Increased Plasma Endothelin Level in Patients with Essential Hypertension

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Abstract
Accumulating evidence indicates that endothelin consists of three isomers, labeled endothelin-1, endothelin-2, and endothelin-3, and that endothelin-1 is secreted by endothelial cells. These peptides possess potent vasoconstricting activity in vitro and a pressor action in vivo,1 2 3 and may therefore play a part in the control of blood pressure and the pathophysiology of hypertension. Recently, we developed a sensitive radioimmunoassay for endothelin-1, using a monoclonal antibody. Cross-reactivities with endothelin-2, endothelin-3, and human "big" endothelin in our radioimmunoassay are 100 percent, 60 percent, and 100 percent, respectively. Using this radioimmunoassay, we detected endothelin-1—like immunoreactivity in human plasma, raising the possibility that endothelin is a circulating hormone as well as a local hormone.4