Transcriptional alterations of ET-1 system in lung tissue of obese Zucker rat

The ET-1 system transcriptional alterations in lung tissue of Zucker rats were evaluated by Real Time-PCR. The rats were subdivided in obese (O, n=20) and controls (CO, n=20): under fasting conditions (COfc-O-fc) and under induction of acute hyperglycemia (COAH-O-AH). Higher prepro-ET-1 (p=0.05) and ECE-2 mRNA expression was observed in O with respect to CO. In CO and in O the ET-A and ET-B resulted to be expressed at similar levels. No significant differences were observed subdividing rats into fc and AH. A significant correlation was observed between ET-A and ET-B (p=0.04) as well as between prepro-ET-1 and ET-A (p=0.009). The study of ET axis may provide an important tool to modulate the inappropriate secretion of this peptide in pathological conditions providing the key to a new generation of chemotherapeutic agents.