Key Points
- To determine the role of endothelin-1 gene expression in essential hypertension in humans.
- Evaluated endothelin-1 messenger RNA in small arteries using in-situ hybridization.
- Biopsies obtained from subcutaneous gluteal fat of normotensive and hypertensive subjects.
- Normotensive and mild hypertensive patients showed no specific labeling for endothelin-1 expression.
- Moderate-to-severe hypertensive patients exhibited localized high-density endothelin-1 expression in small arteries.
Structured PICO
PPopulation13 subjects (5 normotensive, 4 untreated mild essential hypertensive, 4 untreated moderate-to-severe hypertensive)
OOutcomeAbundance of endothelin-1 messenger RNA transcripts in small arteries of subcutaneous gluteal fatsurrogate
Patients with moderate-to-severe essential hypertension exhibit enhanced endothelial expression of the endothelin-1 gene in resistance arteries, suggesting a pathophysiologic role in blood pressure elevation and vascular hypertrophy.