endothelin-1 and Respiratory-Tract-Diseases

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a 21 amino acid peptide with diverse biological activity that has been implicated in numerous diseases. ET-1 is a potent mitogen regulator of smooth muscle tone, and inflammatory mediator that may play a key role in diseases of the airways, pulmonary circulation, and inflammatory lung diseases, both acute and chronic. This review will focus on the biology of ET-1 and its role in lung disease.

Topics: Amino Acid Sequence; Endothelin-1; Graft Rejection; Humans; Lung; Lung Diseases; Lung Neoplasms; Lung Transplantation; Molecular Sequence Data; Respiratory Distress Syndrome; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Vascular Diseases

Endothelin (ET)-1 is an endogenous endothelium-derived peptide, long recognized as a potent vascular smooth muscle spasmogen and mitogen. Strong links have been made between these and other actions of ET-1 and vascular diseases including pulmonary hypertension. Importantly, it is also now established that ET-1 is synthesized in the airway epithelium and that it has a range of effects in the respiratory tract which suggest a significant mediator role in asthma. These actions include airway smooth muscle contraction, bronchoconstriction and proliferation, potentiation of cholinergic neuronal function, mucus hypersecretion of pro-inflammatory activities including the promotion of airway microvascular leakage and oedema. The following is a brief review of the actions of endothelin-1 that suggest a link between endothelin-1 and obstructive airway diseases such as asthma.

Topics: Animals; Asthma; Endothelin-1; Humans; Inflammation Mediators; Lung; Neurotransmitter Agents; Respiratory Tract Diseases

Endothelin-I (ET-I) levels in BALF of symptomatic (n = 7) and asymptomatic (n = 10) asthmatic patients, sarcoidosis (n = 10), allergic alveolitis (n = 6) and healthy volunteers (n = 6) was evaluated. In all patients BALF level of endothelin-I was assessed by radioimmunoassay. We observed that patients with symptomatic asthma had more increased amounts of ET-I in BALF in comparison with asymptomatic asthmatics, patients with sarcoidosis, allergic alveolitis and control group.. 1. Presence of ET-I in BALF indicates that this peptide is involved in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma, sarcoidosis and allergic alveolitis. 2. Endothelin-I is involved in bronchial smooth muscle contraction.

Topics: Adult; Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic; Asthma; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; Endothelin-1; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary

The endothelin-1 (ET-1) plasma concentration was measured in dogs with spontaneous cardiac or respiratory diseases. Plasma samples were obtained from 76 healthy control dogs and 73 dogs, of which 58 were suffering from heart disease and 15 were suffering from respiratory disease. Dogs were evaluated using echocardiography, thoracic radiography, biochemical evaluation and a radioimmunoassay for ET-1. ET-1 plasma concentrations were significantly higher in dogs with spontaneous cardiac or respiratory diseases (mean [se] 5.3 [0.3] and 5.3 [0.6] pg/ml, respectively) than in healthy dogs (1.9 [0.1] pg/ml) (P<0.0001). ET-1 plasma concentrations increased with the class of heart failure (International Small Animal Cardiac Health Council classification) (P<0.0001) and with the severity of pulmonary disorders. ET-1 plasma concentrations were positively correlated with the extent of systolic pulmonary hypertension measured by Doppler echocardiography (P<0.05; r=0.75) and with the clinical outcome of dogs with respiratory disease. Evaluation of the ET-1 plasma concentration allowed differentiation between heart and respiratory disorders in dogs exhibiting clinical signs at exercise, but not in patients exhibiting clinical signs at rest.

Topics: Animals; Case-Control Studies; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Echocardiography; Endothelin-1; Female; Heart Failure; Male; Predictive Value of Tests; Radiography, Thoracic; Radioimmunoassay; Respiratory Tract Diseases; ROC Curve

Topics: Animals; Blood Pressure; Endothelin-1; Female; Lipopolysaccharides; Male; Pulmonary Artery; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Shock, Septic; Swine; Swine Diseases