Elevated endothelin-1 levels after cigarette smoking

Metabolism. 1994 Mar;43(3):267-9. doi: 10.1016/0026-0495(94)90091-4.

Abstract

The effect of short-term nicotine consumption on endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels was studied in 10 male healthy smokers. Volunteers smoked in random order on 3 separate days a low-tar cigarette or a high-tar cigarette, or were studied without having smoked (no-cigarette experiment). ET-1, corticotropin, and cortisol levels, heart rate, and blood pressure were determined before and 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, and 30 minutes after smoking. In contrast to results obtained after smoking a low-tar cigarette or not smoking, smoking a high-tar cigarette resulted in a significant increase in ET-1 levels within 10 minutes, followed by an increase in corticotropin levels within 20 minutes after smoking. Thirty minutes after smoking, cortisol levels were higher after a high-tar cigarette compared with a low-tar cigarette or no smoking. Increases in heart rate and systolic blood pressure were likewise higher after smoking a high-tar cigarette than after smoking a low-tar cigarette. In conclusion, it is tempting to speculate that ET-1 may indeed act as the long-searched-for link between vasopressin and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and thus play an essential role in the stimulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. In addition, these results suggest that the increase in the level of ET-1, a powerful vasoconstrictor and mitogen, may play an important part in the disease mechanisms of atherosclerosis arising from smoking.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / blood
  • Adult
  • Arteriosclerosis / etiology
  • Arteriosclerosis / physiopathology
  • Blood Pressure / physiology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Endothelins / blood*
  • Endothelins / physiology
  • Heart Rate / physiology
  • Humans
  • Hydrocortisone / blood
  • Male
  • Nicotine / adverse effects
  • Nicotine / pharmacology
  • Radioimmunoassay
  • Smoking / adverse effects
  • Smoking / blood*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Endothelins
  • Nicotine
  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
  • Hydrocortisone