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. 2008 Oct;4(5):1061–1068. doi: 10.2147/vhrm.s3920

The importance of endothelin-1 for microvascular dysfunction in diabetes

Majid Kalani 1
PMCID: PMC2605330  PMID: 19183753

Abstract

Most of the late diabetic complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy, have their basis in disturbed microvascular function. Structural and functional changes in the micro-circulation are present in diabetes mellitus irrespective of the organ studied, and the pathogenesis is complex. Endothelial dysfunction, characterized by an imbalance between endothelium-derived vasodilator and vasoconstrictor substances, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic microangiopathy. Increased circulating levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1), a potent vasoconstrictor peptide, has been found in patients with diabetes, and a positive correlation between plasma ET-1 levels and microangiopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes has been demonstrated. In addition to its direct vasoconstrictor effects, enhanced levels of ET-1 may contribute to endothelial dysfunction through inhibitory effects on nitric oxide (NO) production. Vascular endothelial dysfunction may precede insulin resistance, although the feature of insulin resistance syndrome includes factors that have negative effects on endothelial function. Furthermore, ET-1 induces a reduction in insulin sensitivity and may take part in the development of the metabolic syndrome. In the following, the mechanisms by which ET-1 contributes to the development of diabetic microangiopathy and the potentially beneficial effect of selective ETA receptor antagonists are discussed.

Keywords: endothelin-1, diabetes mellitus, microcirculation, diabetic microangiopathy, ETA-receptor antagonist

Introduction

Incidence and prevalence rates of type 2 diabetes are rising in most countries (King et al 1998). Diabetes mellitus is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases related to both macro- and microangiopathy, eg, myocardial infarction, peripheral arterial occlusive disease, stroke, retino-, neuro-, and nephropathies, causing considerable disability and premature death in individuals with diabetes. Diabetic skin microangiopathy contributes to the development of chronic foot ulcers, a common and severe complication often leading to major disability and increased mortality and also frequently resulting in amputation of the leg (Jeffcoate et al 2003). Endothelium-dependent vasodilation is impaired in the skin microcirculation of patients with type 2 diabetes (Caballero et al 1999). Furthermore, autonomic neuropathy may cause increased shunting of blood through arteriovenous anastomoses and lead to impaired circulation through nutritive capillaries (Boulton et al 1982; Fagrell et al 1999; Tooke 2000). Endothelial dysfunction, characterized by an imbalance between endothelium-derived vasodilator and vasoconstrictor substances, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of vascular complications in diabetes, including microangiopathy (Tooke 1995; Creager et al 2003; Luscher et al 2003).

Diabetic microangiopathy

The microcirculation comprises the arterioles, capillaries, venules, and lymphatics, all <100 μm in diameter. These vessels are crucial for maintaining tissue metabolism. Structural and functional changes in the microcirculation are present in diabetes mellitus irrespective of the organ studied. We have shown that functional disturbances in the skin microcirculation of the fingers are present three years after the onset of type 1 diabetes, and the majority of the patients have developed disturbances after 7–12 years (Kalani et al pers comm). The pathophysiology of diabetic microangiopathy is complex in that it involves not only metabolic, but also genetic factors. Subjects with diabetes heredity show impaired microvascular responses to both endothelium- and nonendothelium-dependent stimuli in the skin microcirculation in spite of normal body dimensions, normal glucose tolerance, and normal insulin sensitivity (Jörneskog et al 2005). Early on in the course of the disease, microvascular perfusion is increased in many organs under resting conditions (Tooke 1983Tooke 1986). A cutaneous microvascular overperfusion occurs in the limbs, but most of the blood flow under normal thermal conditions passes through arteriovenous shunts, bypassing the nutritive capillary bed and leading to so-called “capillary ischemia” (Boulton et al 1982; Tooke 1983; Fagrell et al 1999). Increased skin microvascular perfusion has been shown to be related to poor glycemic control (Gundersen et al 1974; Tymms et al 1988; Jörneskog et al 1998). It should be pointed out that the early microvascular hyperemia occurs only under resting conditions, while under conditions that stress the microcirculation, eg, tissue injury or a period of arterial occlusion, a limited hyperemic response is observed (Rayman et al 1986; Walmsley et al 1989; Sandeman et al 1991). This has been clearly demonstrated by investigations of the nutritive skin capillary flow (capillary blood cell velocity; CBV) in diabetic feet using videophotometric capillaroscopy, along with measurements of the total skin microcirculation by laser Doppler fluxmetry (LDF), demonstrating reduced skin capillary hyperemia in terms of the post-occlusive peak value obtained and the time taken to reach peak flow (Walmsley et al 1989; Tur et al 1991; Jörneskog 1995).

There are, however, probably differences in the pathogenesis of microangiopathy between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, there is a complex interaction between impaired insulin sensitivity, vascular endothelial dysfunction, and hypertension, which seems to play an important role in the development of functional disturbances in the microcirculation. Impaired insulin sensitivity is associated with a modification of arterial resistance and increased peripheral microvascular resistance, which contributes to the excessive prevalence of hypertension in type 2 diabetes. In these patients, an increased peripheral microvascular resistance occurs with even minor degrees of impaired glucose tolerance, which coexists with disturbed capillary pressure autoregulation, leading to the development of irreversible structural changes in the microvasculature (Gall et al 1991; Jaap et al 1994; Shore et al 1994).

Endothelin-1

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is the principal cardiovascular isoform of the endothelin system (Yanagisawa et al 1988). Vascular ET-1 is produced primarily in the endothelium, although it can also be produced in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), macrophages, leukocytes, cardiomyocytes, and fibroblasts (Resink et al 1990; Properzi et al 1995). In the kidney, tubular epithelial cells, mesangial cell, and podocytes are capable of ET-1 release (Kohan 1997). Several mechanisms are involved in the clearance of ET-1 from plasma, including endocytosis in the lungs, enzymatic degradation, degradation of the endothelin B-receptor-ligand complex, and enzymatic processes in the kidney and liver (Anggard et al 1989; Abassi et al 1992; Johnström et al 2005). Two receptor subtypes, endothelin A- and B-receptors (ETA and ETB), mediate the effects of ET-1. Vascular smooth muscle cells express both ETA and ETB, while endothelial cells express primarily ETB (Molenaar et al 1993). On smooth muscle cells, ETA mediates vasoconstriction and mitogenesis, while ETB receptor has a dual function and has been shown to cause both vasoconstriction and vasodilation (Sakurai et al 1992; Seo et al 1994). ETA receptor activation contributes to coronary constrictor tone and peripheral and coronary endothelial dysfunction (Kyriakides et al 2000; Halcox et al 2001). In isolated human internal mammary and porcine coronary arteries, ETB receptor mediates ET-1-induced vasoconstriction (Seo et al 1994). In healthy humans, selective ETB receptor antagonism increases peripheral vascular resistance, which means that vasodilation is the favored ETB pathway (Strachan et al 1999). However, the balance between vasodilator and vasoconstrictor ETB pathways may be altered in pathological conditions (Cardillo et al 1999; Pernow et al 2000).

ET-1 is one of the most potent vasoconstrictors described and has been suggested to be involved in the development of cardiovascular disease. ET-1 also has pro-inflammatory and profibrotic effects, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. Endogenous ET-1 is important for maintaining vascular tone, and enhanced endogenous ET-1 has been demonstrated in hypertension, coronary artery disease, and heart failure (Cardillo et al 1999, 2000; Cowburn et al 1999; Love et al 2000; Nohria et al 2003).

The role of endothelin-1 in diabetic microangiopathy

The pathophysiology of diabetic microangiopathy is complex and many important aspects of it still are not fully understood. The major microvascular complications of diabetes are nephropathy, retinopathy, neuropathy, and skin microangi-opathy. Both metabolic and hemodynamic factors contribute to the development of diabetic microvascular complications (Cooper 1998; Groop et al 2005), which, in spite of similar final clinical manifestations in both type of diabetes, probably have different pathophysiological pathways regarding the organ and/or complication studied. In type 2 diabetes, endothelial dysfunction is an early feature of the disease, linking cardiovascular risk factors and insulin resistance in different pathways to clinically manifest cardiovascular complications (Jansson 2007; Rask-Madsen et al 2007). The vascular endothelium maintains vascular tone and has important hemostatic function, and endothelial dysfunction is of major importance in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and diabetic angiopathy (Tooke et al 2000; Rask-Madsen et al 2007). Several studies support the hypothesis that endothelial dysfunction is a precursor of type 2 diabetes, indicating that vascular endothelial dysfunction may precede insulin resistance, although the features of insulin resistance syndrome include factors that have negative effects on endothelial function (Tooke et al 2000; Groop et al 2005; Jansson 2007; Rask-Madsen et al 2007). Impaired endothelial-dependent and independent microvascular reactivity has also been demonstrated in healthy subjects with risk factors for type 2 diabetes (Caballero et al 1999; Jörneskog et al 2005). One important feature of endothelial dysfunction is an increased production and biological activity of the potent vasoconstrictor and proinflammatory peptide ET-1. Elevated levels of ET-1 are found in patients with type 2 diabetes (Takahashi et al 1990; Verhaar et al 1998; Mather et al 2002), and ET-1-induced reduction in insulin sensitivity may take part in the development of the metabolic syndrome (Ahlborg et al 2002). In diabetes mellitus, a primary disturbance in ET-1 production from vascular endothelium exists as an early phenomenon rather than a result of advanced stage of the disease (Donatelli et al 1994; Anfossi et al 2007).

Furthermore, ET-1 may contribute to the development of endothelial dysfunction, and consequently insulin resistance, by increasing the production of reactive oxygen species, mainly superoxide anion, in the vasculature. This is mainly dependent upon the activation of NADPH oxidase protein expression and activity (Wedgwood et al 2001; Li et al 2003; Romero et al 2008).

Diabetic nephropathy

ET-1 is secreted by glomerular endothelial cells, mesangial cells, and epithelial cells. Activation of endothelin receptors in the kidney leads to constriction of renal vessels, inhibition of salt and water reabsorption, and enhanced glomerular proliferation. Alterations in ET-1, at both mRNA and receptor levels are seen in animal models of diabetes. Several human studies show a correlation between plasma or urinary levels of ET-1 and signs of diabetic nephropathy at different stages in terms of an increased glomerular filtration rate, mesangial expansion, macro- and/or microalbuminuria, and uremia (Lee et al 1994; De Mattia et al 1998; Ak et al 2001;Candido et al 2002; Zanatta et al 2008). However, most of the interventional studies on selective or dual endothelin receptor blockers have been done in animal models with encouraging results (Chade et al 2006; Sasser et al 2007).

Diabetic neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy is one of the most frequent and expensive complications of diabetes. The peripheral sensorimotor and autonomic neuropathies play an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic foot ulceration. Sympathetic neuropathy also results in arteriovenous shunting, leading to impaired blood flow through nutritive capillaries. Both hemodynamic and metabolic factors contribute to the development of diabetic neuropathy. Microvascular dysfunction is seen at an early stage in the peripheral nerve, which contributes to impaired endoneurial blood flow, leading to destruction of neuronal and Schwann cells and, finally, nerve degeneration (Low et al 1989; Cameron et al 1991, 1995). In patients with diabetes, endoneurial microangiopathy, and in particular basement membrane thickening, is related to clinical and neuro-physiological measures of neuropathy. Endoneurial capillary microangiopathy presages deterioration in glucose tolerance and seems to be an early and persistent feature in the processes underlying diabetic peripheral neuropathy (Thrainsdottir et al 2003). Interestingly, diabetic patients without evidence of neuropathy demonstrate endoneurial microangiopathy. Microangiopathy may therefore precede the development of peripheral neuropathy (Giannini et al 1995).

ET-1 contributes to endothelial abnormalities and the altered balance of vasodilation and vasoconstriction in favor of the latter in diabetes. Furthermore, endothelin receptors are expressed in neurons and glial cells and are probably involved in the transduction of nociceptive information (Gokin et al 2001). ETA receptor blockade attenuates tactile allodynia in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat, suggesting that ETA receptors may contribute to the development of peripheral neuropathy in experimental diabetes (Jarvis et al 2000). Interestingly, a protective role for ETB receptors following neuronal injury has been described (Siren et al 2002; Berti-Mattera et al 2006).

Diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is a potentially sight-threatening complication that develops in nearly all patients with diabetes. Ocular tissues, eg, vascular and extravascular sites in the retina are a rich source of ET-1 expression, and ET-1 contributes to abnormal retinal hemodynamics in diabetic retinopathy (Kohner et al 1995; Pang et al 1997). Results from several studies in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats have suggested a role of ET-1 in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (Chakrabarti et al 1997, 1998). An interaction between ET-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has also been reported, and some positive results of treatment with endothelin receptor blockers have raised interest in these substances as potentially therapeutic agents (Masuzawa et al 2006). However, most of the studies on the role of ET-1 in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy and the importance of endothelin blockers in the treatment of this serious complication have been done in animal models. There is, however, sufficient evidence that strongly links ET-1 to the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic skin microangiopathy

The pathogenesis of diabetic skin microangiopathy is complex (Figure 1). Functional diabetic microangiopathy is characterized by reduced microvascular reactivity and increased blood flow through arteriovenous shunts leading to an impaired nutritive capillary circulation, so-called capillary ischemia (Boulton et al 1982; Fagrell et al 1999; Tooke 2000). Impaired nutritive capillary circulation is especially pronounced in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (Jörneskog et al 1995). A state of hypercoagulation and impaired fibrinolysis is also present in diabetic patients and may contribute to the deterioration of the skin microcirculation (Kalani et al 2007).

Figure 1.

Figure 1

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Pathogenesis of diabetic skin microangiopathy.

Recently, we have shown that ETA receptor blockade by BQ123 markedly increases the nutritive skin microcirculation in patients with type 2 diabetes and microangiopathy (Settergren et al 2008). The results suggest that ET-1, through activation of the ETA receptor, is of importance for the regulation of the microcirculation in diabetic patients with micro-angiopathy. The skin nutritive microcirculation determined by nailfold capillary microscopy and the hyperemic response, ie, the peak value of the CBV following arterial occlusion, increased significantly during ETA receptor blockade, indicating improved microvascular reactivity (Figure 2a–b) (Settergren et al 2008). Interestingly, the increase in CBV during selective ETA receptor blockade was more pronounced in type 2 diabetic patients with a high body mass index (BMI) and low levels of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1), supporting the existence of a close relationship between insulin resistance and increased ET-1 activity. It is noteworthy that administration of the selective ETA receptor antagonist did not affect CBV in the nondiabetic control group. This supports the notion that the ET-1 system is upregulated in patients with type 2 diabetes and that ETA receptor blockade exerts hemodynamic effects only under such conditions.

Figure 2.

Figure 2

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Effect of BQ123 on resting capillary blood cell velocity (CBV) (a) and peak capillary blood cell velocity following a 1-min arterial occlusion (b) in patients with type 2 diabetes (n = 10) and nondiabetic controls (n = 8). Data are shown as the mean and SEM. A significant difference between groups in the change in resting CBV and peak CBV, respectively, following a 60-min infusion of BQ123 is shown. Copyright © 2008. Reproduced with the kind permission of Karger AG, Basel from Settergren M, Pernow J, Brismar K, et al 2008. Endothelin-A receptor blockade improves nutritive skin capillary circulation in patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuria. J Vasc Res, 45:295–302.

Enhanced ET-1–mediated vasoconstriction of precapillary resistance vessels leads to impaired blood flow through nutritive capillaries and increased arteriovenous shunting in patients with type 2 diabetes. These patients are prone to arterial hypertension, partly due to vasoconstriction of precapillary resistance vessels, leading to an increased capillary blood pressure (Fegan et al 2003) due to disturbed autoregulation of capillary pressure as a consequence of insulin resistance. A reduction in capillary blood pressure, as a consequence of reduced arteriovenous shunt flow and an increased arteriovenous pressure difference, might increase the capillary blood circulation (Fegan et al 2003). The effects of selective ETA receptor blockade on the skin microcirculation may be a consequence of blocking the precapillary constrictor effects of ET-1 mediated by ETA receptors. Furthermore, improvements in peak CBV reflect vasodilation at the precapillary level, indicating improved precapillary and capillary endothelial function.

Diabetic foot ulcers in the presence of peripheral arterial disease threatens both life and limb in these patients. However, the local nutritive skin microcirculation is severely deteriorated in diabetic patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease and new treatments are urgently needed. We conducted a pilot study to investigate whether ETA receptor blockade improves peripheral tissue perfusion in diabetic patients with critical limb ischemia. During infusions of the selective ETA receptor blocker BQ123, transcutaneous oxygen tension (TcPO2) at the dorsum of the foot and toe blood pressure (TBP) increased significantly (Figure 3a-b) (Kalani et al 2008). The increased local skin oxygenation during infusions of BQ123 suggests an improved nutritive capillary circulation. TcPO2 may partly reflect local nutritive capillary circulation and has been suggested for the evaluation of peripheral arterial disease and the prediction of ulcer outcomes (Kalani et al 1999). Increased TBP during ETA receptor blockade may be due to vasodilation of precapillary resistance vessels. The observed effect of ETA receptor blockade on peripheral tissue perfusion in these patients may be a consequence of blocking the precapillary constrictor effects of ET-1 mediated by ETA receptors. Furthermore, ETA receptor blockade has been shown to improve endothelium-dependent vasodilation by enhancing the bioavailability of nitric oxide, which appears to be of importance for microvascular function in diabetes (Mather et al 2002). In addition to the increased levels of ET-1 in patients with diabetes, as compared to nondiabetic controls (Settergren et al 2008), there are also indications of upregulation of ET receptors in diabetes (Khan et al 2003). The marked increase in peripheral blood flow observed following BQ123 infusion in the diabetic patients may therefore be related to increased production of ET-1 as well as an upregulation of ETA receptors mediating vasoconstriction.

Figure 3.

Figure 3

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Effects of a 60-min infusion of a selective ETA receptor antagonist (BQ123) on transcutaneous oxygen tension (TcPO2) and toe blood pressure (TBP) in six patients with type 2 diabetes and critical limb ischemia.

Conclusions

Disturbed microvascular function in diabetes, ie, diabetic microangiopathy, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of specific complications in different organs. Impaired nutritive skin microcirculation has been demonstrated in both the diabetic hand and foot and might contribute to the development of such complications as sensorimotor neuropathy and nonhealing ulcers. ET-1 is a potent vasoconstrictor, proinflammatory, and mitogenic peptide produced by endothelial cells, VSMC, and inflammatory cells. The production and the plasma levels of ET-1 are elevated in patients with diabetes, and a positive correlation between plasma ET-1 levels and diabetic microangiopathy has been reported, suggesting a potential role of the endothelin system in the pathophysiology of vascular complications in diabetes. A large body of evidence from animal models and human studies indicates that ET-1 is causally involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic microangiopathy, but the potential of ET-1 blockers in the treatment of diabetic microangiopathy has not been investigated in human studies. Nevertheless, recent results from our studies in patients with diabetes indicate that targeting the ET-1 system might be of importance in the treatment of complications related to diabetic microangiopathy.

Acknowledgments

The author’s own studies were supported by grants from the Swedish Research Council and the Stockholm County Council. Perimed AB, Stockholm, Sweden, supported the studies with the equipment used to measure the peripheral macro- and microcirculation. The author reports no conflicts of interest in this work.

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