Thalidomide ameliorates portal hypertension via nitric oxide synthase independent reduced systolic blood pressure.
World J Gastroenterol
; 21(14): 4126-35, 2015 Apr 14.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-25892862
ABSTRACT
AIM:
Portal hypertension is a common complication of liver cirrhosis and significantly increases mortality and morbidity. Previous reports have suggested that the compound thalidomide attenuates portal hypertension (PHT). However, the mechanism for this action is not fully elucidated. One hypothesis is that thalidomide destabilizes tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) mRNA and therefore diminishes TNFα induction of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and the production of nitric oxide (NO). To examine this hypothesis, we utilized the murine partial portal vein ligation (PVL) PHT model in combination with endothelial or inducible NOS isoform gene knockout mice.METHODS:
Wild type, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)(-/-) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)(-/-) mice received either PVL or sham surgery and were given either thalidomide or vehicle. Serum nitrate (total nitrate, NOx) was measured daily for 7 d as a surrogate of NO synthesis. Serum TNFα level was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. TNFα mRNA was quantified in liver and aorta tissue by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. PHT was determined by recording splenic pulp pressure (SPP) and abdominal aortic flow after 0-7 d. Response to thalidomide was determined by measurement of SPP and mean arterial pressure (MAP).RESULTS:
SPP, abdominal aortic flow (Qao) and plasma NOx were increased in wild type and iNOS(-/-) PVL mice when compared to sham operated control mice. In contrast, SPP, Qao and plasma NOx were not increased in eNOS(-/-) PVL mice when compared to sham controls. Serum TNFα level in both sham and PVL mice was below the detection limit of the commercial ELISA used. Therefore, the effect of thalidomide on serum TNFα levels was undetermined in wild type, eNOS(-/-) or iNOS(-/-) mice. Thalidomide acutely increased plasma NOx in wild type and eNOS(-/-) mice but not iNOS(-/-) mice. Moreover, thalidomide temporarily (0-90 min) decreased mean arterial pressure, SPP and Qao in wild type, eNOS(-/-) and iNOS(-/-) PVL mice, after which time levels returned to the respective baseline.CONCLUSION:
Thalidomide does not reduce portal pressure in the murine PVL model by modulation of NO biosynthesis. Rather, thalidomide reduces PHT by decreasing MAP by an undetermined mechanism.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Thalidomide
/
Portal Pressure
/
Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
/
Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
/
Arterial Pressure
/
Hypertension, Portal
/
Antihypertensive Agents
/
Nitric Oxide
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
World J Gastroenterol
Journal subject:
GASTROENTEROLOGIA
Year:
2015
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States