Endothelin converting-enzyme-1 mRNA expression in human cardiovascular disease

Endothelin-1 converting-enzyme (ECE-1) cleaves the precursor, big-endothelin-1, to the active peptide endothelin-1. The aim of this study was to investigate whether ECE-1 mRNA expression is modified in human cardiovascular disease. Tissue samples from the left human atrium were analyzed for ECE-1 expression and related to different clinical parameters. A quantitative PCR assay (qPCR) with competitive and non-competitive standards was established. The ECE-1 measurements were normalized by a GAPDH qPCR. Patients who suffered from a myocardial infarction had elevated ECE-1 levels when compared to controls (5.81 +/- 0.76 vs. 3.20 +/- 0.51 fg ECE-1, ng GAPDH, p