Repository logo
 

Endothelin receptors and their antagonists.


Change log

Authors

Maguire, Janet J 
Davenport, Anthony P 

Abstract

All three members of the endothelin (ET) family of peptides, ET-1, ET-2, and ET-3, are expressed in the human kidney, with ET-1 being the predominant isoform. ET-1 and ET-2 bind to two G-protein-coupled receptors, ETA and ETB, whereas at physiological concentrations ET-3 has little affinity for the ET(A) receptor. The human kidney is unusual among the peripheral organs in expressing a high density of ET(B). The renal vascular endothelium only expresses the ET(B) subtype and ET-1 acts in an autocrine or paracrine manner to release vasodilators. Endothelial ETB in kidney, as well as liver and lungs, also has a critical role in scavenging ET-1 from the plasma. The third major function is ET-1 activation of ET(B) in in the nephron to reduce salt and water re-absorption. In contrast, ET(A) predominate on smooth muscle, causing vasoconstriction and mediating many of the pathophysiological actions of ET-1. The role of the two receptors has been delineated using highly selective ET(A) (BQ123, TAK-044) and ET(B) (BQ788) peptide antagonists. Nonpeptide antagonists, bosentan, macitentan, and ambrisentan, that are either mixed ET(A)/ET(B) antagonists or display ET(A) selectivity, have been approved for clinical use but to date are limited to pulmonary hypertension. Ambrisentan is in clinical trials in patients with type 2 diabetic nephropathy. This review summarizes ET-receptor antagonism in the human kidney, and considers the relative merits of selective versus nonselective antagonism in renal disease.

Description

Keywords

Ambrisentan, antagonist, bosentan, endothelin-1, macitentan, sitaxentan, Endothelin Receptor Antagonists, Endothelium, Vascular, Humans, Hypertension, Pulmonary, Receptors, Endothelin, Vasodilation

Journal Title

Semin Nephrol

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0270-9295
1558-4488

Volume Title

35

Publisher

W.B. Saunders
Sponsorship
Wellcome Trust (096822/Z/11/Z)
British Heart Foundation (None)
Supported by the British Heart Foundation (PS/02/001, PG/05/127/19872, FS/12/64/130001), Wellcome Trust Programme in Metabolic and Cardiovascular Disease 096822/Z/11/Z, National Institute for Health Research Cambridge Bio-medical Research Centre, and the Pulmonary Hypertension Association United Kingdom.