Synthesis and degradation of endothelin-1

2003 ◽  
Vol 81 (6) ◽  
pp. 503-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
P D'Orléans-Juste ◽  
M Plante ◽  
J C Honoré ◽  
E Carrier ◽  
J Labonté

The endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE) is the main enzyme responsible for the genesis of the potent pressor peptide endothelin-1 (ET-1). It is suggested that the ECE is pivotal in the genesis of ET-1, considering that the knockout of both genes generates the same lethal developments during the embryonic stage. Several isoforms of the ECE have been disclosed, namely ECE-1, ECE-2, and ECE-3. Within each of the first two groups, several sub-isoforms derived through splicing of single genes have also been identified. In this review, the characteristics of each sub-isoform for ECE-1 and 2 will be discussed. It is important to mention that the ECE is, however, not the sole enzyme involved in the genesis of endothelins. Indeed, other moieties, such as chymase and matrix metalloproteinase II, have been suggested to be involved in the production of ET intermediates, such as ET-1 (1–31) and ET-1 (1–32), respectively. Other enzymes, such as the neutral endopeptidase 24–11, is curiously not only involved in the degradation and inactivation of ET-1, but is also responsible for the final production of the peptide via the hydrolysis of ET-1 (1–31). In this review, we will attempt to summarize, through the above-mentioned characteristics, the current wisdom on the role of these different enzymes in the genesis and termination of effect of the most potent pressor peptide reported to date.Key words: endothelin converting enzyme, endothelin-1, isoforms, human, inhibitors, chymase, ET-1 (1–31).

2002 ◽  
Vol 103 (s2002) ◽  
pp. 353S-356S ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin A. DE CAMPO ◽  
Roy G. GOLDIE ◽  
Arco Y. JENG ◽  
Peter J. HENRY

The present study examined the roles of endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE), neutral endopeptidase (NEP) and mast cell chymase as processors of the endothelin (ET) analogues ET-1(1–21), ET-1(1–31) and big ET-1 in the trachea of allergic mice. Male CBA/CaH mice were sensitized with ovalbumin (10µg) delivered intraperitoneal on days 1 and 14, and exposed to aerosolized ovalbumin on days 14, 25, 26 and 27 (OVA mice). Mice were killed and the trachea excised for histological analysis and contraction studies on day 28. Tracheae from OVA mice had 40% more mast cells than vehicle-sensitized mice (sham mice). Ovalbumin (10µg/ml) induced transient contractions (15±3% of the Cmax) in tracheae from OVA mice. The ECE inhibitor CGS35066 (10µM) inhibited contractions induced by big ET-1 (4.8-fold rightward shift of dose-response curve; P<0.05), but not those induced by either ET-1(1–21) or ET-1(1–31). The chymase inhibitors chymostatin (10µM) and Bowman-Birk inhibitor (10µM) had no effect on contractions induced by any of the ET analogues used. The NEP inhibitor CGS24592 (10µM) inhibited contractions induced by ET-1(1–31) (6.2-fold rightward shift; P<0.05) but not ET-1(1–21) or big ET-1. These data suggest that big ET-1 is processed predominantly by a CGS35066-sensitive ECE within allergic airways rather than by mast cell-derived proteases such as chymase. If endogenous ET-1(1–31) is formed within allergic airways, it is likely to undergo further conversion by NEP to more active products.


Life Sciences ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 91 (13-14) ◽  
pp. 743-748 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison Seed ◽  
Rhoda E. Kuc ◽  
Janet J. Maguire ◽  
Christopher Hillier ◽  
Fiona Johnston ◽  
...  

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