A new vasoconstrictor peptide, endothelin: profiles as vasoconstrictor and neuropeptide.

Endothelin was predictably found to be one of the endothelium-derived contraction factors (EDCFs) with the aid of advanced protein technology. It is the most potent and long-lasting vasoconstrictor peptide known to date. By analysis of the amino acid sequence, modern gene technology has made it possible to find isopeptides. These isopeptides, namely the endothelin family composed of endothelin-1, -2, and -3, have made and are achieving a breakthrough in every field of physiology and pathology. In the central nervous system, they act not only as a vasoconstrictor but also as a neuropeptide, in particular endothelin-1 and -3. Here we overview the findings obtained over the past 2 years since its discovery, and look to future progress.