title: Rho-kinase inhibitors show promise in pulmonary hypertension.
abstract: In pulmonary arterial hypertension, it is necessary to obtain a vasodilation that is selective for the pulmonary circulation. Ras human orthologue (Rho)/Rho-kinase-mediated Ca2+ sensitisation plays a central role in mediating the sustained vasoconstriction and increased vasoreactivity in the rat hypoxic model of pulmonary hypertension. Rho-kinase inhibitors (Y-27632 and/or fasudil) have been shown to reduce pulmonary arterial pressure in three rat models of pulmonary hypertension. The first clinical study to report the effects of a Rho-kinase inhibitor in pulmonary hypertension enrolled nine patients with severe pulmonary hypertension. Fasudil hydrochloride 30 mg for 30 min i.v. caused a slight decrease in the mean pulmonary artery pressure and increase in the cardiac index but neither of these responses was significant. However, fasudil caused a significant decrease in pulmonary vascular resistance. Rho-kinase inhibitors may be useful in pulmonary hypertension, and should undergo further development for this indication.
authors.affiliation: Division of Health Practice, Auckland University of Technology, Akoranga Campus, Northcote, Auckland, New Zealand. s.doggrell@xtra.co.nz
authors.forename: Sheila A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Doggrell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases
chemical_list: D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases