined by radioligand binding. Experiments with inhibitors of protein and RNA synthesis as well as RT-PCR revealed that beta(2)AR upregulation required de novo synthesis. In addition, protein kinase C but neither NO nor prostaglandin metabolism were involved in this effect. The enhanced expression of beta(2)AR was associated with an increased expression of its stimulatory G-protein and the receptor's ability to stimulate adenylyl cyclase. To study chronic effects of ET-1 in vivo, rats were infused with ET-1 for 3 weeks. Similarly as in cultured cells, prolonged ET-1 exposure led to increased betaAR expression in vivo. As a consequence, beta(2)AR-induced vasodilatation was increased in aortic rings from ET-1-treated animals. Our results therefore suggest that chronically elevated ET-1 levels in vitro and in vivo induce counterregulatory mechanisms by increasing betaARs that attenuate the vasoconstrictive effects of ET-1.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University of Tübingen, Otfried-Mullerstrasse 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. 101566.341@compuserve.com
authors.forename: Bernhard R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Brehm
authors.forename: Sabine C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Freudenberg
authors.forename: Folkert
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Friedmann
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heinle
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schulze-Osthoff
mesh_terms: D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases / Q000378:metabolism; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D020962:Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D019332:Endothelin-1; D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D020962:Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases; D007545:Isoproterenol