Alterations of endothelin-converting enzyme expression in early and advanced stages of human coronary atherosclerosis

  • Authors:
    • Eishu Hai
    • Yoshihiro Ikura
    • Takahiko Naruko
    • Nobuyuki Shirai
    • Noriko Yoshimi
    • Soichiro Kayo
    • Yoshimi Sugama
    • Hiroko Fujino
    • Masahiko Ohsawa
    • Kazuhiko Tanzawa
    • Takashi Yokota
    • Makiko Ueda
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: May 1, 2004     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.13.5.649
  • Pages: 649-654
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Abstract

Endothelin-1 is a potent vasoconstrictor and exhibits a mitogenic activity on vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE) is the final key enzyme of endothelin-1 processing. We studied the immunolocalization of ECE in human coronary atherosclerotic lesions with different disease stages. Frozen sections of normal coronary arteries with diffuse intimal thickening (n=13) and those of coronary arteries with early (n=10) or advanced atherosclerotic plaques (n=13) were studied. Monoclonal antibodies used were directed against SMCs, macrophages, endothelial cells, and ECE. For the identification of cell types that express ECE, double immunostaining analysis was also used. In normal coronary arteries, ECE immunoreactivity was observed in luminal endothelial cells and medial SMCs. Early atherosclerotic plaques, which consisted predominantly of SMCs, showed enhanced ECE expression in luminal endothelial cells and intimal SMCs. In advanced atherosclerotic plaques, distinct ECE expression was found in accumulated macrophages and in endothelial cells of intraplaque microvessels, while luminal endothelial cells showed relatively weak immunoreactivity for ECE. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that the major cell types expressing ECE within the plaques are different between early and advanced stages of human coronary atherosclerosis. Enhanced ECE expression and possible endothelin-1 generation may contribute to SMC proliferation and vasoconstriction in early atherosclerotic stages, and may promote plaque destabilization in advanced atherosclerotic stages.

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May 2004
Volume 13 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1107-3756
Online ISSN:1791-244X

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Spandidos Publications style
Hai E, Ikura Y, Naruko T, Shirai N, Yoshimi N, Kayo S, Sugama Y, Fujino H, Ohsawa M, Tanzawa K, Tanzawa K, et al: Alterations of endothelin-converting enzyme expression in early and advanced stages of human coronary atherosclerosis. Int J Mol Med 13: 649-654, 2004
APA
Hai, E., Ikura, Y., Naruko, T., Shirai, N., Yoshimi, N., Kayo, S. ... Ueda, M. (2004). Alterations of endothelin-converting enzyme expression in early and advanced stages of human coronary atherosclerosis. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 13, 649-654. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.13.5.649
MLA
Hai, E., Ikura, Y., Naruko, T., Shirai, N., Yoshimi, N., Kayo, S., Sugama, Y., Fujino, H., Ohsawa, M., Tanzawa, K., Yokota, T., Ueda, M."Alterations of endothelin-converting enzyme expression in early and advanced stages of human coronary atherosclerosis". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 13.5 (2004): 649-654.
Chicago
Hai, E., Ikura, Y., Naruko, T., Shirai, N., Yoshimi, N., Kayo, S., Sugama, Y., Fujino, H., Ohsawa, M., Tanzawa, K., Yokota, T., Ueda, M."Alterations of endothelin-converting enzyme expression in early and advanced stages of human coronary atherosclerosis". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 13, no. 5 (2004): 649-654. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.13.5.649