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Abstract
Discovered in 1987 as a potent endothelial cell-derived vasoconstrictor peptide, endothelin-1 (ET-1), the predominant member of the endothelin peptide family, is now recognized as a multifunctional peptide with cytokine-like activity contributing to almost all aspects of physiology and cell function. More than 30 000 scientific articles on endothelin were published over the past 3 decades, leading to the development and subsequent regulatory approval of a new class of therapeutics-the endothelin receptor antagonists (ERAs). This article reviews the history of the discovery of endothelin and its role in genetics, physiology, and disease. Here, we summarize the main clinical trials using ERAs and discuss the role of endothelin in cardiovascular diseases such as arterial hypertension, preecclampsia, coronary atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease (MINOCA) caused by spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), Takotsubo syndrome, and heart failure. We also discuss how endothelins contributes to diabetic kidney disease and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, pulmonary arterial hypertension, as well as cancer, immune disorders, and allograft rejection (which all involve ETA autoantibodies), and neurological diseases. The application of ERAs, dual endothelin receptor/angiotensin receptor antagonists (DARAs), selective ETB agonists, novel biologics such as receptor-targeting antibodies, or immunization against ETA receptors holds the potential to slow the progression or even reverse chronic noncommunicable diseases. Future clinical studies will show whether targeting endothelin receptors can prevent or reduce disability from disease and improve clinical outcome, quality of life, and survival in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Barton
- From Molecular Internal Medicine, University of Zürich, Switzerland (M.B.)
- Andreas Grüntzig Foundation, Zürich, Switzerland (M.B.)
| | - Masashi Yanagisawa
- International Institute for Integrative Sleep Medicine (WPI-IIIS) and Life Science Center, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance, University of Tsukuba, Japan (M.Y.)
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX (M.Y.)
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Romero-Pérez GA, Egashira M, Harada Y, Tsuruta T, Oda Y, Ueda F, Tsukahara T, Tsukamoto Y, Inoue R. Orally Administered Salacia reticulata Extract Reduces H1N1 Influenza Clinical Symptoms in Murine Lung Tissues Putatively Due to Enhanced Natural Killer Cell Activity. Front Immunol 2016; 7:115. [PMID: 27066007 PMCID: PMC4814808 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2016.00115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2015] [Accepted: 03/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Influenza is a major cause of respiratory tract infection. Although most cases do not require further hospitalization, influenza periodically causes epidemics in humans that can potentially infect and kill millions of people. To countermeasure this threat, new vaccines need to be developed annually to match emerging influenza viral strains with increased resistance to existing vaccines. Thus, there is a need for finding and developing new anti-influenza viral agents as alternatives to current treatments. Here, we tested the antiviral effects of an extract from the stems and roots of Salacia reticulata (SSRE), a plant rich in phytochemicals, such as salacinol, kotalanol, and catechins, on H1N1 influenza virus-infected mice. Following oral administration of 0.6 mg/day of SSRE, the incidence of coughing decreased in 80% of mice, and only one case of severe pulmonary inflammation was detected. Moreover, when compared with mice given Lactobacillus casei JCM1134, a strain previously shown to help increase in vitro natural killer (NK) cell activity, SSRE-administered mice showed greater and equal NK cell activity in splenocytes and pulmonary cells, respectively, at high effector cell:target cell ratios. Next, to test whether or not SSRE would exert protective effects against influenza in the absence of gut microbiota, mice were given antibiotics before being inoculated influenza virus and subsequently administered SSRE. SSRE administration induced an increase in NK cell activity in splenocytes and pulmonary cells at levels similar to those detected in mice not treated with antibiotics. Based on our results, it can be concluded that phytochemicals in the SSRE exerted protective effects against influenza infection putatively via modulation of the immune response, including enhancement of NK cell activity, although some protective effects were not necessarily through modulation of gut microbiota. Further investigation is necessary to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the protective effects of SSRE against influenza infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Masayo Egashira
- Laboratory of Animal Science, Department of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Kyoto Prefectural University , Kyoto , Japan
| | - Yuri Harada
- Laboratory of Animal Science, Department of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Kyoto Prefectural University , Kyoto , Japan
| | - Takeshi Tsuruta
- Laboratory of Animal Science, Department of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Kyoto Prefectural University , Kyoto , Japan
| | - Yuriko Oda
- Life Science Research Laboratories, Research and Development Management Headquarters, Fujifilm Corporation , Kanagawa , Japan
| | - Fumitaka Ueda
- Life Science Research Laboratories, Research and Development Management Headquarters, Fujifilm Corporation , Kanagawa , Japan
| | - Takamitsu Tsukahara
- Kyoto Institute of Nutrition and Pathology, Kyoto, Japan; Laboratory of Animal Science, Department of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Kyoto Prefectural University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Tsukamoto
- Laboratory of Animal Hygiene, Department of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Kyoto Prefectural University , Kyoto , Japan
| | - Ryo Inoue
- Laboratory of Animal Science, Department of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Kyoto Prefectural University , Kyoto , Japan
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