Diversity of endothelium-derived vasocontracting factors--arachidonic acid metabolites.
Vascular endothelium releases vasocontracting and/or vasorelaxing substances. Here, we report the diversity of endothelium-derived vasocontracting factors (EDCFs), arachidonic acid metabolites, and discuss the pathophysiological significance. In the canine basilar artery and the rabbit intrapulmonary artery, acetylcholine-induced contractions (ACh-induced EDC) are due to endothelial thromboxane A2 (TXA2) (TXA2-type). The ACh-induced EDC in the rabbit coronary artery is due to endothelial leukotrienes (LTs) (LTs-type). In addition, in the rat coronary artery, nicotine and noradrenaline (NAd)-induced EDCs are due to endothelial COX-metabolites (COX metabolite-type). These arachidonic acid metabolites derived from endothelium (activation by vasoactive substances including ACh, NAd and nicotine) cause a contraction of vascular smooth muscle cells and may disturb the local circulation. These EDCFs (TXA2, LTs and COX-metabolites) may be involved in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular immuno-inflammatory diseases.
Kurahashi
Kazuyoshi
K
Pharmacology Division, Radioisotope Research Center, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan. kkura@barium.rirc.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Nishihashi
Tsuyoshi
T
Trandafir
Cristina Corina
CC
Wang
Ai-Min
AM
Murakami
Shizuka
S
Ji
Xu
X
D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D001488:Basilar Artery / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004285:Dogs; D016232:Endothelins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D015289:Leukotrienes / Q000502:physiology; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D013928:Thromboxane A2 / Q000502:physiology
D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D016232:Endothelins; D015289:Leukotrienes; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D013928:Thromboxane A2