Immunomodulatory effects of thymulin in monocrotalin-induced pulmonary hypertension.

• Type: Summary of Presentation in an International Conference
• Date: 2006

Authors

Oliveira SM (Author) FMUP; Castro-Chaves P (Author) FMUP; Fuente-Carvalho F (Author) Other; Brandão-Nogueira A (Author) Other; Santos M (Author) FMUP; Correia-Pinto J (Author) FMUP; Leite-Moreira AF (Author) FMUP

Conference proceedings International

Title: European Journal of Heart Failure

Pages: 168-169

ESC Annual Congress 2006

Helsínquia, Finlândia, 17 a 20 de Junho de 2006

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Other medical sciences

CORDIS: Health sciences > Medical sciences > Medicine > Cardiology

Other information

Resumo (PT): Inflammation has an important pathophysiologic role in Pulmonary Hypertension (PH). Indeed, inflammatory cells recruitment and activation, with the release of cytokines (such as IL-6 and IL-1) and growth factors, may underlie the pulmonary vasoconstrifion and vascular remodeling that characterize PH. Thymulin, produced by thymic epithelial cells, is a nonapepfide neuroendocrine hormone with immunoregulatory actions, depressing C-C and CXC cytokines in the lung. In this study, we evaluate thymulin effects in a model of monocrotaJin (MCT)-induced PH. Adult Wistar rats randomly received a subcutaneous injection of MCT (60 mg/kg) or an equal volume of vehicle. At D1, animals were randomly assigned to receive a subcutaneous injection of thymulin (10 ng/100g, qd for 3 wks) or saline. Four groups were analyzed: normal rats injected with saline (Sham, n = 7), normal rats treated with thymulin (Sham+Thymulin, n = 7), MCT rats injected with saline (MCT, n = 9) and MCT rats treated with thymulin (MCT+Thymulin, n = 9). At the end of the third week, right ventricular (RV) hemodynamic parameters (peak systolic RV pressure (RVPma:~), peak rates of RV pressure rise (RV dP/dtma:~) and RV enddiastolic filling pressures (RVEDP)) were measured and heart and lungs were weighted. Results are summarized in the table below and expressed as means-t-SE. Table 1. Morphometric and hemodynamic results Sham Sham+Thymulin MCT MCT+Thymulin Heart/BW, gag 3.11±0.09 2.94±0.06 3.83±0.17 a 2.99±0.10 b RV/LV, g/g 0.38±0.01 0.30±0.01 0.50±0.07 a 0.34±0.03 b Lung/BW, mg/kg 4.17±0.2 4.45±0.2 12.4±1.0 a 6.62±0.4 a,b RVPmax, mmHg 25±2 24±1,1 56±8 a 24±3 b RV dP/dtmax, mmHg/s 1231±108 1160±47 1669±181 a 191±90 b RVEDP, mmHg 1,6±0,3 1 , 5±0 , 8 2,6±1,2a 0,7±0,4b Thymulin chronic administration, started simultaneously with the first inflammatory changes induced by MCT, was shown to completely reverse PH and RV hypertrophy. Thymulin immunomodulatory potential may thus be explored as a new therapeutic tool in PH management.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

Notes: ESC Annual Congress 2006, published in journal, European Journal of Heart Failure. 2006; Vol.5(Suppl.1):168-169.