Incorporation of iloprost in phospholipase-resistant phospholipid scaffold enhances its barrier protective effects on pulmonary endothelium

Sci Rep. 2018 Jan 17;8(1):879. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-19197-1.

Abstract

Correction of barrier dysfunction and inflammation in acute lung injury (ALI) represents an important problem. Previous studies demonstrate barrier-protective and anti-inflammatory effects of bioactive lipid prostacyclin and its stable analog iloprost (ILO). We generated a phospholipase resistant synthetic phospholipid with iloprost attached at the sn-2 position (ILO-PC) and investigated its biological effects. In comparison to free ILO, ILO-PC caused sustained endothelial cell (EC) barrier enhancement, linked to more prolonged activation of Rap1 and Rac1 GTPases and their cytoskeletal and cell junction effectors: cortactin, PAK1, p120-catenin and VE-cadherin. ILO and ILO-PC equally efficiently suppressed acute, Rho GTPase-dependent EC hyper-permeability caused by thrombin. However, ILO-PC exhibited more sustained barrier-protective and anti-inflammatory effects in the model of chronic EC dysfunction caused by bacterial wall lipopolysacharide (LPS). ILO-PC was also more potent inhibitor of NFκB signaling and lung vascular leak in the murine model of LPS-induced ALI. Treatment with ILO-PC showed more efficient ALI recovery over 3 days after LPS challenge than free ILO. In conclusion, this study describes a novel synthetic phospholipid with barrier-enhancing and anti-inflammatory properties superior to existing prostacyclin analogs, which may be used as a prototype for future development of more efficient treatment for ALI and other vascular leak syndromes.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Lung Injury / drug therapy
  • Acute Lung Injury / metabolism
  • Adherens Junctions / drug effects
  • Adherens Junctions / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism
  • Cadherins / metabolism
  • Capillary Permeability / drug effects
  • Cell Line
  • Cytoskeleton / drug effects
  • Cytoskeleton / metabolism
  • Endothelial Cells / drug effects*
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Endothelium, Vascular / drug effects
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism
  • Epoprostenol / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Iloprost / pharmacology*
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Lung / drug effects*
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Phospholipases / metabolism*
  • Phospholipids / metabolism*
  • Protective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Thrombin / metabolism
  • rap1 GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Cadherins
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • NF-kappa B
  • Phospholipids
  • Protective Agents
  • cadherin 5
  • Epoprostenol
  • Phospholipases
  • Thrombin
  • rap1 GTP-Binding Proteins
  • Iloprost