Treatment with senicapoc, a KCa3.1 channel blocker, alleviates hypoxemia in a mouse model for acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Br J Pharmacol 2021;
179:2175-2192. [PMID:
34623632 DOI:
10.1111/bph.15704]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by pulmonary oedema and severe hypoxaemia. We investigated whether genetic deficit or blockade of calcium-activated potassium (KCa3.1) channels would counteract pulmonary oedema and hypoxaemia in ventilator-induced lung injury, an experimental model for ARDS.
EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH
KCa3.1 channel knockout mice were exposed to ventilator-induced lung injury. Control mice exposed to ventilator-induced lung injury were treated with the KCa3.1 channel inhibitor, senicapoc. The outcomes were oxygenation (PaO2 /FiO2 ratio), lung compliance, lung wet-to-dry weight, and protein and cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF).
KEY RESULTS
Ventilator-induced lung injury resulted in lung oedema, decreased lung compliance, a severe drop in PaO2 /FiO2 ratio, increased protein, neutrophils, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) in BALF from wild-type mice compared to KCa3.1 knockout mice. Pre-treatment with senicapoc (10-70 mg/kg) prevented the reduction in PaO2 /FiO2 ratio, decrease in lung compliance, increased protein, and TNFα. Senicapoc (30 mg/kg) reduced histopathological lung injury score and neutrophils in BALF. After injurious ventilation, administration of 30 mg/kg senicapoc also improved the PaO2 /FiO2 ratio and reduced lung injury score and neutrophils in the BALF compared to vehicle-treated mice. In human lung epithelial cells, senicapoc decreased TNFα-induced permeability.
CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS
Genetic deficiency of KCa3.1 channels and senicapoc improved the PaO2 /FiO2 ratio and decreased the cytokines after a ventilator-induced lung injury. Moreover, senicapoc directly affects lung epithelial cells and blocks neutrophil infiltration of the injured lung. These findings open the perspective that blocking KCa3.1 channels is a potential treatment in ARDS-like disease.
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