PMID: 8587440Jan 1, 1995Paper

Endothelin-like immunoreactivity in atherosclerotic human coronary arteries

Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology
M TimmM R Dashwood

Abstract

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is an endothelium-derived peptide with powerful vasoconstrictor and mitogenic properties. A pathophysiologic role for ET-1 has been suggested, because increased plasma and tissue levels of this peptide have been described in a number of disease states, including atherosclerosis. Immunocytochemistry was carried out on sections of coronary arteries from patients undergoing cardiac transplantation to identify regions exhibiting ET-1-like immunoreactivity (ET-LI). ET-LI was associated with endothelial cells of the lumen and with microvascular endothelial cells of the adventitia, regions of neovascularization, and recanalization within atherosclerotic plaques. ET-LI was observed in the tunica media, and patches of immunostaining were also associated with smooth-muscle cells within the plaque. These results indicate that ET-1 not only is released from the vascular endothelium but, under certain conditions, is also generated by smooth muscle cells. An autocrine action of ET-1 is well established, and our results suggest that this peptide is involved in neovascularization and smooth-muscle cell proliferation associated with atherosclerosis.

Citations

May 24, 2000·European Journal of Pharmacology·J DrimalD Drimal
Apr 27, 2000·Atherosclerosis·M R DashwoodJ Y Jeremy
Dec 14, 2004·Clinical Biochemistry·Thierry RadeauJean Bergeron

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