Endothelial dysfunction is characterized by a decreased release of endothelium-derived relaxing factors such as nitric oxide (NO), prostacyclin (PGI2) and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) accompanied by an enhanced production of endothelium-derived contracting factors such as thromboxane A2 (TxA2), superoxide (O2−) anions, endothelin-1 (ET-1), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and angiotensin II5. This evidence concerns the gene EDN1 and endothelial dysfunction.