Minimally modified low-density lipoprotein up-regulates endothelin receptors in mouse mesenteric artery through p38 MAPK pathway

AIMTo investigate whether minimally modified low-density lipoprotein (mmLDL) affects the quantity and activity of endothelin （ET） type A (ET_A) and type B (ET_B) receptors in mouse mesenteric artery by activating p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inflammatory pathway. METHODSThe KM mice were divided into normal saline (NS) group (injection of NS via caudal vein), mmLDL group (injection of mmLDL via caudal vein), LDL group (injection of LDL via caudal vein), mmLDL+SB 203580 group (injection of mmLDL via caudal vein and intraperitoneal injection of p38 MAPK pathway specific inhibitor SB 203580) and mmLDL+DMSO group (injection of mmLDL via caudal vein and intraperitoneal injection of DMSO). Mesenteric artery ring segment vasoconstriction dose-response curves affected by sarafotoxin 6c (S6c) and ET-1 were recorded by the myography system. The mRNA levels of ET_B receptor, ET_A receptor and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were detected by RT-qPCR. The protein levels of ET_B receptor, ET_A receptor, IL-6, p38 MAPK, p-p38 MAPK, NF-κB and p-NF-κB were determined by Western blot. The serum concentration of IL-6 was measured by ELISA. RESULTSThe contractile responses of the blood vessel segments to S6c and ET-1 were significantly increased by mmLDL (P<0.01). The mRNA and protein expression levels of ET_A receptor, ET_B receptor, and IL-6 significantly increased (P<0.01). The protein levels of p-p38 MAPK and p-NF-κB were significantly increased (P<0.01). The serum level of IL-6 was significantly increased (P<0.01). These effects of mmLDL were inhibited by p38 MAPK inhibitor SB 203580. CONCLUSION mmLDL increses the serum concentration of IL-6, up-regulates the expression of IL-6, ET_A receptor and ET_B receptor in mouse mesenteric artery, and enhances the vasoconstriction function medi?ated by ET_A and ET_B receptors, which is related to the activation of p38 MAPK inflammatory pathway and downstream NF-κB pathway.     

Selective inhibition of endothelin receptor A improves white matter lesions in hypertensive rats

AIM:To observe whether selective inhibition of endothelin receptor A (ETRA) improves white matter lesions (WMLs), and explore the mechanism. METHODS:Sprague-Dawley rats (n=33) were randomly divided into sham operation group (n=9), treatment group[stroke-prone renovascular hypertensive rats-modified 2 vessel occlusion (RHRSP-modified 2VO) + ambrisentan (n=12)] and placebo group[RHRSP-modified 2VO + vehicle (n=12)]. Drug and vehicle administration was performed from 17th to 20th week and monitoring of systolic arterial pressure was performed weekly. Morris water maze test was conducted to evaluate the function of cognition. The protein levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in the cortex, corpus callosum and caudate putamen were quantitatively analyzed respectively. The severity of WMLs and the relationship between ET-1 and vessels were observed by the method of histopathology. RESULTS:The difference of systolic arterial pressure between treatment group and placebo group was not significant. The animals in treatment group exhibited shorter escape latency (P<0.05), more times of crossing platform (P<0.05), lower level of ET-1 in corpus callosum and caudate putamen (P<0.05), respectively, improved WMLs severity (P<0.05) and lower binding level of ET-1 to vessels compared with the placebo group. CONCLUSION:Selective inhibition of endothelin receptor A improves the severity of WMLs and ameliorates the cognitive function.     

Oxidative Stress and Interaction of Endothelin Receptors in Airways of Clinically Healthy Horses

Endothelin-1 (ET-1), a physiological as well as an inflammatory mediator, causes contraction of airway smooth muscles by binding to endothelin-A (ETA) and endothelin-B (ETB) receptors. We investigated the interaction between endothelin receptors on contractions and oxidative stress of bronchial rings of clinically healthy horses. Rings for response studies were set in tissue chambers containing oxygenated Tyrode’s solution. Concentration-response relationships were determined for ET-1 on control rings, rings incubated with ETA antagonist (BQ123), rings incubated with ETB antagonists (IRL 1038 and BQ788), and rings incubated with all antagonists combined. For oxidative stress studies, rings were incubated for 30 minutes separately with ET-1, ETA antagonist + ET-1, ETB antagonists + ET-1, and all three antagonists + ET-1. The control rings were not treated with any agents. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) method was used to measure total reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide, and peroxynitrite. Results showed that ET-1 caused dose-dependent contractions which were increased by ETA blockade and decreased by ETB blockade. Combined blockade significantly inhibited the response to ET-1. Regarding the oxidative stress, ET-1 and its antagonists significantly reduced the total ROS. Superoxide production was significantly decreased by ETA antagonist and completely abolished when ETA and ETB antagonists were combined. Peroxynitrite production was not changed significantly. The study suggested that an interaction between ET receptors exists in the expression of contractile responses and oxidative stress. ET-1 attenuated oxidative stress by decreasing total ROS. ETA receptors may be primarily responsible for superoxide production. It appears that ET-1 does not affect peroxynitrite production in normal equine tissues.     

Serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid endothelin-1 concentrations as diagnostic biomarkers of canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Background: Diagnosis of canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is challenging. Endothelin‐1 (ET1) is a biomarker of IPF in humans, but whether ET1 can detect and differentiate IPF from other canine respiratory diseases is unknown. Objective: To evaluate whether measurement of the concentration of ET1 in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) can be used to distinguish canine IPF from chronic bronchitis (CB) and eosinophilic bronchopneumopathy (EBP). Animals: Twelve dogs with IPF, 10 dogs with CB, 6 dogs with EBP, 13 privately owned healthy West Highland White Terriers (WHWT), and 9 healthy Beagle dogs. Methods: Prospective, case control study. ET1 concentration was determined by ELISA in serum and in BALF. Results: No significant difference in serum ET1 concentration was detected between healthy Beagle dogs and WHWT. Serum ET1 concentration was higher in dogs with IPF (median interquartile range; 2.32 pg/mL, 2.05–3.38) than healthy Beagle dogs (1.28, 1.07–1.53; P < .001), healthy WHWT (1.56, 1.25–1.85; P < .001), dogs with EBP (0.94 0.68–1.01; P = .001), and dogs with CB (1.54 0.74–1.82; P = .005). BALF ET1 concentration was below the detection limit in healthy WHWT and in dogs with CB, whereas it was measurable in all dogs with IPF. A cut‐off serum concentration of 1.8 pg/mL had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 81.2% for detection of IPF, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.818. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Serum ET1 can differentiate dogs with IPF from dogs with EBP or CB. ET1 can be detected in BALF of dogs with IPF.     

降钙素基因相关肽对内皮素诱发大鼠心律失常作用的影响

本文采用成年ＳＤ大鼠经冠状动脉口注入内皮素ＥＴ，６００ｐｍｏｌ／ｋｇ）和降钙素基因相关肽（ＣＧＲＰ，１７０ｐｍｏｌ／ｋｇ），观察ＣＧＲＰ对ＥＴ引起大鼠心律失常作用的影响。发现ＥＴ可诱发心律失常的发生，ＣＧＲＰ对ＥＴ引起的心律失常具有协同作用。结果提示：作用方式可能是对心肌造成的缺血／再灌注损伤使细胞内钙超载和氧自由大量产生。     

产复康对产后气虚血瘀证奶牛内皮素和一氧化氮的影响

[目的]观察产复康对产后气虚血瘀证奶牛血管内皮细胞的影响,探讨产复康治疗气虚血瘀证的机理。[方法]选择试验奶牛58头,分为气虚血瘀证治疗组、气虚血瘀证对照组、健康用药组和健康未用药组。分别于分娩前后测定血浆内皮素（ET）和血清一氧化氮（NO）的含量。[结果]气虚血瘀证奶牛产后血浆中ET含量和血清中NO含量显著升高;产后10d,NO含量开始有所下降,与对照组没有显著差异,但ET含量仍显著高于健康对照组;服用产复康10d后,ET含量仍显著高于对照组,而NO含量与健康对照组没有显著性差异。[结论]产复康可能通过升高气虚血瘀证奶牛ET和降低NO含量改善奶牛产后气虚血瘀证状态。     

半边莲生物碱抑制肾性高血压大鼠内皮素1mRNA和蛋白表达

目的观察半边莲生物碱对肾性高血压大鼠内皮素1 mRNA表达、蛋白合成和释放的影响。方法采用两肾一夹高血压大鼠模型,随机分为高血压组、半边莲组、卡托普利组和假手术组。用原位杂交技术观察大鼠外周血白细胞内皮素1 mRNA的表达,应用免疫组织化学染色计数大鼠主动脉内皮细胞铺片内皮素阳性细胞率(反映内皮素1蛋白的合成),用放射免疫技术测定大鼠血浆内皮素的含量。结果与假手术组比较,高血压组外周血白细胞内皮素1mRNA表达增强(34.64%±8.39%比9.34%±4.47%,P<0.05),动脉内皮细胞合成内皮素增多(7.42%±0.24%比1.58%±0.24%,P<0.05),血浆内皮素水平显著升高(221±24ng/L比138±19ng/L,P<0.05)。应用半边莲生物碱8周后,与高血压组比较,内皮素1 mRNA表达(20.38%±11.31%比34.64%±8.39%,P<0.05)、内皮素合成(3.53%±0.21%比7.42%±0.24%,P<0.05)和血浆内皮素水平(191±21ng/L比221±24ng/L,P<0.05)均受到显著抑制。结论肾性高血压大鼠伴有内皮素表达增强,半边莲生物碱能抑制内皮素基因的转录、蛋白合成及翻译,对防治肾性高血压所致的血管病变具有一定作用。     

Gene expression of endothelin-1 and its receptors in the heart of broiler chickens with T(3)-induced pulmonary hypertension

To investigate the effect of T₃-induced pulmonary hypertension on endothelin (ET) production and genes expression of ET-1, ET_A and ET_B receptors (ET_AR and ET_BR) during rearing, semiquantitative RT-PCR and enzyme immunometric assay were performed in the heart ventricles and serum, respectively. The ET-1 and its receptor genes were expressed in the right and left ventricles of control and T₃-treated broilers at 12, 28 and 49 days of age. There were significant (P < 0.05) reductions of the relative amounts of ET-1 (in both ventricles) and ET_AR (in the right ventricle) mRNAs at 28 and 49 days of age, in T₃-treated broilers compared to controls. The relative amounts of ET_BR mRNA in the right and left ventricles did not significantly differ between control and T₃-treated broilers at any age. The serum level of ET was significantly (P < 0.05) increased in T₃-treated chickens at 28 and 49 days of age when compared with that of the control. It is concluded that ET-1, ET_AR and ET_BR genes are normally expressed in the heart ventricles of broilers. It is likely that increased serum level of ET and decreased ET-1/ET_AR genes expression in the ventricles are involved in the heart dysfunction of broiler chickens with developmental pulmonary hypertension.     

Up-regulation of Endothelin-1 and Endothelin type A receptor genes expression in the heart of broiler chickens versus layer chickens

To compare Endothelin (ET) production and genes expression of ET-1 and ET_A receptor (ET_AR) between broiler and layer chickens during rearing, semi-quantitative RT-PCR and enzyme immunometric assay were performed in the heart ventricles and serum. There were gradual elevations of ET-1 and ET_AR mRNAs in the left ventricle of broiler and layer chicken groups that were mainly significant (P < 0.05) at 28, 35 and 42 days of age with compared to previous days whereas were not significant between two groups.These gradual elevations of ET-1 and ET_AR mRNAs were also observed in the right ventricle that were significant (P < 0.05) at 28, 35 and 42 days of age in broilers and 42 days of age in layers with compared to previous days. Increasing of these mRNAs in the right ventricle of broiler chickens were significantly (P < 0.05) more than layer chickens at 28, 35 and 42 days. Serum ET in broilers was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than layer chickens at 28 and 42 days of age. It is concluded that circulating ET and cardiac ET-1, ET_AR genes expression is higher in broiler chickens than in layer chickens particularly after 21 days of age. It is probably that these breed differences make broiler chickens to be more susceptible to Endothelin related-cardiomyopathies such as congestive heart failure and ascites.