IL-15 mediates immune inflammatory hypernociception by triggering a sequential release of IFN-gamma, endothelin, and prostaglandin

IL-15 is closely associated with inflammatory diseases. IL-15 targeting is effective in treating experimental and clinical rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Because hyperalgesia accompanies RA, we investigated the ability of IL-15 to induced nociceptor sensitization (hypernociception). We report here that IL-15 induced time- and dose-dependent mechanical hypernociception in mice. IL-15-induced hypernociception was inhibited by treatment with a dual endothelin receptor type A (ET(A))/endothelin receptor type B (ET(B)) antagonist (bosentan), ET(A) receptor antagonist (BQ123), or cyclooxygenase inhibitor (indomethacin). Moreover, IL-15 failed to induce hypernociception in IFN-gamma(-/-) mice, suggesting that IL-15 mediated hypernociception via an IFN-gamma-, endothelin (ET)-, and prostaglandin-dependent pathway. Consistent with this finding, IFN-gamma and ET-1 induced dose- and time-dependent mechanical hypernociception that was inhibited by BQ123 or indomethacin but not BQ788 (an ET(B) receptor antagonist). IFN-gamma induced the production of ET-1 and the expression of its mRNA precursor (preproET-1, PPET-1). Moreover, IL-15 also induced ET-1 production and PPET-1 mRNA expression in an IFN-gamma-dependent manner. Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) production was induced by IL-15, IFN-gamma, or ET-1. We also found that hypernociception induced by ovalbumin (OVA) in OVA-immunized mice was significantly diminished by treatment with sIL-15Ralpha (soluble IL-15 receptor alpha-chain), bosentan, BQ123, or indomethacin. Furthermore, OVA challenge induced the expression of PPET-1 mRNA in WT mice but not in IFN-gamma(-/-) mice. The PPET-1 mRNA expression was also inhibited by sIL-15Ralpha pretreatment. Therefore, our results demonstrate the sequential mechanical hypernociceptive effect of IL-15 --> IFN-gamma --> ET-1 --> PGE(2) and suggest that these molecules may be targets of therapeutic intervention in antigen-induced hypernociception.     

Role of endothelin in stress-induced hypertension

In this study we investigated the role of endogenous endothelin in the cardiovascular response to acute stress, ie mild footshocks in conscious rats. Footshock-stress significantly increased mean arterial pressure and heart rate (P < 0.05). Peripheral or intracerebroventricular (IVT) administration of BQ 788, a selective antagonist of ET(B) receptor, did not alter pressor response to footshocks. Intraperitoneal injections of BQ 123 (1 mg/kg), a selective antagonist of the ET(A)-receptor, had a tendency to decrease, while BQ 123 (203 ng/5 microl) IVT administration significantly reduced the pressor response to footshocks (-12 mm Hg, P < 0.001). Neither ET(A) nor ET(B) antagonists, when injected centrally or peripherally, altered basal blood pressure or heart rate. Our results may indicate a role of brain endothelin in the sympathetic mediated cardiovascular response to stress, via stimulation of ET(A) receptor.     

氧化低密度脂蛋白与内皮素在促进血管平滑肌细胞增生中的内在联系

本实验用培养的家兔血管平滑肌细胞探讨了在促进细胞增生过程中，氧化低密度脂蛋白（ｏｘｉｄｉｚｅｄｌｏｗｄｅｎｓｉｔｙｌｉｐｏｐｒｏｔｅｉｎ，ＯＬＤＬ）和内皮素之间的联系，发现二者都可刺激血管平滑肌细胞增生，内皮素Ａ受体拮抗剂ＢＱ１２３可显著抑印制ＯＬＤＬ的促细胞增生作用，￣３Ｈ－ＴｄＲ的掺入量较单纯ＯＬＤＬ组减少１３．３％；细胞培养液内皮素放射免疫测定表明，应用ＢＱ１２３能使内皮素释放量较单纯ＯＬＤＬ组降低２８．９％。免疫细胞化学检测结果亦与上述完全符合，提示在动脉粥样硬化发生中，ＯＬＤＬ促血管平滑肌细胞增生的作用可能部分是通过内皮素来实现的。     

氧化低密度脂蛋白与内皮素在促进血管平滑肌细胞增生中的内在联系

本实验用培养的家兔血管平滑肌细胞探讨了在促进细胞增生过程中,氧化低密度脂蛋白(oxidizedlowdensitylipoprotein,OLDL)和内皮素之间的联系,发现二者都可刺激血管平滑肌细胞增生,内皮素A受体拮抗剂BQ123可显著抑印制OLDL的促细胞增生作用,￣3H-TdR的掺入量较单纯OLDL组减少13.3%;细胞培养液内皮素放射免疫测定表明,应用BQ123能使内皮素释放量较单纯OLDL组降低28.9%。免疫细胞化学检测结果亦与上述完全符合,提示在动脉粥样硬化发生中,OLDL促血管平滑肌细胞增生的作用可能部分是通过内皮素来实现的。     

Stimulation of colorectal cancer cell line growth by ET-1 and its inhibition by ET(A) antagonists

BACKGROUND: The vasoactive peptide endothelin 1 (ET-1) acts via two receptors, endothelin receptors A (ET(A)) and B (ET(B)). ET-1 is overexpressed by human cancers in vivo and in vitro and may be mitogenic for cancer cells. METHOD: To elucidate if ET-1 is a growth regulator the following were investigated in human colorectal cancer cell lines (LIM1215 and HT29): ET-1 production by ELISA; ET receptor expression using radioligand autoradiographic techniques; and responsiveness to ET-1, and to ET(A) and ET(B) antagonism by growth measurements. RESULTS: ET-1 was produced by LIM1215 and HT29 cells (21.3 and 41.7 fmol/ml/10(6) cells (24 hours); 22.6 and 71.7 fmol/ml/10(6) cells (48 hours), respectively). ET(A) and ET(B) receptors were expressed by both cell lines. Addition of ET-1 resulted in a dose dependent increase in cell numbers which was significant at 10(-8)-10(-9) M for LIM1215, with the greatest increase at 10(-8) M (32.7% and 28.4% increase above controls at 48 hours and 72 hours; p<0.05) and at 10(-8)-10(-9) M for HT29, with the greatest increase at 10(-9) M (13.4% and 15.7% increase above controls at 48 hours and 72 hours; p<0.05). ET(A) antagonists BQ123 and BQ610, but not the ET(B) antagonist BQ788, inhibited ET-1 induced proliferation of both LIM1215 and HT29 (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: ET-1 can stimulate the proliferation of colorectal cancer cell lines via the ET(A), but not the ET(B), receptor.     

内皮素-1受体拮抗剂对肺气肿大鼠肺组织的保护作用及机制

目的 探讨内皮素-1受体拮抗剂对肺气肿大鼠肺组织的保护作用及机制.方法 将24只SD大鼠随机分为健康对照组、肺气肿模型组、BQ123干预组、Bosentan干预组,每组6只.测4组大鼠平均内衬间隔(MLI)和肺泡破坏指数(DI).用缺口末端标记法(TUNEL)测肺泡间隔细胞凋亡;用免疫组化法、Western blot测caspase-3表达;用明胶酶谱法测基质金属蛋白酶(MMP)-2、MMP-9活性;用ELISA测TNFα、IL-1β浓度.结果 (1)肺气肿模型组大鼠出现典型肺气肿变化,MLI[(108.7±6.8)μm]和DI[(62.2±7.0)%]较健康对照组显著增高[(69.8±6.6)μm;(13.9±2.7)%;P<0.01];BQ123干预组[MLI(89.0±7.4)μm,DI(41.5±4.5)%]、Bosentan干预组[MLI(81.9±6.1)μm,DI(44.0±8.5)%]均较肺气肿模型组显著降低,但2组间差异无统计学意义.(2)4组大鼠肺内均可见凋亡细胞,肺气肿模型组凋亡指数(AI)较健康对照组明显增高,BQ123干预组、Bnsentan干预组AJ较肺气肿模型组明显减低,但仍高于健康对照组(P<0.01).(3)肺气肿模型组大鼠肺组织caspnse-3表达明显增高,BQ123干预组、Bosentan干预组caspase-3表达较肺气肿模型组明显降低.(4)肺气肿模型组大鼠肺内MMP-2、MMP-9活性较健康对照组明显增高,BQ123干预组、Bosentan干预组MMP-2、MMP-9活性降低,但差异无统计学意义.(5)肺气肿模型组大鼠肺组织匀浆上清中TNFα、IL-1β水平较健康对照组明显增高,BQ123干预组、Bosentan干预组TNFα、IL-1β水平较肺气肿模型组明显减低.结论 内皮素受体拮抗剂可通过抑制肺气肿大鼠凋亡基因表达,降低MMPs活性和减少炎性因子释放而起到部分保护作用.     

Role of inducible nitric oxide synthase in the pulmonary vascular response to birth-related stimuli in the ovine fetus

To determine whether type II nitric oxide synthase (NOS II) contributes to the NO-mediated fall in pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) at birth, we studied the effects of selective NOS II antagonists N-(3-aminomethyl) benzylacetamidine dihydrochloride (1400W) and aminoguanidine (AG) and a nonselective NOS antagonist, nitro-L-arginine (L-NA), during mechanical ventilation with low FIO(2) (<10%), high FIO(2) (100%), and inhaled NO (20 ppm) in 23 near-term fetal lambs. Intrapulmonary infusions of AG, 1400W, and L-NA increased basal PVR before delivery (P<0.05). In control animals, ventilation with low and high FIO(2) decreased PVR by 62% and 85%, respectively. Treatment with AG and 1400W attenuated the fall in PVR by 50% during ventilation with low and high FIO(2) (control versus treatment, P<0.05 for each intervention). L-NA treatment attenuated the fall in PVR during ventilation with low and high FIO(2) to a similar degree as the NOS II antagonists. To test the selectivity of the NOS II antagonists, we studied the effects of acetylcholine and inhaled NO in each study group. Acetylcholine-induced pulmonary vasodilation remained intact after treatment with selective NOS II antagonists but not after treatment with nonselective NOS blockade with L-NA. In contrast, the response to inhaled NO was similar between treatment groups. We conclude that selective NOS II inhibition is as effective as nonselective NOS blockade in attenuating pulmonary vasodilation at birth and speculate that NOS II activity contributes to NO-mediated pulmonary vasodilation at birth. We additionally speculate that stimulation of the airway epithelium by rhythmic distension and increased FIO(2) may activate NOS II release at birth.     

Evidence for oxygenation-induced endothelin release from isolated lungs of chronically hypoxic rats.

In lungs from chronically hypoxic (CH, 3 weeks at 10% inspired O2) rats, oxygenation (20% O2, 5% CO2, 75% N2; PO2 121 mmHg) of the perfusate increases pulmonary perfusion pressure (PPP) and lung weight (LW). Hypoxic perfusate (95% N2, 5% CO2; PO2 5.5 mmHg) had no effect on PPP in lungs from CH rats. Indomethacin and nitro-L-arginine (L-NOARG) augmented the oxygen-induced increase in PPP. In contrast, the free radical scavengers superoxide dismutase (SOD) plus catalase delayed the onset of oxygen-induced vasoconstriction, while the endothelin (ET)B receptor antagonist BQ788 inhibited it. The ET(A) receptor antagonist BQ123 did not affect the PPP changes. This suggests a role for endogenous endothelins and ET(B) receptors in mediating the oxygenation-induced pulmonary vasoconstriction. Indomethacin had no effect on oxygen-induced lung weight (LW) changes while BQ788 and L-NOARG reduced the LW increase. This evidence shows that ET(B) receptor activation and NO generation are involved in the LW changes. In conclusion, oxygenation of the perfusate in isolated lungs from CH rats leads to pulmonary vasoconstriction which involves endothelins and activation of ET(B) receptors. In addition, increased NO production associated with ET(B) receptor activation is the prime stimulus for observed LW increase.     

Salt-induced cardiac hypertrophy is independent of blood pressure and endothelin in obese, heart failure-prone SHHF rats

The interaction of salt sensitivity and obesity in development of cardiac hypertrophy is incompletely understood. The SHHF/Mcc-fa(cp) (SHHF) rat model was used to examine the effect of high salt on cardiac hypertrophy and expression of endothelin (ET) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms. Homozygous lean (+/+) and obese (fa(cp)/fa(cp)) SHHF were fed a low-salt diet (0.3% NaCl) for seven days followed by a high-salt diet (8.0% NaCl) for seven days. To assess the role of ET in mediating cardiac hypertrophy and gene expression with high salt, additional groups were treated with an ET(A)/ET(B) receptor antagonist (bosentan) while on high salt. Obese SHHF showed an increase in systolic blood pressure and cardiac hypertrophy in response to the high-salt diet. High salt resulted in decreased expression of preproET as well as all three NOS isoforms in the Obese, while cytokine induced NOS (iNOS) and neuronal NOS (nNOS) increased in Leans. Though the salt-sensitive component of the hypertension observed in the Obese was prevented by bosentan, cardiac hypertrophy still occurred and expression of all NOS isoforms remained lower in Obese compared to Lean. Endothelial NOS (eNOS) expression increased in the Lean with bosentan. These studies suggest that cardiac hypertrophy is independent of the level of hypertension and may be mediated by altered production of NOS isoforms in salt-sensitive, obese SHHF.     

内皮素，一氧化氮在内毒素血症大鼠胃粘膜损伤中的作用

目的：观察内皮素－1（ET－1）、一氧化氮（NO）在内毒素血症胃粘膜扣伤中的作用。方法：应用内毒素血症胃粘膜损伤模型分别观察血浆、胃粘膜中ET－1、NO含量变化,以及胃粘膜血流（GMBF）、胃粘膜损伤面积的变化。结果：内毒素血症时ET－1含量增加、NO含量减少,特异性内皮素受体ETAR阻滞剂（BQ123）、NO前体L－精氨酸（L－Arg）能减轻内毒素血症时胃粘膜损伤的程度。一氧化氮合酶阻滞剂N^G－硝基－L－精氨酸甲酯（L－NAME）加重了该模型胃粘膜的损伤。结论：内源性ET－1／NO失衡参与了内毒素血症时胃粘膜损伤病理过程。纠正内源性ET－1／NO失衡,通过改善了GMBF,减轻胃粘膜损伤。     

Birth associated changes in pulmonary arterial connective tissue gene expression in the normal and hypertensive lung

OBJECTIVES: To determine the temporal and spatial expression of the connective tissue precursors, procollagen and tropoelastin mRNA in normal and pulmonary hypertensive porcine pulmonary arteries from birth onwards. METHODS: Using in situ hybridisation, connective tissue gene expression for procollagen alpha1(I) and alpha1(III) and tropoelastin was studied in intrapulmonary arteries from normal piglets, 5 min-16 weeks, and from piglets made pulmonary hypertensive by exposure to hypobaric hypoxia for 3 days, from birth, 3 or 14 days of age. In addition, Type III pN-procollagen, tropoelastin and collagen I and III were studied by immunohistochemistry. Quantitative or semi-quantitative techniques were applied to both in situ and immunohistochemical studies. RESULTS: Procollagen alpha1(I) and alpha1(III) mRNA expression increased rapidly in the media and adventitia between birth and 3 days of age (P<0.05). The increase was transient and the number of cells expressing procollagen mRNA decreased to the low newborn number after 6 days of age. Type III pN-procollagen immunostaining was greatest in newborn elastic and muscular arteries and then decreased. Collagen I and III increased mainly after 6 days of age. In animals exposed to chronic hypobaric hypoxia from birth, the increase in procollagens I and III mRNA was prevented. Exposure to hypoxia from 3 or 14 days led to little change in either gene expression or in procollagen and mature collagen from the normal. Tropoelastin gene expression was high at birth in the endothelium and media for the first 6 days, and then decreased. Normally, tropoelastin decreased in the media and increased in the adventitia after 16 days of age. Hypoxia had no effect on the mRNA but led to increased tropoelastin. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated marked, rapid changes in temporal and cell specific connective tissue gene expression in normal pulmonary arteries immediately after birth as the vasculature remodels. Each gene appeared to have its own timetable of expression and responded differently to hypoxia-induced hypertension.     

内皮素和一氧化氮合成酶在家兔动脉粥样硬化斑块中的表达

用免疫组织化学和原位杂交等方法观察了内皮素和一氧化氮合成酶在家兔动脉粥样硬化斑块中的合成和表达。结果是，在动脉粥样硬化斑块内增生的平滑肌细胞和巨噬细胞中，内皮素合成较正常者增多，而一氧化氨合成酶的合成却明显减少；内皮素ｍＲＮＡ转录显著增加，而一氧化氮合成酶ｍＲＮＡ转录明显减少或消失。提示在动脉血管平滑肌细胞中，二者的平衡失调可能参与了动脉粥样硬化的发生和发展过程。     

Improved endothelial function after endothelin receptor blockade in patients with systemic sclerosis

Objective

Impaired endothelium‐dependent vasodilator function may contribute to vascular damage in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). This study was undertaken to investigate whether increased activity of the endothelin 1 (ET‐1) system plays a role in the occurrence of endothelial dysfunction in patients with SSc.

Methods

In 12 patients with SSc (6 with diffuse cutaneous SSc [dcSSc] and 6 with limited cutaneous SSc [lcSSc]), forearm blood flow responses to graded doses of acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) given intraarterially were assessed by plethysmography, during infusion of saline and following selective blockade of ET_A receptors with BQ‐123 (10 nmoles/minute).

Results

During saline infusion, the vasodilator response to ACh was blunted in patients with SSc as compared with that in healthy controls (P < 0.001), whereas the response to SNP was not different between groups (P = 0.27). The vasodilator effect of ET_A receptor antagonism was higher in patients than in controls (P < 0.001), indicating enhanced ET‐1–mediated vasoconstriction in SSc. In patients, ET_A receptor blockade resulted in a potentiation of the vasodilator response to ACh (P < 0.001 versus saline), but did not affect the response to SNP (P = 0.31). Notably, both the vasodilator effect of ET_A receptor antagonism and the improvement in the responsiveness to ACh following BQ‐123 infusion were higher in patients with dcSSc than in those with lcSSc (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

ET‐1–dependent vasoconstrictor tone is increased predominantly in the subgroup of SSc patients with dcSSc, in whom acute blockade of ET_A receptors was able to improve impaired endothelium‐dependent vasodilator function. Our results suggest novel vasculoprotective effects of ET_A receptor antagonism and support further exploration of strategies that target the ET‐1 pathway in SSc.

     

犬急性心肌缺血时循环内皮素和一氧化氮的变化及其相关酶的基因表达

目的：探讨急性心肌缺血犬循环内皮素和一氧化氮的浓度变化以及内皮素转换酶（ＥＣＥ）、一氧化氮合酶（ＮＯＳ）基因在缺血心肌的表达和分布情况。方法：结扎麻醉犬冠状动脉左前降支中段，造成实验性急性心肌缺血模型。采用放射免疫法测定血浆内皮素含量，比色法测定血清一氧化氮代谢产物水平，以原位杂交技术检测缺血心肌中ＥＣＥ和ＮＯＳ信使核糖核酸（ｍＲＮＡ）的表达。结果：随着缺血时间的延长，血中内皮素含量显著升高，而一氧化氮代谢产物水平逐渐下降；缺血３小时后，心肌中ＥＣＥｍＲＮＡ呈高表达，而ＮＯＳｍＲＮＡ呈低表达。结论：心肌缺血时循环内皮素和一氧化氮的浓度变化与ＥＣＥｍＲＮＡ、ＮＯＳｍＲＮＡ表达水平一致，提示内皮素与一氧化氮两者的平衡失调可能参与了心肌缺血性损伤的发生和发展过程。     

Failure of L-nitroarginine to inhibit the activity of aortic inducible nitric oxide synthase

Nitric oxide (NO) is produced by a family of three isoenzymes: the endothelial, inducible and neuronal NO synthases. L-Nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME) is the most commonly used inhibitor of NO synthase activity. The goal of the present study was to evaluate to what extent L-nitroarginine (L-NA), the in vivo circulating metabolite of L-NAME, blocks NO production in the rat aorta depending on the NO synthase isoform expressed (and evidenced by Western blotting) and on the presence or absence of the extracellular NO synthase substrate L-arginine (100 microM, i.e. the plasma concentration). Intact [endothelium present (E+)] control aortic rings express mainly endothelial NO synthase. L-NA (30--100 microM) induced a dose-dependent contraction (due to blockade of the relaxant properties of NO) irrespective of the presence or absence of L-arginine. In deendothelialized (E-) control aortic rings, the three isoforms of NO synthase are virtually absent (as demonstrated by Western blotting) and L-NA does not elicit any contractile effect. E- aortic rings from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated rats express mainly inducible NO synthase. In these rings, L-NA induced a dose-dependent (0--100 microM) contraction in the absence of extracellular L-arginine, whereas L-arginine (100 microM) completely abrogated the contractile effect of the NO synthase inhibitor. Chronic L-NAME administration (50 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks) elicited the aortic expression of inducible NO synthase, but to a lesser extent (about 5-fold) than in LPS-treated rat aorta. The average plasma concentration of L-NA was 50 +/- 10 microM in these rats. In E- rings from these L-NAME-treated rats, L-NA induced a similar contractile response (but smaller in magnitude) to that observed in LPS-treated rat aorta. Altogether, these data suggest that (1) in the presence of a physiological concentration of extracellular L-arginine, L-NA fails to inhibit inducible NO synthase, and (2) chronic L-NAME administration, at a dose commonly given to block NO production in vivo, leaves the activity of inducible NO synthase unaffected.     

Interactions between sympathetic nervous system and endogenous endothelin in patients with essential hypertension

Experimental evidence indicates that endothelin 1 stimulates the sympathetic nervous system by activation of the subtype A receptor. The aim of the present study was to assess whether this mechanism is active in humans and to investigate its potential role in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension. In 15 hypertensive patients and 12 normotensive subjects, blood pressure, heart rate, and muscle sympathetic nerve activity were evaluated during intravenous 20-minute infusion of BQ123 (0.1 mg/kg per hour), an endothelin A receptor antagonist, and sodium nitroprusside (SNP; 0.4 μg/kg per minute). In hypertensive patients, blood pressure was reduced similarly by BQ123 and SNP. In contrast, the increase in muscle sympathetic nerve activity induced by BQ123 (from 52.0 ± 4.9 to 56.8 ± 5.5 bursts per 100 heartbeats; P<0.05 versus baseline) was significantly lower (P<0.05) than that induced by SNP (from 50.6 ± 4.9 to 61.1 ± 5.1 bursts per 100 heartbeats; P<0.05 versus baseline). In normotensive subjects, SNP reduced blood pressure and increased muscle sympathetic activity, whereas BQ123 was ineffective. Thus, in a subgroup (n = 9) of normotensive subjects, we administered BQ123 at a higher dose (0.2 mg/kg per hour), representing an equidepressor dose of SNP, inducing a blunted increase in sympathetic activity (from 44.1 ± 2.4 to 50.1 ± 6.4 bursts per 100 heartbeats; P<0.05 versus baseline). Finally, administration of a different vasodilator (papaverine, 0.5 mg/kg per hour) exerted results superimposable to SNP. Endogenous endothelin 1 appears to have a sympathoexcitatory effect both in normotensive and hypertensive subjects through endothelin A receptors, contributing to basal sympathetic vasomotor tone. Moreover, essential hypertension shows an increased susceptibility to the sympathoexcitatory effect of endogenous endothelin 1.     

Evidence for altered vascular responses to exogenous endothelin-1 in patients with advanced cirrhosis with restoration of the normal vasoconstrictor response following successful liver transplantation

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: There is evidence that dampened responses to endogenous vasoconstrictors contribute to the hyperdynamic circulation that is characteristic of advanced cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is an altered vascular responsiveness to the endothelium derived constricting factor endothelin-1 (ET-1) in patients with decompensated chronic liver disease which might contribute to this abnormal circulatory state, and whether normal endothelin responses are restored following liver transplantation. METHODS: Using forearm plethysmography, we studied the vascular response to an intra-arterial ET-1 infusion in six patients with end stage cirrhosis, before and after liver transplantation, compared with six normal control subjects. Responses to the selective endothelin A (ET(A)) receptor subtype antagonist, BQ123, were also examined. RESULTS: The forearm vessels of patients with cirrhosis vasodilated in response to ET-1 infusion while in healthy controls a marked vasoconstriction response was observed (p<0.0001, area under the curve time-blood flow was normal compared with the cirrhosis groups, ANOVA). Prior to commencement of liver transplant surgery, cirrhotic patients were confirmed to have a hyperdynamic circulation with a high cardiac index (4.07 (0.23) l/min/m(2) (normal range 2.8-3.6 l/min/m(2))) and low systemic vascular resistance index (1284 (115) dynxs/cm(5)/m(2) (normal range 1760-2600 dynxs/cm(5)/m(2))). Following transplantation, normal vasoconstrictor responses to ET-1 were restored. Responses to BQ123 were not different in patients with advanced cirrhosis compared with controls. CONCLUSION: In patients with end stage cirrhosis, ET-1 produces vasodilatation at a dose that causes marked vasoconstriction in normal control subjects. This effect is not attributable to impairment of ET(A) receptor responses. Our findings suggest that altered endothelin responses may contribute to the generalised dilatation of the circulation that occurs in patients with advanced liver disease.     

内皮素和一氧化氮合成酶在家兔动脉粥样硬化斑块中的表达

用免疫组织化学和原位杂交等方法观察了内皮素和一氧化氮合成酶在家兔动脉粥样硬化斑块中的合成和表达，结果是，在动脉粥样硬化斑块内增生的平滑肌细胞和巨噬细胞中，内皮素合成较正常者增多，而一氧化氮合成酶的合成却明显减少，内皮素mRNA转录显著增加，而一氧化氮合成酶mRNA转录明显减少或消失，提示在动脉血管平滑肌细胞中，二者的平衡失调可能参与了动脉弱样硬化的发生和发展过程。     

Endothelin 1 versus endothelin 3 in the development of the slow force response to myocardial stretch

BACKGROUND: Myocardial stretch promotes an increase in developed force (DF) in two phases: a rapid initial phase, and a slowly developing second phase called the slow force response (SFR) to myocardial stretch. The SFR results from an autocrine/paracrine mechanism of angiotensin II and endothelin (ET) release that is triggered by the stretch. OBJECTIVE: To explore whether exogenous ET-1 and/or ET-3 could mimic the SFR. METHODS: Experiments were performed in isometrically contracting (0.2 Hz) rat papillary muscles at 30 degrees C. DF was measured either after stretch or after the addition of ET-1 or ET-3 (in doses that increase contractility to a similar magnitude as does the SFR), with or without the selective ETA receptor antagonist BQ123 (300 nmol/L). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: After 15 min, the SFR was 17.6+/-1.4% greater than the initial rapid phase (n=4; P<0.05) and was abolished by BQ123. ET-1 (5.0 nmol/L) increased DF by 25.9+/-1.7% (n=4; P<0.05) after 30 min, an effect that was not altered by BQ123 (22.6+/-3.9%; n=5). ET-3 (5.0 nmol/L) increased DF by 23.8+/-3.2% (n=5; P<0.05), an effect that was suppressed by BQ123 (-5.4+/-1.9%; n=5; P<0.05). Given that BQ123 eliminated the SFR and the inotropic response to ET-3 but not to ET-1, the results suggest that the SFR that follows myocardial stretch is due to the endogenous release of ET-3 acting in an autocrine/paracrine fashion.