Elsevier

The Lancet

Volume 337, Issue 8743, 23 March 1991, Pages 697-701
The Lancet

ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Eridothelin immunoreactivity of airway epithelium in asthmatic patients

https://doi.org/10.1016/0140-6736(91)90279-XGet rights and content

Abstract

There is extensive pharmacological and physiological evidence that endothelin-1 influences airway calibre. In mammals, endothelin receptors occur on airway smooth muscle, local storage and release of the peptide have been demonstrated, and inhalation of endothelin-1 induces bronchoconstriction. To investigate the relation between endothelins and asthma the expression of this peptide in endobronchial biopsy specimens was examined immunohistochemically with an antiserum against endothelin-1. Biopsy specimens from 17 asthmatic patients and 11 atopic and non-atopic healthy controls revealed striking differences, with endothelin expression being evident in airways epithelium and vascular endothelium in 11 of the 17 asthmatic patients but in only 1 of 11 controls. These results suggest that endothelins may play a part in the exaggerated bronchomotor tone of asthma.

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