Renal and vascular effects of S21402, a dual inhibitor of angiotensin-converting enzyme and neutral endopeptidase, in healthy subjects with hypovolemia

Angiotensin I-converting enzyme-dependent and neutral endopeptidase-dependent generation and degradation of angiotensin II contrarily modulate noradrenaline release: implications for vasopeptidase-inhibitor therapy?

OBJECTIVES

Vasopeptidase inhibitors inhibit neutral endopeptidase (NEP) and angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE). Since angiotensin (ANG) II availability is decreased by ACE inhibition but is increased by NEP inhibition, we evaluated the influence of the vasopeptidase inhibitor omapatrilat on ANG II-dependent noradrenaline (NA) release.

DESIGN

The functional relevance of ACE-dependent and NEP-dependent generation and degradation of ANG II on NA overflow was determined in pithed rats by applications of ANG I (0.1-100 microg/kg) or ANG II (0.01-10 microg/kg) after single injections of ramipril (1 mg/kg), the NEP inhibitor candoxatril (100 mg/kg), or the vasopeptidase inhibitor omapatrilat (30 mg/kg).

RESULTS

Blood pressure was equipotently decreased by ramipril and omapatrilat, but not by candoxatril. NA overflow was increased after ANG I infusions in controls (EC50 = 9.0 microg/kgANG I, Emax = 5680 pg/ml), but almost completely suppressed by ramipril and omapatrilat. Candoxatril decreased EC50 (4.1 microg/kg) and increased Emax (7259 pg/ml). NA overflow after ANG II infusions was enhanced by candoxatril or omapatrilat. Ex vivo ACE activity was extensively inhibited by ramipril or omapatrilat, whereas ex vivo NEP activity was reduced by omapatrilat and candoxatril only. In vitro, omapatrilat inhibited NEP and ACE with similar potencies (IC50 NEP/IC50 ACE = 0.4).

CONCLUSIONS

Vasopeptidase inhibitors influence ANG II-related NA release depending on their ability to modulate the availability of ANG II via ACE or NEP. After acute application, the vasopeptidase inhibitor suppresses NA release in response to ANG I due to a predominant reduction of ANG II formation. These results indicate that the ratio of ACE-inhibitory and NEP-inhibitory potencies of vasopeptidase inhibitors may be relevant for sympathetic activation in chronic therapy.

Pharmacological Effects of ATI22-107 [2-(2-{2-[2-Chloro-4-(6-oxo-1,4,5,6-tetrahydro-pyridazin-3-yl)-phenoxy]-acetylamino}-ethoxymethyl)-4-(2-chloro-phenyl)-6-methyl-1,4-dihydro-pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylic Acid Dimethyl Ester)], a Novel Dual Pharmacophore, on Myocyte Calcium Cycling and Contractility

Historically, inhibitors of type III phosphodiesterases (PDE-III) have been effective inotropes in mammalian myocardium, but their clinical utility has been limited by adverse events, including arrhythmias that are considered to be due to Ca(2+) overload. ATI22-107 [2-(2-{2-[2-chloro-4-(6-oxo-1,4,5,6-tetrahydro-pyridazin-3-yl)-phenoxy]-acetylamino}-ethoxymethyl)-4-(2-chlorophenyl)-6-methyl-1,4-dihydro-pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester)], a novel, dual pharmacophore compound, was designed to simultaneously inhibit the cardiac phosphodiesterase (PDE-III) and produce inotropic effects, whereas inhibiting the L-type calcium channel (LTCC) was designed to minimize increases in diastolic Ca(2+). We compared the effects of ATI22-107 and enoximone, a pure PDE-III inhibitor, on the Fluo-3 calcium transient in normal feline ventricular myocytes and trabeculae. Enoximone-induced dose-dependent increases in peak [Ca(2+)](i), diastolic [Ca(2+)](i), T50, and T75. ATI22-107 demonstrated similar dose-dependent increases in peak [Ca(2+)](i) at 300 nM and 1.0 microM doses, with no further increases at higher doses. Throughout the dosing range, ATI22-107 induced much smaller, if any, increases in diastolic [Ca(2+)](i), T(25), and T(75). Current measurement of LTCC via patch-clamp techniques revealed dose-dependent decreases in LTCC current with an increasing dose of ATI22-107, thereby validating the dual functionality of the drug that has been proposed in this study. Studies in isolated trabeculae demonstrated that enoximone-induced a dose-dependent augmentation of the entire force-frequency relation in normal myocardium, whereas augmentation of contractility was only observed at lower stimulation frequencies with ATI22-107. These results demonstrate the effects of the LTCC-antagonizing moiety of ATI22-107 and suggest that the novel simultaneous combination of PDE-III and LTCC inhibition by one molecule may produce a favorable profile of limited inotropy without detrimental effects of increased diastolic [Ca(2+)](i).

Renal effects of omapatrilat and captopril in salt-loaded, nitric oxide-deficient rats

Inhibition of nitric oxide synthases causes systemic hypertension and renal injury in rats. Our objective was to examine whether omapatrilat, a vasopeptidase inhibitor that inhibits both angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and neutral endopeptidase, could induce better regression of renal injury than ACE inhibitor alone. Ten groups of rats were studied. They were fed either a normal (0.8% NaCl) or a high (4% NaCl) sodium diet. Eight of these groups received NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 20 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) in their drinking water. After 4 weeks, 1 group on each diet was killed and considered the L-NAME group, whereas the others received L-NAME alone, captopril (200 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) plus L-NAME, or omapatrilat (80 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) plus L-NAME for 4 additional weeks. In rats receiving L-NAME alone for 8 weeks, the mortality rate was approximately 90%, irrespective of the diet. In contrast, all rats survived in the captopril and the omapatrilat groups. In rats fed a normal-sodium diet, captopril and omapatrilat normalized systolic blood pressure and induced a complete regression of renal injury. Creatinine clearance and proteinuria were also normalized. In the high-sodium-diet groups, both treatments were less efficient: blood pressure remained elevated, and the regression of renal fibrosis was only partial. Although proteinuria decreased significantly with captopril or omapatrilat, creatinine clearance remained lower than in the controls. These results demonstrate that, in nitric oxide-deficient rats fed a normal-sodium diet, ACE and vasopeptidase inhibitors exhibit a marked renoprotective effect, whereas these treatments are less efficient in rats fed a high-sodium diet.

Vasopeptidase inhibition: a double-edged sword?

The enormous benefits of inhibition of ACE demonstrate that manipulation of the metabolism of peptide hormones is a valuable therapeutic strategy for cardiovascular disease. Recent attempts to expand these benefits have combined ACE inhibition with inhibition of other peptidases such as neutral endopeptidase (NEP) in a single molecule, a strategy known as vasopeptidase inhibition. NEP metabolizes natriuretic peptides, and NEP inhibition offers the prospect of combining the benefits of increased natriuretic peptide levels with those of ACE inhibition. However, peptidases such as ACE and NEP have many different substrates, and there are complex interactions between ACE inhibition and NEP inhibition. Both ACE and NEP metabolize the kinin peptides bradykinin and kallidin, and NEP also converts angiotensin (Ang) I to Ang-(1-7) and metabolizes Ang II and endothelin. Addition of NEP inhibition to ACE inhibition potentiates the ACE inhibitor-induced increase in kinin levels, increases Ang II levels, reduces Ang-(1-7) levels, and may increase endothelin levels. These additional consequences of combined ACE/NEP inhibition increase the risk of angioedema and may counteract any benefit of ACE inhibition that depends on reduced Ang II levels and increased Ang-(1-7) levels. Further considerations are that the ratio of ACE and NEP inhibition is fixed for vasopeptidase inhibitors, and there is uncertainty how these drugs should be compared with ACE inhibitors. Vasopeptidase inhibitors will therefore require careful evaluation before they are introduced to patient care.