Endothelin may play a role in atherosclerosis as it causes smooth muscle cell proliferation and its levels are elevated in patients with atherosclerosis. We report that interleukin-1β is a potent inducer of endothelin receptor expression in cultured human vascular smooth muscle cells. The effect is dose- and time-dependent and is due to an increase in receptor number. Endothelin receptor mRNA levels are also elevated. Interleukin-1β is a major regulator of endothelin release so, together with its effects on endothelin receptors, it may be responsible for a generalized activation of the endothelin system in diseased vessels.
