Role of Endothelin in the Regulation of Vascular Tone in Patients With Essential Hypertension

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a powerful vasoconstricting peptide produced predominantly by vascular endothelial cells, that exerts its effect through the interaction with specific receptors, ETA and ETB, on the underlying smooth muscle cells. Previous studies in normal subjects have demonstrated an increase in forearm blood flow after ET-1 antagonism, suggesting a physiologic role of ET-1 in the regulation of basal vascular tone. However, whether ET-1-mediated tone is increased in hypertensive patients is unknown.

The main purpose of this study will be to compare the forearm vascular responses to local infusion of ET-1 receptor antagonists between normotensive and hypertensive subjects in order to assess whether ET-1-mediated basal tone is increased in patients with hypertension. In addition, we propose to study the vascular responses to local ET-1 infusion to determine whether vascular smooth muscle sensitivity to this peptide is increased in hypertensive vessels. We will use both an ETA receptor antagonist, BQ-123, and an ETB receptor antagonist, BQ-788, in order to evaluate the relative contribution of the two receptor subtypes to the regulation of vascular tone.

All drugs will be infused into the brachial artery and the responses of the forearm vasculature will be measured by means of strain gauge plethysmography. Because of the relative long-lasting effect of most of the substances to be infused, the study will be performed on two separate occasions.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Hypertension

Detailed Description

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a powerful vasoconstricting peptide produced predominantly by vascular endothelial cells, that exerts its effect through the interaction with specific receptors, ETA and ETB, on the underlying smooth muscle cells. Previous studies in normal subjects have demonstrated an increase in forearm blood flow after ET-1 antagonism, suggesting a physiologic role of ET-1 in the regulation of basal vascular tone. However, whether ET-1-mediated tone is increased in hypertensive patients is unknown.

The main purpose of this study will be to compare the forearm vascular responses to local infusion of ET-1 receptor antagonists between normotensive and hypertensive subjects in order to assess whether ET-1-mediated basal tone is increased in patients with hypertension. In addition, we propose to study the vascular responses to local ET-1 infusion to determine whether vascular smooth muscle sensitivity to this peptide is increased in hypertensive vessels. We will use both an ETA receptor antagonist, BQ-123, and an ETB receptor antagonist, BQ-788, in order to evaluate the relative contribution of the two receptor subtypes to the regulation of vascular tone.

All drugs will be infused into the brachial artery and the responses of the forearm vasculature will be measured by means of strain gauge plethysmography. Because of the relative long-lasting effect of most of the substances to be infused, the study will be performed on two separate occasions.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment: 60

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Maryland
    • Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
      • National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Between 40-65 years old.

Normal Volunteers who are not taking medications. Have no medical problems. Cholesterol below 200 mg/dl. No contraceptives.

Hypertensive Patients with blood pressure greater than 145/90 off medications. Serum cholesterol less than 200 mg/dl. No other medical problems.

High cholesterol patients with cholesterol level greater than 250 mg/dl. No other medical problems.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Yanagisawa M, Kurihara H, Kimura S, Tomobe Y, Kobayashi M, Mitsui Y, Yazaki Y, Goto K, Masaki T. A novel potent vasoconstrictor peptide produced by vascular endothelial cells. Nature. 1988 Mar 31;332(6163):411-5. doi: 10.1038/332411a0.
• Rubanyi GM, Polokoff MA. Endothelins: molecular biology, biochemistry, pharmacology, physiology, and pathophysiology. Pharmacol Rev. 1994 Sep;46(3):325-415. No abstract available.
• Sakurai T, Yanagisawa M, Takuwa Y, Miyazaki H, Kimura S, Goto K, Masaki T. Cloning of a cDNA encoding a non-isopeptide-selective subtype of the endothelin receptor. Nature. 1990 Dec 20-27;348(6303):732-5. doi: 10.1038/348732a0.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: November 1, 1995
• Study Completion: September 1, 2000

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 3, 1999
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 9, 2002
• First Posted (Estimate): December 10, 2002

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): March 4, 2008
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 3, 2008
• Last Verified: November 1, 1999

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Essential Hypertension; Endothelium; Plethysmography; BQ-123; BQ-788; Endothelin
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Cardiovascular Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Hypertension; Essential Hypertension
• Other Study ID Numbers: 960016; 96-H-0016