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Review
. 2007:47:731-59.
doi: 10.1146/annurev.pharmtox.47.120505.105134.

Contrasting actions of endothelin ET(A) and ET(B) receptors in cardiovascular disease

Markus P Schneider  1 , Erika I Boesen, David M Pollock
Affiliations
Review

Contrasting actions of endothelin ET(A) and ET(B) receptors in cardiovascular disease

Markus P Schneider et al. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol. 2007.

Abstract

First identified as a powerful vasoconstrictor, endothelin has an extremely diverse set of actions that influence homeostatic mechanisms throughout the body. Two receptor subtypes, ET(A) and ET(B), which usually have opposing actions, mediate the actions of endothelin. ET(A) receptors function to promote vasoconstriction, growth, and inflammation, whereas ET(B) receptors produce vasodilation, increases in sodium excretion, and inhibit growth and inflammation. Potent and selective receptor antagonists have been developed and have shown promising results in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases such as pulmonary arterial hypertension, acute and chronic heart failure, hypertension, renal failure, and atherosclerosis. However, results are often contradictory and complicated because of the tissue-specific vasoconstrictor actions of ET(B) receptors and the fact that endothelin is an autocrine and paracrine factor whose activity is difficult to measure in vivo. Considerable questions remain regarding whether ET(A)-selective or nonselective ET(A)/ET(B) receptor antagonists would be useful in a range of clinical settings.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Receptor-specific actions of endothelin that influence blood pressure control
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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