Nie X J, Olsson Y
Laboratory of Neuropathology, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
Rev Neurosci. 1996 Jul-Sep;7(3):177-86. doi: 10.1515/revneuro.1996.7.3.177.
Recently, scientists interested in diseases of the human brain have paid much attention to the endothelin group of peptides. Under normal conditions they are found in some types of neurons and in endothelial cells of microvessels but not in glial cells. This review focuses on the endothelin peptides and their involvement in various brain diseases. Particular attention is paid to their expression in reactive astrocytes seen in many pathological conditions of the human brain. Endothelin-1 is a very potent vasoconstrictor which may be involved in the vasospasm occurring in subarachnoid haemorrhage. Intracerebral injection or application to cerebral arteries in animals will cause a focal necrosis, apparently due to severe vasoconstriction. Reactive astrocytes occurring in cases with infarcts, lacunae, Alzheimer's disease, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) express endothelin-like immunoreactivity. Astrocytes in vitro may produce, store and release endothelins. To some extent astrocytes grown in vitro mimic reactive astrocytes in vivo since in cultures astrocytes are removed from their natural environment which may trigger reactive responses. Therefore, in vivo reactive astrocytes may produce, store and release endothelins just as in vitro. If endothelins are released from reactive astrocytes they may act as mitogens and may influence microcirculation by inducing vasoconstriction of intracerebral arterioles. In such ways endothelins may contribute to the final lesions seen in cases with infarcts, lacunae, traumatic conditions, Alzheimer's disease and inflammatory diseases of the brain.
最近，对人类脑部疾病感兴趣的科学家们十分关注内皮素肽类。在正常情况下，它们存在于某些类型的神经元和微血管的内皮细胞中，但不存在于神经胶质细胞中。本综述聚焦于内皮素肽及其在各种脑部疾病中的作用。特别关注它们在人类脑部许多病理状况下的反应性星形胶质细胞中的表达。内皮素 -1 是一种非常强效的血管收缩剂，可能参与蛛网膜下腔出血时发生的血管痉挛。在动物体内进行脑内注射或将其应用于脑动脉会导致局灶性坏死，显然是由于严重的血管收缩所致。在梗死、腔隙性脑梗死、阿尔茨海默病、进行性多灶性白质脑病（PML）和亚急性硬化性全脑炎（SSPE）病例中出现的反应性星形胶质细胞表达内皮素样免疫反应性。体外培养的星形胶质细胞可以产生、储存和释放内皮素。在某种程度上，体外培养的星形胶质细胞模拟了体内的反应性星形胶质细胞，因为在培养物中星形胶质细胞脱离了其可能引发反应性反应的自然环境。因此，体内的反应性星形胶质细胞可能如同体外培养的星形胶质细胞一样产生、储存和释放内皮素。如果内皮素从反应性星形胶质细胞中释放出来，它们可能作为有丝分裂原，并可能通过诱导脑内小动脉血管收缩来影响微循环。内皮素可能以这种方式导致在梗死、腔隙性脑梗死、创伤性疾病、阿尔茨海默病和脑部炎症性疾病病例中所见的最终病变。
