Disease-modifying glaucoma drugs
Right now, no therapy has been proven to do this in patients. In large, decades-long studies only pressure lowering showed a clear benefit. In fact,...
Endothelin
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endothelin
Endothelin is a small protein made by cells that line blood vessels and other tissues, and it acts as a powerful signal in the body. Its main job is to tighten blood vessels, which can raise blood pressure and change how blood flows to organs. There are several versions of this protein, and the body uses different receptors to respond to it, so endothelin affects not only vessel tone but also cell growth and inflammation. Because of these effects, endothelin plays a role in normal processes like regulating blood pressure and wound healing, but it can also contribute to disease when its activity is too strong or out of balance. Conditions such as high blood pressure, certain types of heart and lung disease, and some kidney problems have been linked to excessive endothelin activity. Scientists have developed drugs that block endothelin receptors to reduce its harmful effects in these conditions, and measuring endothelin levels can sometimes help researchers understand disease activity. Understanding endothelin matters because it connects blood flow, organ health, and cell behavior, making it a useful target when trying to change disease processes. In short, endothelin is a key chemical messenger that can keep things working smoothly or, if misregulated, drive disease progression.