Endothelin stimulates angiotensin I to angiotensin II conversion in cultured pulmonary artery endothelial cells

  • J Mol Cell Cardiol. 1990 Aug;22(8):839-42. doi: 10.1016/0022-2828(90)90115-i.
H Kawaguchi  1 ,  H Sawa ,  H Yasuda
Affiliations
  • 1. Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Hokkaido University, School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
PMID: 2172556 DOI: 10.1016/0022-2828(90)90115-i
Abstract

We studied the effects of endothelin on the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II in pulmonary artery endothelial cells. Endothelin had a novel effect on angiotensin I conversion. When endothelin was added to pulmonary artery endothelial cells, the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II was enhanced about two-fold. The maximum stimulation was achieved at 10(-8) M of endothelin. This stimulatory effect was suppressed by angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors such an enalapril. When the calcium antagonist, nifedipine, was incubated with 10(-8) M of endothelin, the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II stimulated with endothelin was slightly suppressed by nifedipine. Enalapril (10(-6) M) completely inhibited the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II in the presence of endothelin. These results suggest that endothelin may play an important role in regulating vascular tone by modulating the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II.

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