M. Sokolovsky, ENDOTHELIN RECEPTOR HETEROGENEITY, G-PROTEINS, AND SIGNALING VIA CAMPAND CGMP CASCADES, Cellular and molecular neurobiology, 15(5), 1995, pp. 561-571
1. The endothelins (ETs) are potent vasoactive peptides which are invo
lved in diverse biological processes, such as contraction, neuromodula
tion, and neurotransmission, as well as in certain pathophysiological
conditions including cardiac and renal failure. 2. The diversity of ac
tion of ETs may be attributed to (i) the existence of a number of rece
ptor subtypes, and (ii) the G-protein-mediated activation of different
signal transduction pathways. 3. The combined action of these two var
iables modulates the response, since different receptor subtypes can s
timulate and/or inhibit the cAMP and cGMP cascades.