Enhanced Assymetrical Noradrenergic Transmission in the Olfactory Bulb of Deoxycorticosterone Acetate-Salt Hypertensive Rats

The ablation of olfactory bulb induces critical changes in dopamine, and monoamine oxidase activity in the brain stem. Growing evidence supports the participation of this telencephalic region in the regulation blood pressure and cardiovascular activity but little is known about its contribution to hypertension. We have previously reported that in the olfactory bulb of normotensive rats endothelins enhance noradrenergic activity by increasing tyrosine hydroxylase activity and norepinephrine release. In the present study we sought to establish the status of noradrenergic activity in the olfactory bulb of deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertensive rats. Different steps in norepinephrine transmission including tyrosine hydroxylase activity, neuronal norepinephrine release and uptake were assessed in the left and right olfactory bulb of DOCA-salt hypertensive rats. Increased tyrosine hydroxylase activity, and decreased neuronal norepinephrine uptake were observed in the olfactory bulb of DOCA-salt hypertensive rats. Furthermore the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase and its phosphorylated forms were also augmented. Intriguingly, asymmetrical responses between the right and left olfactory bulb of normotensive and hypertensive rats were observed. Neuronal norepinephrine release was increased in the right but not in the left olfactory bulb of DOCA-salt hypertensive rats, whereas non asymmetrical differences were observed in normotensive animals. Present findings indicate that the olfactory bulb of hypertensive rats show an asymmetrical increase in norepinephrine activity. The observed changes in noradrenergic transmission may likely contribute to the onset and/or progression of hypertension in this animal model.     

Short-term Effects of Endothelins on Tyrosine Hydroxylase Activity and Expression in the Olfactory Bulb of Normotensive Rats

The olfactory system in rats is part of the limbic region with extensive afferent connections with brain areas involved in the regulation of behaviour and autonomic responses. The existence of the endothelin system and catecholaminergic neurons in the olfactory bulb suggests that endothelins may modulate noradrenergic transmission and diverse olfactory mediated processes. In the present work we studied the effect of endothelin-1 and -3 on neuronal norepinephrine release and the short-term regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase in the olfactory bulb. Results showed that both endothelins increased tyrosine hydroxylase activity through the activation of a non-conventional endothelin G-protein coupled receptor, coupled to the stimulation of protein kinase A and C, as well as Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II. On the other hand, neither endothelin-1 nor endothelin-3 modified tyrosine hydroxylase total protein levels, but both peptides increased the phosphorylation of serine residues of the enzyme at sites 19 and 40. Furthermore, endothelins enhanced norepinephrine release in olfactory neurons suggesting that this event may contribute to increased tyrosine hydroxylase activity by reducing the feedback inhibition. Taken together present findings show a clear interaction between the endothelin system, and the catecholaminergic transmission in the olfactory bulb. Additional studies are required to evaluate the physiological functions regulated by endothelins at this brain level.     

Angiotensin II enhances endothelin-1-induced vasoconstriction through upregulating endothelin type A receptor

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is the most potent vasoconstrictor by binding to endothelin receptors (ET_AR) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). The complex of angiotensin II (Ang II) and Ang II type one receptor (AT₁R) acts as a transient constrictor of VSMCs. The synergistic effect of ET-1 and Ang II on blood pressure has been observed in rats; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. We hypothesize that Ang II leads to enhancing ET-1-mediated vasoconstriction through the activation of endothelin receptor in VSMCs. The ET-1-induced vasoconstriction, ET-1 binding, and endothelin receptor expression were explored in the isolated endothelium-denuded aortae and A-10 VSMCs. Ang II pretreatment enhanced ET-1-induced vasoconstriction and ET-1 binding to the aorta. Ang II enhanced ET_AR expression, but not ET_BR, in aorta and increased ET-1 binding, mainly to ET_AR in A-10 VSMCs. Moreover, Ang II-enhanced ET_AR expression was blunted and ET-1 binding was reduced by AT₁R antagonism or by inhibitors of PKC or ERK individually. In conclusion, Ang II enhances ET-1-induced vasoconstriction by upregulating ET_AR expression and ET-1/ET_AR binding, which may be because of the AngII/Ang II receptor pathways and the activation of PKC or ERK. These findings suggest the synergistic effect of Ang II and ET-1 on the pathogenic development of hypertension.     

Sex Steroids Effects on the Content of GAD, TH, GABAA, and Glutamate Receptors in the Olfactory Bulb of the Male Rat

Sex steroids exert multiple functions in the central nervous system. They modulate responses to olfactory information in mammals but their participation in the regulation of neurotransmission in the olfactory bulb is unknown. We studied by Western blot the effects of estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4), and allopregnanolone (Allo) on the content of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), γ-aminobutyric acid A receptor α-2 subunit (GABA_AR α-2), glutamate receptor 2/3 (GlutR 2/3), and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the olfactory bulb of gonadectomized male rats. GAD content was increased by all steroids administered alone. Interestingly, progestins reduced E2 effects on GAD content. Steroids increased the content of TH and GABA_AR α-2. In contrast, GlutR 2/3 content was decreased by E2 and P4, whereas Allo did not modify it. These results suggest that estrogens and progestins regulate olfactory bulb functions in the male rat by modulating the expression of key proteins involved in several neurotransmission systems. Special issue article in honor of Dr. Ricardo Tapia.     

ETA receptor-mediated role of endothelin in the kidney of doca-salt hypertensive rats

Renal effects of FR139317, an endothelin ET_A receptor antagonist, were examined using anesthetized normotensive and deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertensive rats. The intravenous bolus injection of FR139317 (10 mg/kg) produced a slight decrease in mean blood pressure (MAP; −13%) in the control rats and this hypotension was accompanied by a moderate renal vasodilation (renal vascular resistance: RVR; −12%). In the DOCA-salt hypertensive rat, FR139317 had a more pronounced hypotensive effect (MAP; −26%) accompanied by a potent renal vasodilation (RVR; −33%). FR 139317 significantly increased renal blood flow only in the DOCAsalt rats. In contrast, FR139317 produced a significant decrease in urine flow and urinary sodium excretion only in control rats. Northern blot analysis revealed that the renal prepro endothelin-1 (ET-1) mRNA level was significantly increased in DOCA-salt hypertensive rats. Thus, it seems likely that endogenous ET-1 is responsible for the maintenance of DOCA-salt-induced hypertension. We also suggest that at least in part, ET-1 and £ta receptors are involved in renal hemodynamic abnormalities in DOCA-salt-induced hypertension. The augmentation of renal ET-1 production may possibly have a function in the development and maintenance of DOCA-salt-induced hypertension.     

Cigarette smoke upregulates rat coronary artery endothelin receptors in vivo

Background

Cigarette smoking is a strong cardiovascular risk factor and endothelin (ET) receptors are related to coronary artery diseases. The present study established an in vivo secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure model and investigated the hypothesis that cigarette smoke induces ET receptor upregulation in rat coronary arteries and its possible underlying mechanisms.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Rats were exposed to SHS for 200 min daily for 8 weeks. The coronary arteries were isolated and examined. The vasoconstriction was studied by a sensitive myograph. The expression of mRNA and protein for receptors was examined by real-time PCR, Western blot and immunofluorescence. Compared to fresh air exposure, SHS increased contractile responses mediated by endothelin type A (ET_A) and type B (ET_B) receptors in coronary arteries. In parallel, the expression of mRNA and protein for ET_A and ET_B receptors of smoke exposed rats were higher than that of animals exposed to fresh air, suggesting that SHS upregulates ET_A and ET_B receptors in coronary arteries in vivo. Immunofluorescence staining showed that the enhanced receptor expression was localized to the smooth muscle cells of coronary arteries. The protein levels of phosphorylated (p)-Raf-1 and p-ERK1/2 in smoke exposed rats were significantly higher than in control rats, demonstrating that SHS induces the activation of the Raf/ERK/MAPK pathway. Treatment with Raf-1 inhibitor GW5074 suppressed SHS-induced enhanced contraction mediated by ET_A receptors, and inhibited the elevated mRNA and protein levels of ET_A and ET_B receptors caused by SHS. The results of correlation and regression analysis showed that phosphorylation of Raf and ERK1/2 were independent determinants to affect protein expression of ET_B and ET_A receptors.

Conclusions/Significance

Cigarette smoke upregulates ET_B and ET_A receptors in rat coronary artery, which is associated with the activation of the Raf/ERK/MAPK pathway.     

Number and brightness analysis to study spatio-temporal distribution of the angiotensin II AT1 and the endothelin-1 ETA receptors: Influence of ligand binding

The angiotensin II AT₁ and the endothelin 1 ET_A receptors play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases like hypertension, heart failure, stroke, pulmonary hypertension, and cardiac hypertrophy. Both receptors are members of the rhodopsion-like superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors which can exist as monomers, dimers, and higher order aggregates.Recently, oligomerization of these two receptors have been described by several biophysical methods based mainly on luminescence and fluorescence energy transfer. Since this oligomerization can occur either spontaneously or it can be induced by ligand-binding, the aim of this work was to address whether the oligomerization of these receptors occurs upon ligand-binding. For this purpose the Number and Brightness analysis, a method that allows the identification, localization, and quantification of protein aggregates in the plasma membrane of a single cell, was used. An advantage of this method is that it is not limited to certain dyes specially required for Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer measurements.Our results showed that stably transfected angiotensin II AT₁ receptors and transiently transfected endothelin 1 ET_A receptors, were found as monomeric, dimeric, and tetrameric receptor aggregates. Interestingly, the binding of antihypertensive agents like losartan and BQ123, earlier suggested to be inverse agonists, significantly increased the proportion of monomers and reduced the occurrence of dimers on the cell membrane; while the kown endothelin 1 ET_A antagonist sitaxentan did not influence the aggregation state of these receptors.     

Cerebrospinal Fluid from Patients with Subarachnoid Haemorrhage and Vasospasm Enhances Endothelin Contraction in Rat Cerebral Arteries

Introduction

Previous studies have suggested that cerebrospinal fluid from patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) leads to pronounced vasoconstriction in isolated arteries. We hypothesized that only cerebrospinal fluid from SAH patients with vasospasm would produce an enhanced contractile response to endothelin-1 in rat cerebral arteries, involving both endothelin ET_A and ET_B receptors.

Methods

Intact rat basilar arteries were incubated for 24 hours with cerebrospinal fluid from 1) SAH patients with vasospasm, 2) SAH patients without vasospasm, and 3) control patients. Arterial segments with and without endothelium were mounted in myographs and concentration-response curves for endothelin-1 were constructed in the absence and presence of selective and combined ET_A and ET_B receptor antagonists. Endothelin concentrations in culture medium and receptor expression were measured.

Results

Compared to the other groups, the following was observed in arteries exposed to cerebrospinal fluid from patients with vasospasm: 1) larger contractions at lower endothelin concentrations (p<0.05); 2) the increased endothelin contraction was absent in arteries without endothelium; 3) higher levels of endothelin secretion in the culture medium (p<0.05); 4) there was expression of ET_A receptors and new expression of ET_B receptors was apparent; 5) reduction in the enhanced response to endothelin after ET_B blockade in the low range and after ET_A blockade in the high range of endothelin concentrations; 6) after combined ET_A and ET_B blockade a complete inhibition of endothelin contraction was observed.

Conclusions

Our experimental findings showed that in intact rat basilar arteries exposed to cerebrospinal fluid from patients with vasospasm endothelin contraction was enhanced in an endothelium-dependent manner and was blocked by combined ET_A and ET_B receptor antagonism. Therefore we suggest that combined blockade of both receptors may play a role in counteracting vasospasm in patients with SAH.     

Impact of Superoxide Dismutase Mimetic AEOL 10150 on the Endothelin System of Fischer 344 Rats

Endothelin-1 is a potent vasoconstrictor and mitogenic peptide involved in the regulation of vasomotor tone and maintenance of blood pressure. Oxidative stress activates the endothelin system, and is implicated in pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases including hypertension, congestive heart failure, and atherosclerosis. Superoxide dismutase mimetics designed with the aim of treating diseases that involve reactive oxygen species in their pathophysiology may exert a hypotensive effect, but effects on the endothelin system are unknown. Our objective was to determine the effect of the superoxide dismutase mimetic AEOL 10150 on the basal endothelin system in vivo. Male Fischer-344 rats were injected subcutaneously with 0, 2 or 5 mg/kg body weight of AEOL 10150 in saline. Plasma oxidative stress markers and endothelins (bigET-1, ET-1, ET-2, ET-3) as well as lung and heart endothelin/nitric oxide system gene expressions were measured using HPLC-Coularray, HPLC-Fluorescence and RT-PCR respectively. AEOL 10150 reduced (p<0.05) the circulating levels of isoprostane (-25%) and 3-nitrotyrosine (-50%) measured in plasma 2h and 24h after treatment, confirming delivery of a physiologically-relevant dose and the potent antioxidant activity of the drug. The reduction in markers of oxidative stress coincided with sustained 24h decrease (p<0.05) of plasma levels of ET-1 (-50%) and ET-3 (-10%). Expression of preproET-1 and endothelin converting enzyme-1 mRNA were not altered significantly in the lungs. However preproET-1 (not significant) and ECE-1 mRNA (p<0.05) were increased (10–25%) in the heart. Changes in the lungs included decrease (p<0.05) of mRNA for the ET-1 clearance receptor ET_B and the vasoconstriction-signaling ET_A receptor (-30%), and an early surge of inducible nitric oxide synthase expression followed by sustained decrease (-40% after 24 hours). The results indicate that interception of the endogenous physiological flux of reactive nitrogen species and reactive oxygen species in rats impacts the endothelin/nitric oxide system, supporting a homeostatic relationship between those systems.     

Design,synthesis and evaluation of 1,3,6-trisubstituted-4-oxo-1,4-dihydroquinoline-2-carboxylic acid derivatives as ETA receptor selective antagonists using FRET assay

The endothelin axis and in particular the two receptor subtypes, ET_A and ET_B, are under investigation for the treatment of various diseases such as pulmonary arterial hypertension, fibrosis, renal failure and cancer. Previous work in our lab has shown that 1,3,6-trisubstituted-4-oxo-1,4-dihydroquinoline-2-carboxylic acid derivatives exhibit noteworthy endothelin receptor antagonist activity. A series of analogues with modifications centered around position 6 of the heterocyclic quinolone core and replacement of the aryl carboxylic acid group with an isosteric tetrazole ring was designed and synthesized to further optimize the structure activity relationship. The endothelin receptor antagonist activity was determined by in vitro Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) using GeneBLAzer® assay technology. The most potent member of this series exhibited ET_A receptor antagonist activity in the subnanomolar range with an IC₅₀ value of 0.8 nM, and was 1000-fold selective for the ET_A receptor compared to the ET_B receptor. Its activity and selectivity profile resembles that of the most recently approved drug, macitentan.     

Fasudil attenuates sympathetic nervous activity in the adrenal medulla of spontaneously hypertensive rats

We investigated the effects of fasudil, a Rho kinase inhibitor, on hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats and on the catecholamine synthetic pathway. Ten-week-old male SHR and Wistar-Kyoto rats were administered fasudil (10 mg/kg/day s.c.) for 4 days. Systolic blood pressure was measured using the tail-cuff method. Catecholamine levels were measured with high-performance liquid chromatography-ECD methods. Tyrosine hydroxylase protein levels were measured in Western blot analysis. The tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA level was measured using real-time PCR methods. Fasudil significantly decreased systolic blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats, but not in Wistar-Kyoto rats. Fasudil also significantly decreased catecholamine, tyrosine hydroxylase protein, and tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA levels in the adrenal medulla of spontaneously hypertensive rats. These results suggest that the depressor effects of fasudil on hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats may be related to inhibition of the catecholamine synthetic pathway.     

PET-compatible endothelin receptor radioligands: Synthesis and first in vitro and in vivo studies

The expression and function of endothelin (ET) receptors is abnormal in cardiovascular diseases, tumor progression, and tumor metastasis. In this study, we prepared two [¹⁸F]-fluorinated derivatives of the non-peptide ET_A receptor antagonist PD 156707 and evaluated their ET receptor binding potencies. Ex vivo as well as in vivo biodistribution studies in mice were performed, as well as the metabolism of the radiotracer, which was examined by metabolite analysis in mice and rats. All tested derivatives of PD 156707 exhibited potent in vitro pharmacological characteristics with K_i values comparable to that of the lead compound. The biodistribution studies showed a high accumulation of the tracer in bile and intestine. In vivo we were able to show that the visualization of the heart as a major target organ with high ET_AR expression is possible.     

Pharmacology of the Adenosine A3 Receptor in the Vasculature and Essential Hypertension

Background

Essential hypertension is considered to be a multifactorial disorder and its aetiology has yet to be clearly identified. As the adenosine receptors have a significant role in mediating vasodilation, alterations in their structures or signalling pathways may be involved in the development of hypertension. This study aimed to measure the expression of adenosine A₃ receptors in a range of cardiovascular tissues and determine whether they could be altered with essential hypertension, and to functionally test responses to adenosine A₃ receptor agonists in coronary blood vessels using the isolated perfused heart preparation.

Methods

mRNA samples from cardiovascular tissues and a range of blood vessels were collected from 10 week old male spontaneously hypertensive rats and age-gender matched Wistar rats (n = 8). The Langendorff heart perfusion preparation was used to characterise adenosine A₃ receptor mediated coronary vasodilation in the rat heart.

Results

Adenosine A₃ receptor agonists induced coronary vasodilation. The expression of adenosine A₃ receptors in cardiovascular tissues was altered in a tissue-specific pattern. Specifically, down-regulation of adenosine A₃ receptor expression occurred in hypertensive hearts, which might be associated with attenuated vasodilator responses observed in coronary vessels to adenosine A₃ receptor agonists.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated alterations in the expression of adenosine A₃ receptors occurred in a tissue specific mode, and reduced adenosine A₃ receptor mediated coronary vasodilation in hearts from spontaneously hypertensive rats. Our findings with regard to changes in the adenosine A₃ receptor in hypertensive hearts suggest that adenosine A₃ receptor might play a role in the physiopathology of essential hypertension and potentially open the way to pharmacologic manipulation of vasomotor activity by the use of adenosine A₃ receptor agonists.     

Decreased tyrosine hydroxylase activity in the adrenals of spontaneously hypertensive rats

Higher activity of the peripheral sympathetic nervous system, accompanied by higher tyrosine hydroxylase activity is frequently and consistently reported in human essential hypertension as well as in animal models of hypertension. However, results obtained in the adrenals, particularly in young animals before the development of hypertension, are scarce and controversial. In the present study tyrosine hydroxylase activity and catecholamine content in the adrenals of spontaneously hypertensive rats and of age-matched control Wistar Kyoto rats were evaluated before, during and after the development of hypertension (5, 12 and 22-week-old animals). Results show that both tyrosine hydroxylase activity and total amine content in the adrenals of spontaneously hypertensive rats were significantly reduced (35% reduction) at all studied ages. Determination of the kinetic parameters for tyrosine hydroxylase in the adrenals of 5 week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats revealed a 38% reduction in V(max) values (13.4 versus 21.3 nmol L-DOPA/mg prot/h in age-matched controls) accompanied by lower levels of expression of both tyrosine hydroxylase total protein and phosphoSer40 observed by Western-Blot. In contrast, norepinephrine content in both plasma and tail artery were significantly higher in the spontaneously hypertensive strain. In conclusion, contrary to the higher peripheral sympathetic activity, tyrosine hydroxylase activity and catecholamine content in the adrenals of spontaneously hypertensive rats are markedly reduced before, during and after the development of hypertension. End product, long-term feedback inhibition by the high norepinephrine plasma levels could be responsible for this reduction, establishing yet another regulatory mechanism of tyrosine hydroxylase operating in adrenal cromaffin cells.     

Distinct ETA Receptor Binding Mode of Macitentan As Determined by Site Directed Mutagenesis

The competitive endothelin receptor antagonists (ERA) bosentan and ambrisentan, which have long been approved for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension, are characterized by very short (1 min) occupancy half-lives at the ET_A receptor. The novel ERA macitentan, displays a 20-fold increased receptor occupancy half-life, causing insurmountable antagonism of ET-1-induced signaling in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells. We show here that the slow ET_A receptor dissociation rate of macitentan was shared with a set of structural analogs, whereas compounds structurally related to bosentan displayed fast dissociation kinetics. NMR analysis showed that macitentan adopts a compact structure in aqueous solution and molecular modeling suggests that this conformation tightly fits into a well-defined ET_A receptor binding pocket. In contrast the structurally different and negatively charged bosentan-type molecules only partially filled this pocket and expanded into an extended endothelin binding site. To further investigate these different ET_A receptor-antagonist interaction modes, we performed functional studies using ET_A receptor variants harboring amino acid point mutations in the presumed ERA interaction site. Three ET_A receptor residues significantly and differentially affected ERA activity: Mutation R326Q did not affect the antagonist activity of macitentan, however the potencies of bosentan and ambrisentan were significantly reduced; mutation L322A rendered macitentan less potent, whereas bosentan and ambrisentan were unaffected; mutation I355A significantly reduced bosentan potency, but not ambrisentan and macitentan potencies. This suggests that – in contrast to bosentan and ambrisentan - macitentan-ET_A receptor binding is not dependent on strong charge-charge interactions, but depends predominantly on hydrophobic interactions. This different binding mode could be the reason for macitentan''s sustained target occupancy and insurmountable antagonism.     

An endothelin type A receptor-expressing cell to characterize endothelin-1 binding and screen antagonist

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) induces contraction of vascular smooth muscle through binding to endothelin type A receptor (ET_AR). COS-7 cells stably expressing high levels of the ET_AR were established (designated COS-7(ET_AR)). The COS-7(ET_AR) cell bound [¹²⁵I]ET-1 with a K_d of 932 ± 161 pM and a B_max of 74 ± 13 fmol/2 × 10⁵ cells. [¹²⁵I]ET-1 binding was inhibited by ET-1 and the ET_AR antagonist BQ-610, but not by the endothelin type B receptor (ET_BR) antagonist BQ-788. In clones expressing two ET_AR mutants containing D46N or R53Q substitutions in the first extracellular domain of the receptor, [¹²⁵I]ET-1 binding activity was dramatically reduced. This suggests that these single amino acid substitutions alter the three-dimensional structure of the ligand-binding domain of the ET_AR. Using COS-7(ET_AR) cell, we showed that Ca²⁺ or Mg²⁺ was essential for ET-1 binding to the ET_AR and that ET-1 treatment induced postreceptor signaling, that is, intracellular accumulation of cyclic AMP (cAMP) and Ca²⁺ mobilization. The COS-7(ET_AR) established in this study will be a useful tool for screening ET-1 antagonists for treating hypertension.     

Effects of Cyclic Intermittent Hypoxia on ET-1 Responsiveness and Endothelial Dysfunction of Pulmonary Arteries in Rats

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a risk factor for cardiovascular disorders and in some cases is complication of pulmonary hypertension. We simulated OSA by exposing rats to cyclic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) to investigate its effect on pulmonary vascular endothelial dysfunction. Sprague-Dawley Rats were exposed to CIH (FiO₂ 9% for 1 min, repeated every 2 min for 8 h/day, 7 days/wk for 3 wk), and the pulmonary arteries of normoxia and CIH treated rats were analyzed for expression of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and ET receptors by histological, immunohistochemical, RT-PCR and Western Blot analyses, as well as for contractility in response to ET-1. In the pulmonary arteries, ET-1 expression was increased, and ET-1 more potently elicited constriction of the pulmonary artery in CIH rats than in normoxic rats. Exposure to CIH induced marked endothelial cell damage associated with a functional decrease of endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in the pulmonary artery. Compared with normoxic rats, ET_A receptor expression was increased in smooth muscle cells of the CIH rats, while the expression of ET_B receptors was decreased in endothelial cells. These results demonstrated endothelium-dependent vasodilation was impaired and the vasoconstrictor responsiveness increased by CIH. The increased responsiveness to ET-1 induced by intermittent hypoxia in pulmonary arteries of rats was due to increased expression of ET_A receptors predominantly, meanwhile, decreased expression of ET_B receptors in the endothelium may also participate in it.     

Discovery of a series of pyrrolidine-based endothelin receptor antagonists with enhanced ETA receptor selectivity

Endothelins, ET-1, ET-2, and ET-3 are potent vasoconstricting and mitogenic 21-amino acid bicyclic peptides, which exert their effects upon binding to the ET_A and ET_B receptors. The ET_A receptor mediates vasoconstriction and smooth muscle cell proliferation, and the ET_B receptor mediates different effects in different tissues, including nitric oxide release from endothelial cells, and vasoconstriction in certain vascular cell types. Selective antagonists of endothelin receptor subtypes may prove useful in determining the role of endothelin in various tissue types and disease states, and hence as therapeutic agents for such diseases. The pyrrolidine carboxylic acid A-127722 has been disclosed as a potent and ET_A-selective antagonist, and is currently undergoing clinical trials. In our efforts to find antagonists with altered selectivity (ET_A-selective, ET_B-selective, or nonselective), we investigated the SAR of the 2-substituent on the pyrrolidine. Compounds with alkyl groups at the 2-position possessed ET_A selectivity improved over A-127722 (1400-fold selective), with the best of these compounds showing nearly 19,000-fold selectivity.