Moreover, after the occurrence of atherosclerosis, we found the carotid IMT is negatively correlated with endothelial-dependent FMD, as well as levels of VEGF and ET-1, whereas shows positive correlation with the vasodilative factor NO.
The objectives of this study were: a) to determine the relative contribution of cyclooxygenases (Cox-1 and Cox-2), thromboxane A2 (TXA2) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) to enhancing vascular hyperresponsiveness in this model of atherosclerosis and b) to investigate the beneficial effects of the phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor sildenafil on this endothelial dysfunction.
Regulator of G-protein signaling 2 (RGS2) is a key molecule in signal pathways of vasoactive peptides, such as angiotensin II and endothelin 1, and is believed to have an important role in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis.
Our aim was to analyse the role of the ET-1 gene (EDN1) in the risk for atherosclerosis/myocardial infarction (MI) in a population with smoking as the prevalent risk factor.
Although ET-1 is thought to play an important role in the development of atherosclerosis, it remains unclear whether polymorphisms of ET-1 family genes, including the ET-1 gene (EDN1), EDNRA, EDNRB and the genes for endothelin converting enzymes 1 and 2 (ECE1 and ECE2), are associated with the progression of atherosclerosis.
Many of the up-regulated genes-including the hyaluron receptor CD44, vasoconstrictor endothelin-1, smooth muscle growth factor heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor, and fatty acid binding protein-4-had been previously described as linked to the development of atherosclerosis and other chronic inflammatory diseases.
Alterations in nitric monoxide and endothelin-1 balance of the endothelium are the key events in the initiation of arteriosclerosis induced by oxidized lipoproteins, cigarette smoking and endotoxin.
Collectively, these findings are consistent with the contention that endothelial damage occurs in most patients with atherosclerosis and/or hypertension and that ET-1 is synthesized in VSMCs of these patients.
Because of the potential role of ET-1 in vascular disorders such as hypertension and atherosclerosis, we investigated the regulation of ET-1 expression by PPAR activators.
These results support the hypothesis that expression of ET-1, at sites containing atheromatous disease, may be involved in the development of atherosclerosis.
These findings demonstrate that ET-1 is produced by human MPs, the principal inflammatory cell type in atherosclerosis, suggesting a role for ET-1 in the chronic inflammation associated with complicated atherosclerosis.