The Effects of Diesel Exhaust Inhalation on Vascular Function - the Role of Endothelin

The purpose of this study is to identify the role of endothelin 1 (a natural vasoconstrictor) in the adverse vascular effects demonstrated after exposure to air pollution

Air pollution is a major problem, and can be linked to around 5% of all deaths worldwide each year. There are strong associations between air pollution exposure and heart disease but we do not yet understand how these harmful effects are mediated. Understanding this mechanism is likely to have a major impact on the way we treat patients with heart disease and have the potential to shape future environmental health policy. The upregulation of Endothelin-1 provides a plausible mechanism for these harmful effects, and we plan to investigate this in more depth in the human forearm following exposure to diesel exhaust.

1 hour exposure to filtered air, followed by forearm venous occlusion plethysmography at 2 hours after the exposure and infusion of endothelin-1 (5pmol/min)

1 hour exposure to filtered air, followed by forearm venous occlusion plethysmography at 2 hours after the exposure and infusion of endothelin receptor antagonists BQ-123 and BQ-788

1 hour exposure to dilute diesel exhaust (300mcg/m3), followed by forearm venous occlusion plethysmography at 2 hours after the exposure and infusion of endothelin-1 (5pmol/min)

1 hour exposure to dilute diesel exhaust (300mcg/m3), followed by forearm venous occlusion plethysmography at 2 hours after the exposure and infusion of endothelin receptor antagonists BQ-123 and BQ-788

Intra-arterial infusion of Endothelin-1 at 5pmol/min for 1 hour during venous occlusion plethysmography

1 hour intra-arterial infusion of BQ-123 at 10nmol/min followed by co-infusion of BQ-788 at 1nmol/min for a further hour during forearm venous occlusion plethysmography

Change in forearm blood flow following infusion of endothelin-1 or the endothelin receptor antagonists BQ-123 & BQ-788

Inclusion Criteria: Healthy male volunteers Exclusion Criteria: Use of regular medication Cigarette smoking Significant occupational exposure to air pollution Intercurrent illness

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