Up-regulation of endothelin type B receptors in the human internal mammary artery in culture is dependent on protein kinase C and mitogen-activated kinase signaling pathways
2008

Endothelin Type B Receptors in Human Internal Mammary Arteries

Sample size: 27 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): David Nilsson, Lotta Gustafsson, Angelica Wackenfors, Bodil Gesslein, Lars Edvinsson, Per Paulsson, Richard Ingemansson, Malin Malmsjö

Primary Institution: Lund University Hospital, Sweden

Hypothesis

Mitogen-activated kinases (MAPK) and protein kinase C (PKC) are involved in the regulation of endothelin ETB receptors in human internal mammary arteries.

Conclusion

PKC and MAPK are involved in the up-regulation of endothelin ETB receptor expression in human internal mammary arteries.

Supporting Evidence

  • Endothelin ETB receptors are up-regulated in human coronary arteries after organ culture.
  • 44% of the examined arteries responded to the endothelin ETB receptor agonist sarafotoxin 6c.
  • PKC and MAPK inhibitors blocked the up-regulation of endothelin ETB receptors.

Takeaway

This study found that certain proteins in our body help increase the number of specific receptors that can cause blood vessels to tighten, which is important for understanding heart diseases.

Methodology

Human internal mammary arteries were cultured for 24 hours and analyzed using in vitro pharmacology, real-time PCR, and Western blot techniques.

Participant Demographics

Median age of participants was 70 years, with 21 men and 6 women.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1471-2261-8-21

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