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The endothelin system in pulmonary and renal vasculopathy: les liaisons dangereuses

^* Dept de Cardiologie, CUB-Hôpital Erasme, Brussels, Belgium. ^# Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK.

CORRESPONDENCE: J-L Vachiéry, Pulmonary Hypertension and Heart Failure Clinic, Hôpital Erasme - Université Libre de Bruxelles, 808 Route de Lennik, 1070 Brussels, Belgium. E-mail: jean-luc.vachiery{at}ulb.ac.be

Received: September 18, 2009
Accepted September 29, 2009

ABSTRACT

Endothelial cells regulate vascular tone largely by the actions of endothelin-1. Endothelin-1 is a potent vasoconstrictor, with effects that are dependent on the receptors to which it binds as well as their location. Endothelin-1 dysregulation is implicated in pathological conditions, including those of the pulmonary vasculature and the kidney. In this review, we describe the physiology and actions of endothelin-1 in lung and renal tissues and discuss therapies that disrupt these interactions in disease states. We provide an overview of the current clinical progress of these targeted agents and provide perspectives on the treatment of pulmonary and renal diseases with endothelin receptor antagonists.

KEYWORDS: Chronic kidney disease, endothelin, pulmonary hypertension