[The role of endothelins in human cardiovascular disease]

Endothelin-1 was first identified by Yanagisawa in 1988 and shown to be a potent and sustained vasoconstrictor and pressure peptide. Endothelial cells line all blood vessels and are capable of generating endothelin-1; receptors for the endothelins are widely expressed, particularly in tissues involved in cardiovascular regulation, including the heart, blood vessels, kidney and brain. Endothelin-1 has potent vasoconstrictor properties and the coronary, renal and cerebral blood vessels appear particularly sensitive. Moreover, endothelin-1 has activity as co-mitogen, interacts with the sympathetic nervous and renin-angiotensin system. These properties indicate a likelihood that the endothelin system is of functional importance in human cardiovascular physiology and may play a role in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease. It is possible that endothelin antagonists might be effective in the treatment of diseases associated with intermittent or sustained vasoconstriction.