title: The interaction of endothelin-1 and TGF-β1 mediates vascular cell remodeling.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pulmonary arterial hypertension is characterized by increased thickness of pulmonary vessel walls due to both increased proliferation of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cell (PASMC) and deposition of extracellular matrix. In patients suffering from pulmonary arterial hypertension, endothelin-1 (ET-1) synthesis is up-regulated and may increase PASMC activity and vessel wall remodeling through transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) and connective tissue growth factor.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the signaling pathway leading to ET-1 induced proliferation and extracellular matrix deposition by human PASMC.
  
  
  METHODS
  PASMC were serum starved for 24 hours before stimulation with either ET-1 and/or TGF-β1. ET-1 was inhibited by Bosentan, ERK1/2 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) was inhibited by U0126 and p38 MAPK was inhibited by SB203580.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ET-1 increased PASMC proliferation when combined with serum. This effect involved the mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) ERK1/2 MAPK and was abrogated by Bosentan which caused a G1- arrest through activation of p27((Kip)). Regarding the contribution of extracellular matrix deposition in vessel wall remodeling, TGF-β1 increased the deposition of collagen type-I and fibronectin, which was further increased when ET-1 was added mainly through ERK1/2 MAPK. In contrast, collagen type-IV was not affected by ET-1. Bosentan dose-dependently reduced the stimulatory effect of ET-1 on collagen type-I and fibronectin, but had no effect on TGF-β1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ET-1 alone does not induce PASMC proliferation and extracellular matrix deposition. However, ET-1 significantly up-regulates serum induced proliferation and TGF-β1 induced extracellular matrix deposition, specifically of collagen type-I and fibronectin. The synergistic effects of ET-1 on serum and TGF-β1 involve ERK1/2 MAPK and may thus present a novel mode of action in the pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lambers
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Campregher
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Binder
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Burian
authors.forename: Ventzislav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Petkov
authors.forename: Lutz-Henning
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Block
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000096:biosynthesis; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000819:agonists / Q000378:metabolism*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000819:agonists / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D024042:Collagen Type I; D019332:Endothelin-1; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005353:Fibronectins; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; C535150:MAPK1 protein, human; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3