Knockout of endothelin type B receptor signaling attenuates bleomycin-induced skin sclerosis in mice

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is important in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc). ET-1 binds two receptors, endothelin type A (ETA) and endothelin type B (ETB). Dual ETA/ETB receptor antagonists and a selective ETA receptor antagonist are used clinically to treat SSc, and the effect of these antagonists on fibroblast activation has been described. However, the role of ETB receptor signaling in fibrogenesis is less clear. This study was conducted to evaluate the profibrotic function of ETB receptor signaling in a murine model of bleomycin (BLM)-induced scleroderma. We used ETB receptor-knockout... Mehr ...