Figure 3. Downregulation of endothelin-converting enzyme-1 isoforms by shear stress in human endothelial cells.

HUVEC were cultured under static conditions (con) or exposed to shear stress (ss). Endothelin-converting enzyme-1 (ECE-1) isoform mRNA expression was quantified by Northern analysis (A). Long-term laminar shear stress (24 h) causes downregulation of ECE-1 isoforms ECE-1a (B) and ECE-1b (C);n= 3; * P < 0.05 vs. static control (static condition: open bars, shear stress: hatched bars).