Brain microvessel endothelin type A receptors are coupled to ceramide production.
Treatment of brain microvessels with endothelin-1 evoked an early decrease in the sphingomyelin levels concomitantly with an increase in those of ceramides. These responses were time- and concentration-dependent. Evidence also shows that endothelin type A receptors are involved. This is the first report on the involvement of an agonist in the regulation of the ceramide signal transduction system on blood-brain barrier and shows a new pathway likely involved in the regulation of the cerebral microvascular functioning.
Collado
M Pilar
MP
Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular I, Facultad de Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, E-28040, Madrid, Spain.
Latorre
Eduardo
E
Fernández
Inmaculada
I
Aragonés
M Dolores
MD
Catalán
R Edgardo
RE
D000818:Animals; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002417:Cattle; D002518:Ceramides / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000098:blood supply*; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A; D017466:Receptors, Endothelin / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013109:Sphingomyelins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology
D002518:Ceramides; D019332:Endothelin-1; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A; D017466:Receptors, Endothelin; D013109:Sphingomyelins