Enhanced expressions of endothelin-converting enzyme and endothelin receptors in human colonic tissues of Crohn's disease.

Endothelin-1, a powerful vasoconstrictor, forms the endothelin system together with endothelin-converting enzyme and endothelin type A and type B receptors. These endothelin system components are considered to participate in inflammatory and wound healing responses. Previous reports have suggested a role for the endothelin-1 in the pathology of Crohn's disease.

Expression of endothelin-converting enzyme, endothelin-1 and endothelin receptors at the site of percutaneous coronary intervention in humans.

Objective: The repair process at the site of injury after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is dominated by neointimal formation composed mainly of smooth muscle cells (SMC). Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a powerful vasoconstrictor and SMC mitogen. Endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE) is the final key enzyme of endothelin processing.

Expression of the hepatic endothelin system in human cirrhotic livers.

It is considered that endothelin-1 participates in the development of liver cirrhosis and it has been recognized that every component of the endothelin system is upregulated in cirrhotic livers. However, the expression pattern of this system, including interaction between its components, is not fully understood in human livers. In this study, the expression pattern of the endothelin system was examined.

Alterations of endothelin-converting enzyme expression in early and advanced stages of human coronary atherosclerosis.

Endothelin-1 is a potent vasoconstrictor and exhibits a mitogenic activity on vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE) is the final key enzyme of endothelin-1 processing. We studied the immunolocalization of ECE in human coronary atherosclerotic lesions with different disease stages.

Regulation of endothelin-converting enzyme 1 in nephrotic syndrome in rats.

Background: Nephrotic syndrome is characterized by severe proteinuria and sodium and water retention. Although endothelin (ET) 1 can cause natriuresis or antinatriuresis, the role played by ET-1 in proteinuria and in sodium retention due to nephrotic syndrome remains unclear.

Methods: We investigated the role played by the ET-1 system in sodium and water retention and in proteinuria in puromycin aminonucleoside induced nephrotic syndrome in rats using microdissected nephron segments, competitive polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot.

Ontogeny of endothelin-converting enzyme gene expression and protein content in the ovine fetal lung.

Endothelin 1 (ET-1) is a potent vasoconstrictor and smooth muscle comitogen that is produced by endothelin-converting enzyme 1 (ECE-1) in endothelium and smooth muscle of the vascular wall in adult pulmonary arteries. However, little is known about the role of ECE-1 in the fetal pulmonary circulation. The ET-1 protein content falls just prior to birth in the fetal lamb lung.