Endothelin-1 stimulates its own synthesis in human endothelial cells

We studied whether endothelin-1 (ET-1) would affect its own synthesis. Human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells in methionine-poor culture medium containing [35S] methionine were treated with synthetic ET-1 or ET-3. Immunoprecipitation of 35 S-labeled ET-1 was performed with rabbit ET-1 antiserum. ET-1 caused an 40 +/- 4% (mean +/- SEM) increase of immunoprecipitable 35 S-labeled ET-1 as confirmed by its elution point in reversed phase high power liquid chromatography (HPLC). ET-3 caused a 23 +/- 2% increase in ET-1 concentration. Amplification of cDNA by PCR showed both ET-1 and ETB receptor mRNAs in human cord vein endothelial cells. We conclude that ET-1 increases its own synthesis in endothelial cells. This suggests a positive autocrine feed-back action of ET-1 on its own synthesis, an effect which is probably mediated by non-specific ETB receptors.