Endothelin-1: a key pathological factor in pre-eclampsia?

Endothelin (ET)-1 has been implicated in a diverse range of signalling events in a wide variety of target tissues. Given its potent vasoactive function and the prevalence of hypertension in pre-eclampsia, there has been extensive research on the role of ET-1 in this disorder. Indeed, ET-1 has been suggested to contribute to hypertension in pre-eclampsia. Recently, ET-1 has also been implicated in the induction of both oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress in pre-eclampsia; each of which has been proposed to contribute to many of the clinical manifestations of this disorder. ET-1 has been shown to activate key signalling molecules that lead to induction of these stress pathways. The use of ET-receptor antagonists could block oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Hence, further research into the role of ET-1 in pre-eclampsia may lead to the development of possible strategies to circumvent these stress pathways and the associated pathology that occurs in pre-eclampsia. (C) 2012, Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.