on May 23, 2002
Published online before print May 23, 2002, doi: 10.1161/01.ATV.0000023160.67766.F0
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Submitted on March 28, 2002
Accepted on May 13, 2002
Saphenous Vein Endothelin System Expression and Activity in African American Patients
Ashley L. Grubbs ;
From the Department of Surgery (A.L.G.), Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, and the Department of Surgery (M.P.A., A.E.) and Vascular Biology Center (M.P.A., A.E.), Medical College of Georgia, and the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy (A.E.), Augusta.
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: aergul{at}mail.mcg.edu.
Objective—Plasma endothelin (ET)-1 levels are significantly higher in African American hypertensive patients than in white hypertensive patients. However, whether the molecular components of vascular ET-1 biosynthesis and function are altered in this population remains to be established. Accordingly, the overall goal of this study was to investigate the effects of race on vascular mRNA and protein levels of ET-converting enzyme (ECE)-1 subisoforms, ET-1, and ET receptor profiles in hypertension.
Methods and Results—Saphenous vein samples were obtained from African American (n=13) and white (n=15) patients undergoing coronary artery grafting surgery. The expression of PPET-1 and of ECE-1a was upregulated 
2- and 3-fold, respectively, in African Americans. In endothelium-intact vessels, the ETA expression was higher in whites. In endothelium-denuded vessels, the ETB mRNA was 3-fold higher in African Americans, suggesting that vasoconstriction-promoting ETB receptors are upregulated in this population. Vascular tissue ET-1 levels and ECE-1 activity were also augmented in African American patients.
Conclusions—This study demonstrated that the biosynthetic pathway of ET-1 is activated to a higher degree and that the ETB receptor subtype expression is altered in the peripheral vasculature of African American hypertensive patients. The augmented synthesis and altered expression of ETB receptors may both contribute to the increased incidence of hypertension and related complications in this patient population.
Key words: endothelin-converting enzyme • receptor subtype • race • hypertension • gene expression
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