TY - JOUR T1 - Therapeutic efficacy of azaindole-1 in experimental pulmonary hypertension JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J SP - 808 LP - 818 DO - 10.1183/09031936.00140309 VL - 36 IS - 4 AU - B.K. Dahal AU - D. Kosanovic AU - P.K. Pamarthi AU - A. Sydykov AU - Y-J. Lai AU - R. Kast AU - H. Schirok AU - J-P. Stasch AU - H.A. Ghofrani AU - N. Weissmann AU - F. Grimminger AU - W. Seeger AU - R.T. Schermuly Y1 - 2010/10/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/36/4/808.abstract N2 - An accumulating body of evidence incriminates Rho kinase (ROCK) in the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension (PH). The therapeutic efficacy of azaindole-1, a novel highly selective and orally active ROCK inhibitor, has not yet been investigated in PH. This study aimed to investigate the effects of azaindole-1 on 1) acute hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV), 2) proliferation of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) and 3) animal models of PH. Azaindole-1 significantly inhibited HPV in isolated, ventilated and buffer-perfused murine lungs and proliferation of primary rat PASMCs in vitro. Azaindole-1 was administered orally from 21 to 35 days after monocrotaline (MCT) injection in rats and hypoxic exposure in mice. Azaindole-1 (10 and 30 mg per kg body weight per day in rats and mice, respectively) significantly improved haemodynamics and right ventricular hypertrophy. Moreover, the medial wall thickness and muscularisation of peripheral pulmonary arteries were ameliorated. Azaindole-1 treatment resulted in a decreased immunoreactivity for phospho-myosin phosphatase target subunit 1 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen in pulmonary vessels of MCT-injected rats, suggesting an impaired ROCK activity and reduced proliferating cells. Azaindole-1 provided therapeutic benefit in experimental PH, and this may be attributable to its potent vasorelaxant and antiproliferative effects. Azaindole-1 may offer a useful approach for treatment of PH. ER -