Inhaled nitric oxide-induced rebound pulmonary hypertension: role for endothelin-1.

Clinically significant increases in pulmonary vascular resistance have been noted on acute withdrawal of inhaled nitric oxide (NO). Endothelin (ET)-1 is a vasoactive peptide produced by the vascular endothelium that may participate in the pathophysiology of pulmonary hypertension. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of inhaled NO on endogenous ET-1 production in vivo in the intact lamb and to determine the potential role of ET-1 in the rebound pulmonary hypertension associated with the withdrawal of inhaled NO. Seven 1-mo-old vehicle-treated control lambs and six PD-156707 (an ET(A) receptor antagonist)-treated lambs were mechanically ventilated. Inhaled NO (40 parts per million) was administered for 24 h and then acutely withdrawn. After 24 h of inhaled NO, plasma ET-1 levels increased by 119.5 +/- 42.2% (P < 0.05). Western blot analysis revealed that protein levels of preproET-1, endothelin-converting enzyme-1alpha, and ET(A) and ET(B) receptors were unchanged. On acute withdrawal of NO, pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) increased by 77.8% (P < 0.05) in control lambs but was unchanged (-5.5%) in PD-156707-treated lambs. Inhaled NO increased plasma ET-1 concentrations but not gene expression in the intact lamb, and ET(A) receptor blockade prevented the increase in PVR after NO withdrawal. These data suggest a role for ET-1 in the rebound pulmonary hypertension noted on acute withdrawal of inhaled NO.

Alterations in endogenous nitric oxide production after cardiopulmonary bypass in lambs with normal and increased pulmonary blood flow.

BACKGROUND: After cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), altered vascular reactivity is a major source of complications, particularly for children with increased pulmonary blood flow. Although changes in agonist-induced NO activity are well described after CPB, potential changes in basal NO production and their role in post-CPB pulmonary hypertension remain unclear. By using aortopulmonary vascular graft placement in the fetal lamb (shunt lambs), we established a unique model of pulmonary hypertension that mimics congenital heart disease with increased pulmonary blood flow. The objective of the present study was to investigate potential alterations in endogenous NO production after CPB in lambs with normal and increased pulmonary blood flow. METHODS AND RESULTS: Vascular pressures and blood flows were monitored in 1-month-old lambs (n=7) with increased pulmonary blood flow and 6 age-matched control lambs. After shunt closure, hypothermic CPB (25 degrees C) was performed for 2 hours. The hemodynamic variables were monitored for 4 hours after CPB. Before, during, and after CPB, peripheral lung biopsies were performed to determine tissue NO, nitrite, nitrate, and cGMP concentrations; total NO synthase (NOS) activity; and endothelial NOS protein levels. Hypothermic CPB increased both mean pulmonary arterial pressure and left pulmonary vascular resistance (P:<0.05). The increase in pulmonary arterial pressure induced in shunt lambs was greater than that induced in control lambs (P:<0.05). Four hours after CPB, tissue concentrations of NO, nitrite, nitrate, and cGMP were decreased to approximately 70% of pre-CPB levels in both control and shunt lambs (P:<0.05). Total NOS activity and endothelial NOS protein levels were unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Modest decreases in basal NO production, the inability to increase NO production, or both may play a role in the altered pulmonary vascular reactivity after CPB. The decrease in NO is independent of gene expression. However, other mechanisms for this decrease, such as substrate or cofactor availability, warrant further study.

Altered regulation of the ET-1 cascade in lambs with increased pulmonary blood flow and pulmonary hypertension.

Plasma concentrations of endothelin-1 (ET-1) are increased in children with congenital heart disease associated with increased pulmonary blood flow. However, the role of ET-1 in the pathophysiology of pulmonary hypertension remains unclear. Preproendothelin-1 gene expression is increased in adults with advanced pulmonary hypertension. To characterize potential early molecular alterations in the ET-1 cascade induced by increased pulmonary blood flow and pulmonary hypertension, fetal lambs underwent in utero placement of an aortopulmonary vascular graft (shunt). RNase protection assays and Western blot analysis were performed on lung tissue prepared from 4-wk-old shunt lambs and age-matched controls. Endothelin-converting enzyme-1 [the enzyme responsible for the production of active ET-1 from big ET-1, mRNA (411%, p<0.05)] and protein (170%, p<0.05) were increased in lung tissue prepared from shunt lambs, compared with age-matched controls. Endothelin type A receptor (the receptor that mediates vasoconstriction), mRNA (246%, p<0.05), and protein (176%, p<0.05) also were increased in lung tissue prepared from shunt lambs compared with age-matched controls. Conversely, endothelin type B receptor (the receptor that mediates vasodilation), mRNA (46%, p<0.05), and protein (65%, p<0.05) were decreased in shunt lambs. Both the mRNA and protein levels for preproendothelin-were unchanged. Thus we conclude that increased pulmonary blood flow and pulmonary hypertension induce early alterations in the ET-1 cascade that result in increased ET-1 production, increased ET-1-mediated vasoconstriction, and decreased vasodilation. These early alterations in gene expression may contribute to the development of pulmonary hypertension and its associated enhanced pulmonary vascular reactivity.

Inhaled nitric oxide inhibits NOS activity in lambs: potential mechanism for rebound pulmonary hypertension.

Life-threatening increases in pulmonary vascular resistance have been noted on acute withdrawal of inhaled nitric oxide (NO), although the mechanisms remain unknown. In vitro data suggest that exogenous NO exposure inhibits endothelial NO synthase (NOS) activity. Thus the objectives of this study were to determine the effects of inhaled NO therapy and its acute withdrawal on endogenous NOS activity and gene expression in vivo in the intact lamb. Six 1-mo-old lambs were mechanically ventilated and instrumented to measure vascular pressures and left pulmonary blood flow. Inhaled NO (40 ppm) acutely decreased left pulmonary vascular resistance by 27. 5 +/- 4.7% (P < 0.05). This was associated with a 207% increase in plasma cGMP concentrations (P < 0.05). After 6 h of inhaled NO, NOS activity was reduced to 44.3 +/- 5.9% of pre-NO values (P < 0.05). After acute withdrawal of NO, pulmonary vascular resistance increased by 52.1 +/- 11.6% (P < 0.05) and cGMP concentrations decreased. Both returned to pre-NO values within 60 min. One hour after NO withdrawal, NOS activity increased by 48.4 +/- 19.1% to 70% of pre-NO values (P < 0.05). Western blot analysis revealed that endothelial NOS protein levels remained unchanged throughout the study period. These data suggest a role for decreased endogenous NOS activity in the rebound pulmonary hypertension noted after acute withdrawal of inhaled NO.

Inhaled nitric oxide, oxygen, and alkalosis: dose-response interactions in a lamb model of pulmonary hypertension.

Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) is currently used as an adjuvant therapy for a variety of pulmonary hypertensive disorders. In both animal and human studies, inhaled NO induces selective, dose-dependent pulmonary vasodilation. However, its potential interactions with other simultaneously used pulmonary vasodilator therapies have not been studied. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the potential dose-response interactions of inhaled NO, oxygen, and alkalosis therapies. Fourteen newborn lambs (age 1-6 days) were instrumented to measure vascular pressures and left pulmonary artery blood flow. After recovery, the lambs were sedated and mechanically ventilated. During steady-state pulmonary hypertension induced by U46619 (a thromboxane A2 mimic), the lambs were exposed to the following conditions: Protocol A, inhaled NO (0, 5, 40, and 80 ppm) and inspired oxygen concentrations (FiO2) of 0.21, 0.50, and 1.00; and Protocol B, inhaled NO (0, 5, 40, and 80 ppm) and arterial pH levels of 7.30, 7.40, 7.50, and 7.60. Each condition (in randomly chosen order) was maintained for 10 min, and all variables were allowed to return to baseline between conditions. Inhaled NO, oxygen, and alkalosis produced dose-dependent decreases in mean pulmonary arterial pressures (P < 0.05). Systemic arterial pressure remained unchanged. At 5 ppm of inhaled NO, alkalosis and oxygen induced further dose-dependent decreases in mean pulmonary arterial pressures (P < 0.05). At inhaled NO doses > 5 ppm, alkalosis induced further dose-independent decreases in mean pulmonary arterial pressure, while oxygen did not. We conclude that in this animal model, oxygen, alkalosis, and inhaled NO induced selective, dose-dependent pulmonary vasodilation. However, when combined, a systemic arterial pH > 7.40 augmented inhaled NO-induced pulmonary vasodilation, while an FiO2 > 0.5 did not. Therefore, weaning high FiO2 during inhaled NO therapy should be considered, since it may not diminish the pulmonary vasodilating effects. Further studies are warranted to guide the clinical weaning strategies of these pulmonary vasodilator therapies.

Coordinated regulation of genes of the nitric oxide and endothelin pathways during the development of pulmonary hypertension in fetal lambs.

Ligation of the ductus arteriosus in utero produces fetal and neonatal pulmonary hypertension and alterations in the hemodynamic responses to nitric oxide and endothelin-1 in fetal and newborn lambs. To determine whether fetal pulmonary hypertension alters the expression of the genes of the nitric oxide and endothelin-1 pathways, seven fetal lambs (123-126-d gestation) underwent ligation of the ductus arteriosus. Near-term (138-139-d gestation), total lung RNA, and protein were prepared from control and ductal ligation fetal lambs for RNase protection assays and Western blotting. Ligation of the ductus arteriosus was associated with decreased expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase mRNA and protein, and the alpha1 and the beta1 subunits of soluble guanylate cyclase protein; and with increased expression of phosphodiesterase V mRNA. Ligation of the ductus arteriosus was also associated with increased expression of preproendothelin-1 mRNA and with decreased expression of endothelin B receptor (ET(B)) mRNA. These results suggest that there is coordinated regulation of genes of the nitric oxide pathway, which would decrease nitric oxide and cGMP concentration, thereby decreasing pulmonary vasodilator activity. There is also coordinated regulation of genes of the endothelin-1 pathway, which would increase endothelin-1 concentration and limit ET(B) receptor activation, thereby increasing pulmonary vasoconstrictor activity. These alterations in gene expression would increase fetal pulmonary vascular resistance, contributing to the development of pulmonary hypertension after birth.

Ventilation and oxygenation induce endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene expression in the lungs of fetal lambs.

At birth, ventilation and oxygenation immediately decrease pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and increase pulmonary blood flow (PBF); more gradual changes occur over the next several hours. Nitric oxide, produced by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), mediates these gradual changes. To determine how ventilation and oxygenation affect eNOS gene expression, 12 fetal lambs were ventilated for 8 h without changing fetal descending aortic blood gases or pH (rhythmic distension) or with 100% oxygen (O2 ventilation). Vascular pressures and PBF were measured. Total RNA, protein, and tissue sections were prepared from lung tissue for RNase protection assays, Western blotting, and in situ hybridization. O2 ventilation increased PBF and decreased PVR more than rhythmic distension (P < 0.05). Rhythmic distension increased eNOS mRNA expression; O2 ventilation increased eNOS mRNA expression more and increased eNOS protein expression (P < 0.05). To define the mechanisms responsible for these changes, ovine fetal pulmonary arterial endothelial cells were exposed to 1, 21, or 95% O2 or to shear stress. 95% O2 increased eNOS mRNA and protein expression (P < 0.05). Shear stress increased eNOS mRNA and protein expression (P < 0.05). Increased oxygenation but more importantly increased PBF with increased shear stress induce eNOS gene expression and contribute to pulmonary vasodilation after birth.