TY - JOUR
T1 - Endothelin, sex, and pregnancy
T2 - Unique considerations for blood pressure control in females
AU - Gillis, Ellen E.
AU - Sasser, Jennifer M.
AU - Sullivan, Jennifer C.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 The American Physiological Society.
PY - 2016/4
Y1 - 2016/4
N2 - Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent vasoconstrictor, and dysregulation of the endothelin (ET) system has been implicated in the development of hypertension. Sex differences in the ET system have been identified in ET receptor expression and activation, levels of ET-1, and downstream mediators of the ET system. More specifically, males have greater ET-1/ETA receptor activation, whereas females exhibit greater ETB receptor activation. These differences have been suggested to contribute to the sex differences observed in blood pressure control, with greater ETB receptor activation in females potentially acting as an important pathway contributing to the lower prevalence of hypertension in young females compared with age-matched males. This hypothesis is further supported by studies in pregnancy; the role of the ET system is enhanced during pregnancy, with dysregulation of the ET system resulting in preeclampsia. Further research is necessary to elucidate the relative roles of the ET system in blood pressure control in both sexes and to further explore the potential benefits of pharmacological ET blockade in women.
AB - Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent vasoconstrictor, and dysregulation of the endothelin (ET) system has been implicated in the development of hypertension. Sex differences in the ET system have been identified in ET receptor expression and activation, levels of ET-1, and downstream mediators of the ET system. More specifically, males have greater ET-1/ETA receptor activation, whereas females exhibit greater ETB receptor activation. These differences have been suggested to contribute to the sex differences observed in blood pressure control, with greater ETB receptor activation in females potentially acting as an important pathway contributing to the lower prevalence of hypertension in young females compared with age-matched males. This hypothesis is further supported by studies in pregnancy; the role of the ET system is enhanced during pregnancy, with dysregulation of the ET system resulting in preeclampsia. Further research is necessary to elucidate the relative roles of the ET system in blood pressure control in both sexes and to further explore the potential benefits of pharmacological ET blockade in women.
KW - Hypertension
KW - Preeclampsia
KW - Sex differences
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U2 - 10.1152/ajpregu.00427.2015
DO - 10.1152/ajpregu.00427.2015
M3 - Review article
C2 - 26936781
AN - SCOPUS:84984626806
SN - 0363-6119
VL - 310
SP - R691-R696
JO - American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology
JF - American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology
IS - 8
ER -