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Therapeutic hypercapnia prevents inhaled nitric oxide-induced right-ventricular systolic dysfunction in juvenile rats
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Therapeutic hypercapnia prevents inhaled nitric oxide-induced right-ventricular systolic dysfunction in juvenile rats

Kristyn Dunlop, Kiranjot Gosal, Crystal Kantores, Julijana Ivanovska, Rupinder Dhaliwal, Jean-François Desjardins, Kim A Connelly, Amish Jain, Patrick J McNamara and Robert P Jankov
Free radical biology & medicine, Vol.69, pp.35-49
04/2014
DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2014.01.008
PMID: 24423485

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Abstract

Chronic pulmonary hypertension in the neonate and infant frequently presents with right-ventricular (RV) failure. Current clinical management may include protracted treatment with inhaled nitric oxide (iNO), with the goal of reducing RV afterload. We have previously reported that prolonged exposure to iNO causes RV systolic dysfunction in the chronic hypoxia-exposed juvenile rat, which was prevented by a peroxynitrite decomposition catalyst. Given that inhalation of CO2 (therapeutic hypercapnia) may limit oxidative stress and upregulated cytokine expression in the lung and other organs, we hypothesized that therapeutic hypercapnia would attenuate cytokine-mediated nitric oxide synthase (NOS) upregulation, thus limiting peroxynitrite generation. Sprague-Dawley rat pups were exposed to chronic hypoxia (13% O2) from postnatal day 1 to 21, while receiving iNO (20 ppm) from day 14 to 21, with or without therapeutic hypercapnia (10% CO2). Therapeutic hypercapnia completely normalized RV systolic function, RV hypertrophy, and remodeling of pulmonary resistance arteries in animals exposed to iNO. Inhaled nitric oxide-mediated increases in RV peroxynitrite, apoptosis, and contents of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1α, and NOS-2 were all attenuated by therapeutic hypercapnia. Inhibition of NOS-2 activity with 1400 W (1 mg/kg/day) prevented iNO-mediated upregulation of peroxynitrite and led to improved RV systolic function. Blockade of IL-1 receptor signaling with anakinra (500 mg/kg/day) decreased NOS-2 content and had similar effects compared to NOS-2 inhibition on iNO-mediated effects, whereas blockade of TNF-α signaling with etanercept (0.4 mg/kg on alternate days) had no effects on these parameters. We conclude that therapeutic hypercapnia prevents the adverse effects of sustained exposure to iNO on RV systolic function by limiting IL-1-mediated NOS-2 upregulation and consequent nitration. Therapeutic hypercapnia also acts synergistically with iNO in normalizing RV hypertrophy, vascular remodeling, and raised pulmonary vascular resistance secondary to chronic hypoxia.
Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular - therapy Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - metabolism Interleukin-1 - metabolism Humans Rats Hypertension, Pulmonary - metabolism Nitric Oxide - toxicity Carbon Dioxide - blood Hypertension, Pulmonary - chemically induced Hypertension, Pulmonary - therapy Animals Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular - chemically induced Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular - pathology Nitric Oxide Synthase - metabolism Hypercapnia - blood

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