Estrogen modulation of endothelium-derived relaxing factors by human endothelial cells

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

ISSN

0006-291X

Volume

322

Issue

2

DOI

10.1016/j.bbrc.2004.07.137

First Page

373

Last Page

379

Publication Date

9-17-2004

Abstract

We report the modulatory effects of estrogen on release of endothelium-derived relaxing factors (EDRFs) in a human endothelial cell line, EA.hy926. Using bioassay, we showed that EA.hy926 released EDRF including nitric oxide (NO) and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) measured by relaxation of pre-contracted endothelium-denuded rabbit aortic rings. This EDRF production was significantly higher in cells treated for 24 h with 17-β-estradiol (10 mol/L) than control cells. Addition of l-NAME to the perfusate of cells caused the relaxation induced by the endothelial cell perfusate to become transient and abolished the enhancement of relaxation due to estrogen treatment. Addition of K channel blockers to the perfusate abolished the l-NAME-resistant relaxation of the bioassay ring. Using real-time PCR, we demonstrated that eNOS expression in estrogen-treated cells was significantly higher than controls. These results show that estrogen exerts a potentially important vasculo-protective effect by stimulating NO but not EDHF production. © 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. -6 Ca

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