|Endothelin and Systemic Scleroderma||Endothelin Receptor Antagonists|
Endothelin is a protein that helps to regulate contraction and relaxation of the smooth muscle found in the walls of blood vessels and internal organs (except the heart). An overproduction of endothelin, whether by illness or medication, can cause blood vessels to constrict and blood pressure to increase. In scleroderma, it can cause pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). ISN. (Also see Causes of Scleroderma, What is Scleroderma?, Types of Scleroderma, and Systemic Sclerosis)
Endothelin. Endothelins are protein that constrict blood vessels and raise blood pressure. Among the strongest vasoconstrictors known, endothelins are implicated in vascular diseases of several organ systems, including the heart, general circulation and brain. Answers.com.
Proangiogenic effects of soluble α-Klotho (sKl) on systemic sclerosis (SSc) dermal microvascular endothelial cells (MVEC) Our findings provide the first evidence that α-Klotho is significantly decreased in the microvasculature in SSc skin and that sKl administration may effectively improve SSc–MVEC functions in vitro by acting as a powerful proangiogenic factor. BioMed Central, Arthritis Research & Therapy, 02/10/2017.
Study Finds Cell Microparticles Correlated with Lung Function in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) Patients. Investigating microparticles further may help to better understand the pathogenesis of disease and enhance disease activity monitoring in patients with SSc. Scleroderma News, 08/17/2015.
Increased expression of chemerin in endothelial cells due to Fli1 deficiency may contribute to the development of digital ulcers in systemic sclerosis. Increased chemerin expression in dermal blood vessels may be associated with the development of digital ulcers in SSc. PubMed, 12/23/2014.
Effect of endothelin–1 receptor antagonists (ETRAs) on skin fibrosis in scleroderma (SSc) patients from the EUSTAR database. ETRAs have well–proven clinical effects in the prevention of digital ulcers and in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension, but there is no evidence from clinical studies to support its use as an anti–fibrotic therapy. Journal of Scleroderma and Related Disorders, 03/30/2016. (Also see Skin Fibrosis)
Angiotensin receptor type 1 (AT1R) and endothelin receptor type A (ETAR) on immune cells mediate migration and the expression of IL-8 and CCL18 when stimulated by autoantibodies from systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients. PubMed, Arthritis Res Ther, 2014 Mar 11;16(2):R65. (Also see Antibodies in Systemic Scleroderma)
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