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[Endothelin and essential hypertension]
Małgorzata Kobusiak-Prokopowicz1
1Katedra i Klinika Kardiologii AM, Wrocławiu.
Insights
Endothelins, particularly endothelin-1, play a key role in maintaining vascular tone and are implicated in essential hypertension. Endothelin receptor blockers may offer therapeutic benefits for cardiovascular diseases.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Biology
- Endocrinology
Context:
- The vascular endothelium is crucial for arterial function, possessing metabolic and secretory capabilities.
- Endothelins are a family of peptides (E-1, E-2, E-3) with Endothelin-1 being the primary isoform.
- Endothelin-1 is synthesized in endothelial cells, arterial walls, heart, kidneys, and the central nervous system.
Purpose:
- To highlight the significant role of endothelins in regulating basal vascular tone.
- To examine the involvement of endothelins in the pathophysiology of essential hypertension.
- To explore the potential of endothelin receptor blockers in managing cardiovascular conditions.
Summary:
- Endothelins are potent vasoconstrictors, contributing significantly to basal vascular tone, comparable to sympathetic nervous system and nitric oxide.
- The article details the involvement of endothelins in the development and progression of essential hypertension.
- Non-selective endothelin receptor blockers are discussed for their ability to relax resistance arteries and induce hypotensive effects.
Impact:
- Understanding endothelin's role provides insights into vascular homeostasis and disease mechanisms.
- This research suggests potential therapeutic targets for hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases.
- Development of endothelin receptor blockers could lead to novel treatments for cardiological conditions.
Abstract:
Vascular endothelium is of importance in an arterial function having its own metabolic and secretory activity. Endothelins are a group of peptides with 3 isoforms: E-1, E-2 and E-3. Endothelin-1 is the main one, synthetized in endothelial cells, muscular coat of arterial wall as well as in heart, kidneys and central nervous system. The article presents the important role of endothelin in supporting the basal vascular tone, what could be compared only to influence of sympathetic nervous system and nitric oxide. The paper pays attention to participation of endothelins in the pathophysiology of essential hypertension. It calls also our attention to possibility of production of non-selective endothelin-receptors blockers, which mediate relaxation of resistance arteries and have hypotensive effect, what could be useful in many cardiological diseases.