Effect of endothelin-converting enzyme and endothelin-1 on intimal hyperplasia in venous autograft / 中国普通外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate changes of endothelin-1(ET-1) and endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE) in different time intervals after autograft vein implantation. Methods A model of autogenous vein graft was established by interposition of the jugular vein into abdominal aorta in 80 Wistar rats. RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were employed to test mRNA and protein level of ECE, ET-1 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Results Positive PCNA appeared at 6 hours after transplantation, with time reaching a peak at 1 to 2 week. ECE mRNA increased with time reaching a peak after 1-2 weeks and stabilizing around 8 weeks. ET-1 expression underwent similar tendence with ECE, reaching a peak after 1-2 weeks and stabilizing at 8 weeks at the protein level. Expression of ET-1 and ECE were closely related by the time pattern after vein autograft (r=0.975). Conclusions The process of intimal hyperplasia in its occurrence and pattern of change are related with dynamics of ET-1 and ECE. ECE may lead to intimal hyperplasia of the autografted vein through a passway of ECE to ET-1 to SMC.