ETB receptor-mediated vasodilation is regulated by estradiol in young women

The endothelin-B (ETB) receptor mediates vasodilation in young women, an effect lost following menopause. It is unclear whether these alterations are due to aging or changes in estradiol (E2). During endogenous hormone suppression (GnRH antagonist), blockade of ETB receptors enhanced cutaneous microvascular vasodilation. However, during E2 administration, blockade of ETB receptors attenuated vasodilation, indicating that the ETB receptor mediates dilation in the presence of E2. In young women, ETB receptors mediate vasodilation in the presence of E2, an effect that is lost when E2 is suppressed.

Endothelin receptor antagonism improves glucose handling, dyslipidemia, and adipose tissue inflammation in obese mice

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is elevated in patients with obesity; however, its contribution to the pathophysiology related to obesity is not fully understood. We hypothesized that high ET-1 levels cause dyslipidemia, inflammation, and insulin resistance within the adipose tissue of obese mice. To test this hypothesis, male C57BL/6J mice were fed either normal diet (NMD) or high fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks followed by 2 weeks of treatment with either vehicle, atrasentan (ETA receptor antagonist, 10mg/kg/day), or bosentan (ETA/ETB receptor antagonist, 100mg/kg/day). Atrasentan and bosentan lowered circulating non-esterified free fatty acids and triglycerides seen in HFD mice, while atrasentan-treated mice had significantly lower liver triglycerides compared to non-treated HFD mice. ET-1 receptor blockade significantly improved insulin tolerance compared to insulin resistant HFD mice and lowered expression of genes in epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) associated with insulin resistance and inflammation. Flow cytometric analyses of eWAT indicated that HFD mice had significantly higher percentages of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells compared to NMD mice, which was attenuated by treatment with atrasentan or bosentan. Atrasentan treatment also abolished the decrease in eosinophils seen in HFD mice. Taken together, these data indicate that ETA and ETA/ETB receptor blockade improves peripheral glucose homeostasis, dyslipidemia, and liver triglycerides, and also attenuates the proinflammatory immune profile in eWAT of mice fed a HFD. These data suggest a potential use for ETA and ETA/ETB receptor blockers in the treatment of obesity-associated dyslipidemia and insulin resistance.

The vasoconstrictor endothelin system involvement in chronic kidney diseases pathogenesis is now the most often employed treatment method

Over 30,000 publications have been published about the vasoconstrictor endothelin-1, which was identified by Yanagisawa and co-workers in 1988. While the evidence is quite compelling, scientists can only speculate on how the endothelin (ET) system affects blood pressure and renal function at this time. ET system involvement in chronic kidney diseases (CKD) pathogenesis is now the most often employed treatment method. ET1, ET2, and ET3 are all members of the endothelin family. Endothelium, renal, and smooth muscle cells all generate ET-1, a significant isoform found in both cardiovascular and renal systems.Kidney cells act on, and contain, ET-1. The ETA receptor is found in the brain and medulla, but not in the vasa recta or glomeruli. Epithelial and endothelial cells contain the ETB receptor, which is most prominent in collecting duct cells. 3 In several experiments, ET-1 has been established to be largely a preglomerular vasoconstrictor. Mesangial proliferation, contraction, and collagen production are regulated by ET-1 and ETB receptors in podocytes. The epithelium in the collecting duct cells in the medulla is important in controlling Na excretion and BP. Without the ET-1 gene, the mice have hypertension and reduced natriuresis in response to salt loading. Et-1, ETB receptor, and hypertension are shown in mice that have lost the ETB receptor gene. There is no correlation between blood pressure regulation and natriuresis.Combined disruption of the ETA and ETB receptors has greater effects on blood pressure and Na reabsorption than when ETB receptor activity is missing. It appears that the ETB receptor doesn't work until ETB is present. Collecting duct-derived ET receptors reduces the transport of sodium. Src kinase and MAPK1/2 decrease epidermal Na channel (ENaC) function, decreasing water and salt reabsorption. Moreover, inner medullary collecting duct cells and vasa recta-bearing cells will release NO, which decreases sodium transport.

Endothelin ETB Receptor-Mediated Astrocytic Activation: Pathological Roles in Brain Disorders

In brain disorders, reactive astrocytes, which are characterized by hypertrophy of the cell body and proliferative properties, are commonly observed. As reactive astrocytes are involved in the pathogenesis of several brain disorders, the control of astrocytic function has been proposed as a therapeutic strategy, and target molecules to effectively control astrocytic functions have been investigated. The production of brain endothelin-1 (ET-1), which increases in brain disorders, is involved in the pathophysiological response of the nervous system. Endothelin B (ETB) receptors are highly expressed in reactive astrocytes and are upregulated by brain injury. Activation of astrocyte ETB receptors promotes the induction of reactive astrocytes. In addition, the production of various astrocyte-derived factors, including neurotrophic factors and vascular permeability regulators, is regulated by ETB receptors. In animal models of Alzheimer’s disease, brain ischemia, neuropathic pain, and traumatic brain injury, ETB-receptor-mediated regulation of astrocytic activation has been reported to improve brain disorders. Therefore, the astrocytic ETB receptor is expected to be a promising drug target to improve several brain disorders. This article reviews the roles of ETB receptors in astrocytic activation and discusses its possible applications in the treatment of brain disorders.

Loss of endothelin type B receptor function improves insulin sensitivity in rats

High salt intake (HS) is associated with obesity and insulin resistance. ET-1, a peptide released in response to HS, inhibits the actions of insulin on cultured adipocytes through ET-1 type B (ETB) receptors; however, the in vivo implications of ETB receptor activation on lipid metabolism and insulin resistance is unknown. We hypothesized that activation of ETB receptors in response to HS intake promotes dyslipidemia and insulin resistance. In normal salt (NS) fed rats, no significant difference in body mass or epididymal fat mass was observed between control and ETB deficient rats. After 2 weeks of HS, ETB-deficient rats had significantly lower body mass and epididymal fat mass compared to controls. Nonfasting plasma glucose was not different between genotypes; however, plasma insulin concentration was significantly lower in ETB-deficient rats compared to controls, suggesting improved insulin sensitivity. In addition, ETB-deficient rats had higher circulating free fatty acids in both NS and HS groups, with no difference in plasma triglycerides between genotypes. In a separate experiment, ETB-deficient rats had significantly lower fasting blood glucose and improved glucose and insulin tolerance compared to controls. These data suggest that ET-1 promotes adipose deposition and insulin resistance via the ETB receptor.

Abstract P016: Sex Differential Effects Of Hyperoxia And Thioredoxin Reductase-1 Inhibition On The Kidney Endothelin-1 System

The vasoactive peptide endothelin-1 (ET-1) is critical in lung and kidney injury. Notably, renal damageand hyperoxia-induced lung disease are more prevalent in males than females. Aurothioglucose (ATG),an inhibitor of thioredoxin reductase-1, attenuates hyperoxia-induced lung injury in mice; however, theeffects of hyperoxia and/or ATG treatment on the kidney ET-1 system remain unknown. Wehypothesized that hyperoxia would activate the renal ET-1 system and that ATG treatment wouldattenuate this activation. Male and female adult C57Bl/6 mice received a single injection of saline orATG (25mg/Kg, i.p.) and were exposed to room air (RA) or >90% O2 for 72 hours. Kidney and spleen werecollected for assessment of the ET-1 system by RT-PCR and glomerular morphology and immune cellinfiltration were evaluated by histology and immunohistochemistry, respectively. In male mice,hyperoxia reduced the cortical expression of ET-1 (RA vs. hyperoxia: 1 ± 0.05 vs. 0.34 ± 0.04, p<0.05;n=3-4/group) and ameliorated the expression of ETA receptor. In RA males, treatment with ATGsignificantly halved the expression of ET-1 and ETB receptor (saline vs. ATG, ET-1: 1 ± 0.05 vs. 0.45 ± 0.07,p<0.05; n=3-4/group; ETB receptor: 1 ± 0.09 vs. 0.37 ± 0.10, p<0.05; n=3-4/group), but had no effect inhyperoxic males. Contrarily, hyperoxic females demonstrated a 3-fold upregulation of corticalETB receptor expression, which was significantly prevented by ATG (saline vs. ATG: 2.80 ± 0.37 vs. 0.95 ±0.27, p<0.05; n=3-4/group). ATG treatment in hyperoxic females also decreased the cortical expressionof ET-1 and ETA receptor. No changes in cortical inflammation or glomerular morphology were observed.Further preliminary results showed that hyperoxia led to a 4-fold increase in splenic ET-1 expression insaline-treated mice, and a 7-fold increase in mice treated with ATG. These results demonstrate sexdifferences in the effects of hyperoxia and ATG treatment in the renal ET-1 system and highlight ATG asa possible therapeutic target to attenuate hyperoxia-induced kidney damage. Funded by NIHK01HL145324 and UAB Diabetes Research Center Pilot Project grant to CDM.