Description
Endothelin 2 (ET-2) is a protein encoded by the EDN2 gene in humans. It was first discovered in 1988 by Yanagisawa and team and belongs to a family of three endothelin peptide isoforms (ET-1, ET-2, ET-3), which constrict blood vessels. ET-2 is encoded by genes on separate chromosomes to its isoforms and is mainly produced in vascular endothelial cells of the kidney, placenta, uterus, heart, central nervous system and intestine. It becomes present in the blood of animals and humans at levels ranging from 0.3pg/ml to 3pg/ml. ET-2 acts by binding to two different G-protein coupled receptors (GCPRs), the endothelin A receptor (EDNRA) and the endothelin B receptor (EDNRB)