Asthma causes inflammation of human pulmonary arteries and decreases vasodilatation induced by prostaglandin I₂ analogs

ABSTRACT

Objective: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with increased cardiovascular events. This study assesses the presence of inflammation and the vascular reactivity of pulmonary arteries in patients with acute asthma. Methods: Rings of human pulmonary arteries obtained from non-asthmatic and asthmatic patients were set up in organ bath for vascular tone monitoring. Reactivity was induced by vasoconstrictor and vasodilator agents. Protein expression of inflammatory markers was detected by western blot. Prostanoid releases and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels were quantified using specific enzymatic kits. Results: Protein expression of cluster of differentiation 68, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, and cyclooxygenase-2 was significantly increased in arteries obtained from asthmatic patients. These effects were accompanied by an alteration of vasodilatation induced by iloprost and treprostinil, a decrease in cAMP levels and an increase in prostaglandin (PG) E₂ and PGI₂ synthesis. The use of forskolin (50 µmol/L) has restored the vasodilatation and cAMP release. No difference was observed between the two groups in reactivity induced by norepinephrine, angiotensin II, PGE₂, KCl, sodium nitroprusside, and acetylcholine. Conclusion: Acute asthma causes inflammation of pulmonary arteries and decreases vasodilation induced by PGI₂ analogs through the impairment of cAMP pathway.

KEYWORDS:

• Asthma
• prostaglandins
• pulmonary arteries
• vasoconstriction
• vasodilatation

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Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Funding

This work was supported by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research of Algeria.