Gene Transfer of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Attenuates Flow-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension in Rabbits

Background Nitric oxide, a potent vasodilator with an important role in the regulation of pulmonary vascular tone, is synthesized by a family of nitric oxide synthases. To determine whether endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene transfer may prevent pulmonary hypertension, the effects of transfer of the eNOS gene to the lung were studied in rabbits with pulmonary hypertension induced by high pulmonary blood flow. Methods Adenoviral vector encoding the eNOS gene was intratracheally transfected into the lung of rabbits with flow-induced pulmonary hypertension. Rabbits instilled intratracheally with adenoviral vector without encoding the eNOS gene served as a control group. Hemodynamic data were recorded before and after transfection, and transgene expression was investigated. Results Pulmonary hypertension was significantly attenuated in eNOS gene–transfected rabbits compared with control animals (mean pulmonary arterial pressure, 22.3 ± 5.5 versus 41.0 ± 6.9 mm Hg; pulmonary vascular resistance, 326 ± 42 versus 618 ± 66 dynes · s · cm−5; p < 0.01). Systemic arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance were unaffected. There was an increase in calcium-dependent conversion of l-arginine to l-citrulline in the lung (16.81 ± 0.72 versus 4.11 ± 0.41 pmol · mg protein−1 · h−1) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate levels (0.138 ± 0.015 versus 0.065 ± 0.003 pmol/mg protein). Immunohistochemical staining showed expression of the eNOS gene was detected mainly in endothelial cells of small pulmonary vessels. Transgene expression was confirmed using Western blot analysis. Conclusions These data suggest that intratracheal adenoviral-mediated eNOS gene transfer can attenuate flow-induced pulmonary hypertension in rabbits and may represent a new form of therapy for the treatment of flow-induced pulmonary hypertension.