Hypertension
is one of the major risk factors that contribute to cardiovascular and
cerebrovascular endpoints. Currently, it is reported that 16.5% of all the
deaths worldwide are due to hypertension of which 51% are due to stroke and 45%
due to coronary heart disease (CHD) respectively. The molecular basis of
Essential Hypertension (EH) is multifactorial, complex and poorly understood and
recent interest is directed towards investigating the possible role of vascular
hemostasis. The endothelium is recognized as an extremely active source ofvasoactive substances e.g. vasodilators and vasoconstrictors; the balance of
which maintains vascular tone.
Endothelin-2 is a member of the endothelin
protein family (ET-1, ET-2 and ET-3) of secretory vasoconstrictive peptides
that bind to G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR), ET-RA and ET-RB. ET-1 is known
as one of the most powerful vasoconstrictors in the vasculature. Although, ET-2
is very similar in structure as well as pharmacology to ET-1, studies in
knockout mice and in cardiovascular system suggest that ET-2 may have a
pathophysiologically distinct role than ET-1, that may be accomplished at the
level of gene expression or in their synthesis and therefore, may act as
different drug targets. Besides, mediating vasoconstriction, endothelins are
shown to regulate growth in several cell types and may also affect
differentiation, inflammation and angiogenesis. Read more>>>>>>>>>>>>>
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