Role of endothelin-1 in hypertension.
Endothelin-1 (ET-1) was first characterized as a potent vasoconstrictor and is overexpressed in the vasculature in different models of hypertension, such as deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt rats, Dahl salt-sensitive rats, and stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats. Moreover, patients with moderate to severe hypertension present increased vascular levels of prepro-ET-1 mRNA. In addition to their blood pressure-lowering effects, ET receptor antagonists are able to reduce vascular growth. Recent data suggest the involvement of an inflammatory response in the effects of ET-1, which contributes to vascular remodeling and endothelial dysfunction. Increasing evidence underscores the potential therapeutic benefit of ET receptor antagonists in different hypertension-related complications, not only in essential hypertension, but also in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Iglarz
Marc
M
Clinical Research Institute of Montreal, 110 Pine Avenue West, Quebec H2W 1R7, Canada.
Schiffrin
Ernesto L
EL
D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D065128:Endothelin Receptor Antagonists; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology; D014666:Vasomotor System / Q000502:physiology
D065128:Endothelin Receptor Antagonists; D019332:Endothelin-1