We investigated the effects of endothelin-1 on nitric oxide synthesis
in vascular smooth muscle cells. We measured the production of nitrite
, a stable metabolite of nitric oxide, and the expression of inducible
nitric oxide synthase mRNA and protein in cultured rat vascular smoot
h muscle cells. Incubation of the cultures with interleukin-1 beta (10
ng/mL) for 24 hours caused a significant increase in nitrite producti
on. Endothelin-1 significantly decreased the interleukin-1 beta-induce
d nitrite production by vascular smooth muscle cells in a dose-depende
nt manner (10(-11) to 10(-8) mol/L). Incubation with interleukin-1 bet
a for 24 hours induced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase m
RNA and protein in vascular smooth muscle cells, whereas endothelin-1
showed a suppressive effect on their expressions. Addition of the endo
thelin type A receptor antagonist BQ-485, but not the endothelin type
B receptor antagonist BQ-788, dose-dependently inhibited the effect of
endothelin-1. After protein kinase C activity was functionally deplet
ed by treatment of cells with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate for 24 h
ours, the effect of endothelin-1 was abolished. These results indicate
that endothelin-1 acts on endothelin type A receptors and inhibits ni
tric oxide synthesis in interleukin-1 beta-stimulated vascular smooth
muscle cells at least partially through a protein kinase C-dependent p
athway.