Long-acting oral phosphodiesterase inhibition preconditions against reperfusion injury in an experimental lung transplantation model.
OBJECTIVE
Ischemia-reperfusion injury remains a devastating complication of lung transplantation. Phosphodiesterase inhibitors have been shown to precondition tissues against ischemia-reperfusion injury. Little is known, however, about the utility of phosphodiesterase inhibition in reperfusion injury after lung transplantation. We evaluated the long-acting phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor, tadalafil, in an ex vivo lung transplant model.


METHODS
New Zealand White rabbits (4 kg), were given oral tadalafil (n = 11) 24 hours before lung harvest and compared with rabbits given oral vehicle alone (n = 11). Lungs were recovered with Perfadex solution (Vitrolife, Kungsbacka, Sweden) and cold stored for 18 hours. After storage, lung blocks were reperfused with donor rabbit blood in an ex vivo apparatus. Pulmonary artery pressures were recorded with serial arterial and venous blood gas sampling and animals served as their own controls. Phosphodiesterase-5 and protein kinase G tissue activity assays confirmed drug effects. Luminol chemiluminescence assay was used to measure reactive oxygen species and levels of endothelial and inducible nitric oxide synthase were measured.


RESULTS
Extended cold storage, followed by reperfusion produced a consistent reproducible decrease in oxygenation and increase in pulmonary pressure. Tadalafil-treated animals exhibited greater Pao(2) throughout the course of reperfusion (P = .001) Mean pulmonary artery pressure was lower in tadalafil-treated animals (22 vs 40 mm Hg; P = .04). Phosphodiesterase-5 activity was decreased (143 +/- 8 vs 205 +/- 32 mP; P < .001) with protein kinase G activity increased (25 +/- 12 vs 12 +/- 2.4 fU/microg; P = .01) in the experimental group confirming that oral pretreatment resulted in active phosphodiesterase inhibition in the lung tissue. Reactive oxygen species (as measured by luminol activity) were decreased in tadalafil-treated animals (7.8 +/- 1.5 vs 10.2 +/- 1.2 relative light units; P = .003).


CONCLUSIONS
Our experimental model demonstrates that oral donor pretreatment with a long-acting phosphodiesterase inhibitor is an effective strategy for improving pulmonary performance after reperfusion. Importantly, phosphodiesterase enzymes and their downstream effectors may play a critical role in reperfusion injury after lung transplantation.
Weiss
Eric S
ES
Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Md. 21287, USA.
Champion
Hunter C
HC
Williams
Jason A
JA
Baumgartner
William A
WA
Shah
Ashish S
AS
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002243:Carbolines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000378:metabolism; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006085:Graft Survival; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011336:Probability; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012016:Reference Values; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D000068581:Tadalafil; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods*
D002243:Carbolines; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D000068581:Tadalafil; D006152:Cyclic GMP