C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP)/guanylate cyclase B (GC-B) system and endothelin-1(ET-1)/ET receptor A and B system in human vasculature

Endothelin-1/Endothelin Receptor Type A-Angiopoietins/Tie-2 Pathway in Regulating the Cross Talk Between Glomerular Endothelial Cells and Podocytes in Trichloroethylene-Induced Renal Immune Injury

Introduction

This study aimed to investigate the mechanism in regulating the cross talk between glomerular endothelial cells and podocytes in “occupational medicamentosa-like dermatitis induced by trichloroethylene (OMLDT)” patients.

Methods

Totally 6 OMLDT patients, 18 controls, and 102 BALB/c female mice were involved in this study. Patient’s serum endothelin-1 (ET-1), angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and podocalyxin (PCX) were detected. All the mice were used to establish the trichloroethylene (TCE) sensitized mouse model. Transmission electron microscope results were used to reflect renal glomerulus injury. Protein levels were detected by Western blot. Ang-1/Ang-2 gene level was reflected by RT-PCR. Cell apoptosis level was detected by using TUNEL assay kit.

Results

We found that in OMLDT patients, ET-1, Ang-2, BUN, and PCX were highly expressed but Ang-1 was inhibited. In TCE sensitized positive mouse, the downregulation of Ang-1, pTie-2 and the upregulation of Ang-2 were mediated by ET-1/ET_AR but not ET-1/ET_BR. The promotor of apoptosis proteins was downregulated and the inhibitor of apoptosis proteins was upregulated by treating with BQ123.

Discussion

ET-1/ET_AR-Angs/Tie-2 pathway mediated the cross talk between glomerular endothelial cells and podocytes. BQ123 can alleviate glomerulus immune injury.

Endothelin XVI

Although 31 years have passed since the discovery of endothelin, that pioneering report, and the subsequent flood of influential studies elucidating its molecular and clinical details, have since paved the way for thousands of publications. They showed the promise of endothelin and the vast amount of work that remains to be done to fully unleash the potential this peptide possesses, both as a key physiological regulator and as a therapeutic target. Endothelin conferences and their proceedings have served as a host for many of these breakthrough studies, and in keeping with this fine tradition, Endothelin XVI will host novel research articles presented at the Sixteenth International Conference on Endothelin (ET-16) as its proceedings. On September 22-25, 2019, ET-16 was held at Kobe Port Oasis, Kobe, Japan, where numerous important discoveries were presented to the scientific community for the first time, many of which are compiled and published in this special issue. As the Editors of this special issue that comprises in-depth reviews, insightful editorials, and numerous original research articles discussing findings from various biomedical fields, we are extremely proud to present Endothelin XVI. We sincerely hope for the continued growth of this field for the benefit of the patients and the advancement of biomedical science.

The Sixteenth International Conference on Endothelin (ET-16), Kobe, 2019

The Sixteenth International Conference on Endothelin (ET-16) was held September 22-25, 2019, in Kobe Port Oasis, Kobe, Japan, and co-chaired by Noriaki Emoto, MD, PhD, from Kobe Pharmaceutical University and Bambang Widyantoro, MD, PhD, from the University of Indonesia. As the sixteenth iteration of this biannual conference that has been held since 1988, ET-16 provided a platform for researchers of all generations from all parts of the world to present novel discoveries in the field of endothelin. ET-16 returned to Asia and to Kobe, Japan, after 6 years of alternating venues with North America and Europe, with over 100 participants attending, sharing, and discussing the newest findings on endothelin and endothelin receptor antagonists in science and medicine.