CNI-1493 prolongs survival and reduces myocyte loss, apoptosis, and inflammation during rat cardiac allograft rejection

Xiaochun Yang, Mathias Szabolcs, Oktavijan Minanov, Ningsheng Ma, Robert R. Sciacca, Marina Bianchi, Kevin J. Tracey, Robert E. Michler, Paul J. Cannon

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cytokines and cytotoxic agents, including nitric oxide (NO) released by macrophages, play important roles during cardiac allograft rejection. In contrast to agents that suppress T-lymphocyte function, CNI-1493 is a multivalent guanylhydrazone compound that inhibits the synthesis and release of proinflammatory cytokines and NO from macrophages. This study investigated the effects of CNI-1493 on rejecting rat cardiac allografts by using Lewis to Wistar-Furth heterotopic cardiac transplants. CNI-1493 (2 mg/kg i.p., b.i.d.) or vehicle (water) was administered beginning the day before surgery. Rat cardiac allograft survival to cessation of heart beat, apoptosis of cardiac myocytes, degree of myocardial inflammation, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) messenger RNA (mRNA), protein, and enzyme activity were studied at days 1, 3, 5, and 7 after transplantation. Allograft survival was increased significantly by 26% from 7.5 ± 0.8 days in vehicle-treated rats (n = 6) to 9.5 ± 1.2 days in CNI-1493-treated rats (n = 8, p < 0.05). Apoptotic cells per mm2 myocardium decreased from 2.25 ± 1.25 to 0.84 ± 0.49 at day 3 and 31.2 ± 2.9 to 17.6 ± 5.43 at day 5 after transplantation with CNI-1493 treatment (p < 0.05). The number of apoptotic myocytes and loss of cardiac muscle cells also decreased significantly at day 5 in the treated animals (p < 0.05). The reduction of myocyte loss at day 5 coincided with a significant decrease of the inflammatory response and reduced macrophage influx (p < 0.05). Myocardial iNOS mRNA, protein, and enzyme levels increased during the course of allograft rejection, and CNI-1493 did not significantly reduce iNOS expression in the rejecting rat allograft. CNI-1493 prolongs allograft survival and reduces myocyte loss, apoptosis, and inflammation during rat cardiac allograft rejection. These effects of CNI-1493 appear to be unrelated to altered NO synthesis but may be related to effects of the drug to inhibit macrophage synthesis of cytokines.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)146-155
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology
Volume32
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1998
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Allograft
  • CNI-1493
  • Macrophage
  • Rejection

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacology
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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