The effects of novel cathepsin E inhibitors on the big endothelin pressor response in conscious rats. |
| |
| Authors: | J E Bird T L Waldron D K Little M M Asaad C R Dorso G DiDonato J A Norman |
| |
| Affiliation: | Department of Pharmacology, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Princeton, NJ. |
| |
| Abstract: | The aspartic protease, cathepsin E, has been shown to specifically cleave big endothelin (big ET-1) at the Trp21-Val22 bond to produce endothelin (ET-1) and the corresponding C-terminal fragment. To determine whether cathepsin E is a physiologically relevant endothelin converting enzyme (ECE), three novel and potent inhibitors of cathepsin E were administered to conscious rats prior to a pressor challenge with big ET-1. One of the inhibitors of cathepsin E, SQ 32,056 (3 mg/kg i.v.), blocked the big ET-1 response. However, this dose of SQ 32,056 also blocked the pressor response to ET-1. Phosphoramidon specifically inhibited the Big ET-1 pressor response. These results suggest that ECE is not cathepsin E. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
|
|
