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Endocardial expression and functional characterization of endothelin-1
O Saetrum Opgaard1, M Adner, T H Peters
1Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry
|November 6, 2001
Summary
Endocardial endothelial cells produce and release active Endothelin-1 (ET-1), a peptide hormone. This ET-1 influences myocardial contractility and may act on other organs.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Endocrinology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a peptide with significant vasoconstrictive and cardiac effects.
- The expression and function of ET-1 in endocardial endothelial cells are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and functional activity of ET-1 in human endocardial endothelial cells.
- To determine the role of ET-1 in regulating myocardial contractility.
Main Methods:
- Immunofluorescence localization to detect ET-1 protein.
- RT-PCR to analyze ET-1 and its receptor mRNA expression.
- Organ bath studies using rat aortic segments to assess biological activity.
Main Results:
- ET-1 was detected in the cytoplasm of human endocardial endothelial cells.
- ET-1, ET(A), and ET(B) receptor mRNAs were expressed in myocardial and endocardial cells.
- Conditioned media from endothelial cells induced sustained contractions in aortic segments, blocked by an ET(A) receptor antagonist.
Conclusions:
- Human endocardial endothelial cells express and release biologically active ET-1.
- Endocardial ET-1 likely plays a role in regulating myocardial contractility.
- ET-1 released by endothelial cells may function as a circulatory peptide affecting peripheral organs.
