title: Perturbations in paracrine control of the circulation: role of the endothelial-derived vasomediators, endothelin-1 and nitric oxide.
abstract: Central to the control of vascular resistance in the systemic and pulmonary circulation and at the solid organ level is the function of the endothelial-derived vasomediators, endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide. Regulation of steady-state levels of ET-1 and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mRNAs represents an early and influential step in their biosynthesis and is highly responsive to exogenous stimuli. ET-1 is expressed from a rapidly inducible promoter to generate a highly labile mRNA. Conversely, the eNOS promoter generates a constitutive level of a very stable mRNA and utilizes posttranscriptional mechanisms to modulate mRNA expression. The response of these genes in models of cellular activation commonly reflects a reciprocal pattern of regulation, namely, transcriptional induction of ET-1 and destabilization of the eNOS mRNA. Elucidating the mechanisms influencing ET-1 and eNOS mRNA is providing novel insight into endothelial gene regulation and providing opportunities for future therapeutic strategies.
authors.affiliation: Renal Division and Department of Medicine, St. Michael's Hospital and University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Imtiaz A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Mawji
authors.forename: Philip A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Marsden
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019899:Paracrine Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019332:Endothelin-1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase