title: Aminaftone, a derivative of 4-aminobenzoic acid, downregulates endothelin-1 production in ECV304 Cells: an in vitro Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Endothelin-1 (ET-1) plays a central role in the pathogenesis of several vascular diseases. Aminaftone is a drug used for the treatment of capillary disorders but which has a mechanism of action that is not fully understood. We investigated whether aminaftone may exert its effect by interfering with the production of ET-1.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human ECV304 endothelial cells were incubated with interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) 100 IU/mL with or without the addition of increasing concentrations of aminaftone (2, 4 or 6 microg/mL). ET-1 concentrations in surnatants were quantified by enzyme immunoassay kit at 3, 6 and 12 hours. Pre-pro-endothelin-1 (PPET-1) gene expressions were also analysed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) at the same time points. Endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE) activity was also determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Incubation with IL-1beta increased concentrations of ET-1 and PPET-1 relative gene expression. Incubation with aminaftone significantly reduced production of ET-1 in a concentration-dependent manner. A strong direct correlation was found between ET-1 concentrations and PPET-1 relative gene expression, but aminaftone did not influence ECE activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aminaftone inhibits ET-1 production in cell cultures by interfering with transcription of the PPET-1 gene. These findings may account for the clinical efficacy of aminaftone in the treatment of capillary disorders and may encourage conduct of further clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Referral Centre for Systemic Autoimmune Diseases, University of Milan and Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Mangiagalli e Regina Elena, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scorza
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santaniello
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salazar
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lenna
authors.forename: Gualtiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Turcatti
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Beretta
mesh_terms: D010129:4-Aminobenzoic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D002460:Cell Line; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000072396:Endothelin-Converting Enzymes; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006490:Hemostatics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000097:blood; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D062366:para-Aminobenzoates
chemical_list: D019332:Endothelin-1; D006490:Hemostatics; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D062366:para-Aminobenzoates; C016217:aminaftone; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D000072396:Endothelin-Converting Enzymes; D010129:4-Aminobenzoic Acid