1. Academic Validation
  2. Riociguat prevents hyperoxia-induced lung injury and pulmonary hypertension in neonatal rats without effects on long bone growth

Riociguat prevents hyperoxia-induced lung injury and pulmonary hypertension in neonatal rats without effects on long bone growth

  • PLoS One. 2018 Jul 10;13(7):e0199927. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0199927.
Keyur Donda 1 Ronald Zambrano 1 Younghye Moon 2 Justin Percival 2 Ruben Vaidya 1 Fredrick Dapaah-Siakwan 1 Shihua Luo 1 Matthew R Duncan 1 Yong Bao 1 Luqing Wang 3 Ling Qin 3 Merline Benny 1 Karen Young 1 Shu Wu 1
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Pediatrics and Batchelor Children's Research Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, United States of America.
  • 2 Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, United States of America.
  • 3 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
Abstract

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains the most common and serious chronic lung disease of premature infants. Severe BPD complicated with pulmonary hypertension (PH) increases the mortality of these infants. Riociguat is an allosteric soluble Guanylate Cyclase stimulator and is approved by the FDA for treating PH in adults. However, it has not been approved for use in neonates due to concern for adverse effects on long bone growth. To address this concern we investigated if administration of riociguat is beneficial in preventing hyperoxia-induced lung injury and PH without side effects on long bone growth in newborn rats. Newborn rats were randomized to normoxia (21% O2) or hyperoxia (85% O2) exposure groups within 24 hours of birth, and received riociguat or placebo by once daily intraperitoneal injections during continuous normoxia or hyperoxia exposure for 9 days. In the hyperoxia control group, radial alveolar count, mean linear intercept and vascular density were significantly decreased, the pathological hallmarks of BPD, and these were accompanied by an increased inflammatory response. There was also significantly elevated vascular muscularization of peripheral pulmonary vessels, right ventricular systolic pressure and right ventricular hypertrophy indicating PH. However, administration of riociguat significantly decreased lung inflammation, improved alveolar and vascular development, and decreased PH during hyperoxia by inducing cGMP production. Additionally, riociguat did not affect long bone growth or structure. These data indicate that riociguat is beneficial in preventing hyperoxia-induced lung injury and PH without affecting long bone growth and structure and hence, suggests riociguat may be a potential novel agent for preventing BPD and PH in neonates.

Figures
Products