endothelin-1 and Skin-Diseases

Endothelin (ET)-1 is known for the most potent vasoconstrictive peptide that is released mainly from endothelial cells. Several studies have reported ET-1 signaling is involved in the process of wound healing or fibrosis as well as vasodilation. However, little is known about the role of ET-1 in these processes. To clarify its mechanism, we compared skin fibrogenesis and wound repair between vascular endothelial cell-specific ET-1 knockout mice and their wild-type littermates. Bleomycin-injected fibrotic skin of the knockout mice showed significantly decreased skin thickness and collagen content compared to that of wild-type mice, indicating that bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis is attenuated in the knockout mice. The mRNA levels of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β were decreased in the bleomycin-treated skin of ET-1 knockout mice. On the other hand, skin wound healing was accelerated in ET-1 knockout mice, which was indicated by earlier granulation tissue reduction and re-epithelialization in these mice. The mRNA levels of TGF-β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) were reduced in the wound of ET-1 knockout mice. In endothelial ET-1 knockout mouse, the expression of TNF-α, CTGF and TGF-β was down-regulated. Bosentan, an antagonist of dual ET receptors, is known to attenuate skin fibrosis and accelerate wound healing in systemic sclerosis, and such contradictory effect may be mediated by above molecules. The endothelial cell-derived ET-1 is the potent therapeutic target in fibrosis or wound healing, and investigations of the overall regulatory mechanisms of these pathological conditions by ET-1 may lead to a new therapeutic approach.

Topics: Animals; Endothelin-1; Fibrosis; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Skin Diseases; Wound Healing

Chronic arsenic (As) exposure affects the endothelial system causing several diseases. Big endothelin-1 (Big ET-1), the biological precursor of endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a more accurate indicator of the degree of activation of the endothelial system. Effect of As exposure on the plasma Big ET-1 levels and its physiological implications have not yet been documented. We evaluated plasma Big ET-1 levels and their relation to hypertension and skin lesions in As exposed individuals in Bangladesh. A total of 304 study subjects from the As-endemic and non-endemic areas in Bangladesh were recruited for this study. As concentrations in water, hair and nails were measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS). The plasma Big ET-1 levels were measured using a one-step sandwich enzyme immunoassay kit. Significant increase in Big ET-1 levels were observed with the increasing concentrations of As in drinking water, hair and nails. Further, before and after adjusting with different covariates, plasma Big ET-1 levels were found to be significantly associated with the water, hair and nail As concentrations of the study subjects. Big ET-1 levels were also higher in the higher exposure groups compared to the lowest (reference) group. Interestingly, we observed that Big ET-1 levels were significantly higher in the hypertensive and skin lesion groups compared to the normotensive and without skin lesion counterpart, respectively of the study subjects in As-endemic areas. Thus, this study demonstrated a novel dose-response relationship between As exposure and plasma Big ET-1 levels indicating the possible involvement of plasma Big ET-1 levels in As-induced hypertension and skin lesions.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Arsenic; Arsenic Poisoning; Bangladesh; Endothelin-1; Female; Hair; Humans; Hypertension; Linear Models; Male; Middle Aged; Nails; Skin Diseases; Water Supply; Young Adult

Zinc (Zn) is an essential trace element in humans and animals. We have recently documented that Zn deficiency may aggravate tubulointerstitial nephropathy seen in the obstructed kidney (OK) of 72 hours duration through a further increase in the activity of endogenous angiotensin II in the OK. Also, it is known that the vasoconstrictors angiotensin II and endothelin (ET)-1 may be implicated in the deterioration of glomerular hemodynamics caused in the OK. We therefore designed the present study to examine the effect of Zn deficiency on the expression of ET-1 and a potential role of endogenous angiotensin II in the expression of ET-1 in glomeruli of the OK of 72 hours duration.. Using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry, the expression of prepro-ET-1 mRNA and ET-1 was examined in glomeruli of the contralateral, non-obstructed control kidney (CLK) and the OK from rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) of 72 hours duration fed a standard or a Zn-deficient diet for approximately 50 days. The rats in each group were treated with saline alone or the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor enalapril before and after ureteral obstruction.. The expression of prepro-ET-1 mRNA and ET-1 was markedly greater in the OK than in the CLK in the standard and the Zn-deficient diet groups. However, the expression of prepro-ET-1 mRNA and ET-1 was substantially increased in the OK of the Zn-deficient diet group relative to the OK of the standard diet group. There were no significant differences in the expression of prepro-ET-1 mRNA and ET-1 between the CLK of the two diet groups. Administration of enalapril restored the expression of prepro-ET-1 mRNA and ET-1 in the OK to levels seen in the CLK in the standard and the Zn-deficient diet groups. Enalapril produced no effects on the expression of prepro-ET-1 mRNA and ET-1 in the CLK of the two diet groups.. UUO of 72 hours duration may increase the expression of prepro-ET-1 mRNA and ET-1 in glomeruli of the OK through an increment in the biological action of endogenous angiotensin II in the OK. Moreover, Zn deficiency may enhance the expression of prepro-ET-1 mRNA and ET-1 in glomeruli of the OK through a further increment in the biological action of endogenous angiotensin II in the OK. Zn deficiency appears to be a factor to worsen glomerular hemodynamics in the OK of the UUO setting of 72 hours duration through an increment in the biological action of the vasoconstrictors angiotensin II and ET-1.

Topics: Angiotensin II; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Animals; Biomarkers; Copper; Enalapril; Endothelin-1; Endothelins; Female; Gene Expression; Immunohistochemistry; In Situ Hybridization; Kidney Glomerulus; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; Protein Precursors; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Renin; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger; Skin Diseases; Ureteral Obstruction; Zinc