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Combination of Sildenafil and Bosentan for Pulmonary Hypertension in a Human Ex Vivo Model

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Abstract

Purpose

Both sildenafil and bosentan have been used clinically to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension. As these substances target different pathways to modulate vasoconstriction, we investigated the combined effects of both drug classes in isolated human pulmonary vessels.

Methods

Segments of pulmonary arteries (PA) and veins (PV) were harvested from 51 patients undergoing lobectomy. Contractile force was determined isometrically in an organ bath. Vessels were constricted with norepinephrine (NE) to determine effects of sildenafil. They were constricted with ET-1 to assess effects of bosentan, and with NE and ET-1 to evaluate the combination of both substances.

Results

Sildenafil (1E-5 M) significantly reduced maximum constriction by NE of both PA (13.0 ± 11.1 vs. 34.9 ± 7.6 % relative to KCl induced constriction; n = 6; p < 0.001) and PV (81.2 ± 34.2 vs 121.6 ± 20.8 %; n = 6; p < 0.01) but did not affect basal tones. Bosentan (1E-5 M) significantly reduced maximum constriction of PV (56.6 ± 21.5 vs. 172.1 ± 30.0 %; n = 6; p < 0.01) by ET-1 and led to a small but insignificant decrease of basal tone (p = 0.07). Bosentan almost completely abolished constriction of PA (1.0 ± 0.9 vs. 74.7 ± 25.7 %; n = 6; p < 0.001) by ET-1, but did not affect basal tone. Bosentan (1E-7 M) significantly attenuated combined ET-1/NE dose–response curves in PA (93.1 ± 47.4 vs. 125.3 ± 41.0 %; n = 12; p < 0.001) whereas the effect of sildenafil (1E-5 M) was less pronounced (103.6 ± 20.2 %; p < 0.05). Simultaneous administration of both substances showed a significantly greater reduction of maximum constriction in PA compared to individual administration (64.6 ± 26.3 %; p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Sildenafil only at its highest concentration was effective in suppressing NE induced pulmonary vessel contraction. Bosentan was able to completely suppress ET-1 induced contraction of PA and strongly attenuated contraction of PV. The present data suggest a benefit of sildenafil/bosentan combination therapy as they affect different pathways and may allow lower dosages.

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Acknowledgments

Experimental investigations were financially supported by a grant of Actelion (Allschwil, Switzerland). The authors appreciate the technical assistance of Mrs. K. Bielenberg.

Conflict of interest

All authors declare that there is no conflict of interest. All authors have read and approved the submitted version of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany

    Michael Ried, Tobias Potzger, Reiner Neu, Hans-Stefan Hofmann & Markus Hoenicka

  2. Department of Thoracic Surgery, Hospital Barmherzige Brüder Regensburg, Prüfeninger Str. 86, 93049, Regensburg, Germany

    Zsolt Sziklavari, Tamas Szöke & Hans-Stefan Hofmann

  3. Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Medical Center Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 23, 89081, Ulm, Germany

    Andreas Liebold & Markus Hoenicka

Authors
  1. Michael Ried
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  2. Tobias Potzger
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  3. Reiner Neu
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  4. Zsolt Sziklavari
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  5. Tamas Szöke
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  6. Andreas Liebold
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  7. Hans-Stefan Hofmann
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  8. Markus Hoenicka
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Correspondence to Michael Ried.

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Ried, M., Potzger, T., Neu, R. et al. Combination of Sildenafil and Bosentan for Pulmonary Hypertension in a Human Ex Vivo Model. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther 28, 45–51 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10557-013-6499-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10557-013-6499-0

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