Temporal expression of ECE-1, ET-1, ET-3, ETA, and ETB receptor mRNAs after balloon angioplasty in the rat.

The temporal expressions of endothelin-converting enzyme-1 (ECE-1), preproendothelin-1 (preproET-1), preproET-3, and ETA, ETB receptor mRNAs were studied in rat carotid artery after balloon angioplasty using quantitative reverse transcription and the polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expression profile of these messages revealed that the increases of ECE-1 mRNA preceded those of preproET-1 and preproET-3. A significant increase in ECE-1 mRNA was observed at 6 h (1.8-fold, p < 0.01) and 24 h (1.7-fold, p < 0.01) after angioplasty, whereas a significant increase in preproET-1 mRNA levels was not observed until day 3 (1.9-fold, p < 0.05) and day 7 (2.1-fold, p < 0.05). A similar delayed increase in preproET-3 mRNA was observed at day 7 (2.8-fold, p < 0.05) and day 14 (2.6-fold, p < 0.05) after angioplasty. The levels of ETA receptor mRNA were elevated 29.3-fold (p < 0.001) and 24.3-fold (p < 0.01) at days 3 and 7 after angioplasty, respectively. The increase in ETB receptor mRNA occurred slightly earlier than that of ETA receptor, showing a 15.1-fold increase at day 1 (p < 0.001) and a 11.3-fold increase at day 3 (p < 0.01) after angioplasty. The data suggest that ECE-1, ET-1, ET-3, and ETA and ETB receptors play an active role in the pathogenesis of neointima formation.