Urotensin inhibition with palosuran could be a promising alternative in pulmonary arterial hypertension

Inflammation. 2013 Apr;36(2):405-12. doi: 10.1007/s10753-012-9559-x.

Abstract

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive and a life-threatening disease with its high morbidity and mortality ratios. On searching for new shining targets in pathogenesis, we noticed, in our previous studies, urotensin-II (UII) in systemic sclerosis with potent angiogenic and pro-fibrotic features. Owing to the mimicking properties of UII with endothelin-1 (ET1), we attempted to investigate the effect of palosuran in a PAH rat model. Thirty rats were randomly divided into three groups, with each group comprising 10 rats: group 1 (control group) received the vehicle subcutaneously, instead of monocrotaline (MCT) and vehicle; group 2 (MCT group) received subcutaneous MCT and vehicle; and group 3 (MCT + palosuran group) received subcutaneous MCT and palosuran. Serum UII, ET1, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) levels, pulmonary arteriolar pathology of different diameter vessels, and cardiac indices were evaluated. The ET1, TGF-β1, and UII levels were significantly diminished in the treatment group, similar to the controls (p < 0.001). Right ventricular hypertrophy index and mean pulmonary arterial pressure scores were also significantly reduced in the treatment group (p = 0.001). Finally, in the 50-125-μm diameter arterioles, in contrast to Groups 3 and 1, there was a statistically significant thickness (p < 0.01) in the arteriolar walls of rats in Group 2. The treatment effect on arteries of more than 125-μm diameters was found to be valuable but not significant. Owing to its healing effect on hemodynamic, histological, and biochemical parameters of MCT-induced PAH, palosuran as an antagonist of UII might be an optional treatment alternative for PAH.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arterial Pressure / drug effects*
  • Arterioles / drug effects
  • Endothelin-1 / blood
  • Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension
  • Hemodynamics / drug effects
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / chemically induced
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / drug therapy*
  • Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular / chemically induced
  • Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular / drug therapy*
  • Male
  • Monocrotaline
  • Pulmonary Artery / drug effects
  • Pulmonary Artery / pathology
  • Quinolines / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / blood
  • Urea / analogs & derivatives*
  • Urea / pharmacology
  • Urotensins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Urotensins / blood

Substances

  • Endothelin-1
  • Quinolines
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • Urotensins
  • Monocrotaline
  • Urea
  • urotensin II
  • 1-(2-(4-benzyl-4-hydroxypiperidin-1-yl)ethyl)-3-(2-methylquinolin-4-yl)urea