1. Hypoxia augments conversion of big-endothelin-1 and endothelin ET(B) receptor-mediated actions in rat lungs
H Lal, Q Yu, K Ivor Williams, B Woodward Eur J Pharmacol. 2000 Aug 18;402(1-2):101-10. doi: 10.1016/s0014-2999(00)00499-4.
We have examined the effect of endothelin-1, sarafotoxin-6C, big-endothelin-1 and other agents on perfused lungs from chronically hypoxic rats. Increases in pulmonary perfusion pressure induced by big-endothelin-1, endothelin-1, phenylephrine and potassium chloride were enhanced in hypoxic lungs, while the constrictor action of sarafotoxin-6C was not increased. When basal pulmonary perfusion pressure was raised, low doses of endothelin-1 and sarafotoxin-6C produced decreases in pulmonary perfusion pressure which were significantly greater in chronically hypoxic lungs, whereas responses to sodium nitroprusside were unchanged. Endothelin ET(B) receptor-mediated bronchoconstrictor responses were also potentiated in hypoxic lungs, whereas responses to carbachol were not. In hypoxic lungs, conversion of big-endothelin-1 to endothelin-1 was significantly increased. These data provide evidence for a generalised increase in vasomotor activity in chronically hypoxic lungs, and a more selective increase in endothelin ET(B) receptor-mediated vasodilator and bronchoconstrictor responses. Hypoxia also augments the conversion of big-endothelin-1 to endothelin-1.
2. Effects of exogenous big endothelin-1 on postischemic cardiac dysfunction and norepinephrine overflow in rat hearts
Masashi Tawa, Taiki Fukumoto, Mamoru Ohkita, Naoto Yamashita, Ayman Geddawy, Takeshi Imamura, Kazuhide Ayajiki, Tomio Okamura, Yasuo Matsumura Hypertens Res. 2011 Feb;34(2):218-24. doi: 10.1038/hr.2010.213. Epub 2010 Nov 4.
Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is involved in norepinephrine (NE) overflow and cardiac dysfunction after myocardial ischemia/reperfusion via the activation of ET(A) receptors. As ET-1 is generated from big ET-1 via endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE), ischemia/reperfusion-induced cardiac injury may be exacerbated by exogenous big ET-1. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of exogenously applied big ET-1 on ischemia/reperfusion-induced NE overflow and cardiac dysfunction. According to the Langendorff technique, isolated rat hearts were subjected to 40-min global ischemia followed by 30-min reperfusion. Exogenous big ET-1 (0.1, 0.3 and 1 nM) was perfused, beginning 15 min before ischemia. Unexpectedly, higher doses (0.3 and 1 nM) of big ET-1 significantly improved indices of left ventricular function after ischemia/reperfusion, such as left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), the maximum value of the first derivative of left ventricular pressure (dP/dt(max)) and left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP). In addition, big ET-1 significantly suppressed excessive NE overflow in the coronary effluent from the postischemic heart. These effects of big ET-1 were markedly attenuated by treatment with SM-19712 (selective ECE inhibitor) or A-192621 (selective ET(B) receptor antagonist). On the other hand, those were not potentiated even though combined with ABT-627 (selective ET(A) receptor antagonist). From these findings, we suggest that exogenous big ET-1 has beneficial effects on ischemia/reperfusion-induced cardiac injury. It seems likely that big ET-1 is converted to ET-1, locally in the heart, and this ET-1 preferentially binds to ET(B) receptors to exert its related beneficial actions.
3. Endothelin-1 decreases the expression of Ephrin-A and B subtypes in cultured rat astrocytes through ETB receptors
Yutaka Koyama, Sayaka Tsuboi, Fuka Mizogui Neurosci Lett. 2021 Jan 10;741:135393. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2020.135393. Epub 2020 Dec 3.
Ephrin family proteins are cell surface molecules that regulate several cellular functions through cell-cell interactions. During nervous tissue repair after injury, the expression of ephrin subtypes in astrocytes is altered, affecting the axonal elongation and migration of neuronal precursors. However, the mechanism regulating the expression of ephrin subtypes in astrocytes has not been investigated. Herein, we studied the effects of endothelin-1 (ET-1) on the expression of ephrin subtypes in cultured rat astrocytes. Our results showed that ET-1 (100 nM) treatment for 1-24 h reduced the expression of ephrin-A2, -A4, -B2, and -B3 mRNA and protein in astrocytes, whereas the expression of ephrin-A1, -A3, -A5, and -B1 mRNA were not affected. Sarafotoxin S6c, a selective ETB receptor agonist, decreased the expression of ephrin-A2, -A4, -B2, and -B3 in cultured astrocytes. The decrease in ephrin-A2, -A4, -B2, and -B3 expression by ET-1 treatment was reduced in the presence of BQ788, an ETB receptor antagonist, while FR139317, an ETA receptor antagonist, had no effects. These results suggest that ET-1 is a signaling molecule that downregulates ephrin-A2, -A4, -B2, and -B3 expression in astrocytes.
