scholarly journals Runcaciguat, a novel soluble guanylate cyclase activator, shows renoprotection in hypertensive, diabetic, and metabolic preclinical models of chronic kidney disease

Author(s):  
Agnès Bénardeau ◽  
Antje Kahnert ◽  
Tibor Schomber ◽  
Jutta Meyer ◽  
Mira Pavkovic ◽  
...  

AbstractChronic kidney diseaQueryse (CKD) is associated with oxidative stress which can interrupt the nitric oxide (NO)/soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) signaling and decrease cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) production. Low cGMP concentrations can cause kidney damage and progression of CKD. The novel sGC activator runcaciguat targets the oxidized and heme-free form of sGC, restoring cGMP production under oxidative stress. The purpose of this study is to investigate if runcaciguat could provide an effective treatment for CKD. Runcaciguat was used for the treatment not only in rat CKD models with different etiologies and comorbidities, namely of hypertensive rats, the renin transgenic (RenTG) rat, and angiotensin-supplemented (ANG-SD) rat, but also in rats with diabetic and metabolic CKD, the Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rat. The treatment duration was 2 to 42 weeks and runcaciguat was applied orally in doses from 1 to 10 mg/kg/bid. In these different rat CKD models, runcaciguat significantly reduced proteinuria (urinary protein to creatinine ratio; uPCR). These effects were also significant at doses which did not or only moderately decrease systemic blood pressure. Moreover, runcaciguat significantly decreased kidney injury biomarkers and attenuated morphological kidney damages. In RenTG rats, runcaciguat improved survival rates and markers of heart injury. These data demonstrate that the sGC activator runcaciguat exhibits cardio-renal protection at doses which did not reduce blood pressure and was effective in hypertensive as well as diabetic and metabolic CKD models. These data, therefore, suggest that runcaciguat, with its specific mode of action, represents an efficient treatment approach for CKD and associated CV diseases. Graphical abstract

Circulation ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 132 (suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anh T Nguyen ◽  
Mizanur M Rahaman ◽  
Stephanie M Mutchler ◽  
Megan Miller ◽  
Josef T Prchal ◽  
...  

Impaired soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC)-dependent nitric oxide (NO) signaling has been linked to numerous cardiovascular diseases (CVD) such as hypertension, myocardial infarction and atherosclerosis. Despite emerging evidence indicating the importance of sGC function within the cardiovascular system, the basic mechanisms that regulate sGC activity remain incompletely understood. Herein, we provide in vitro and in vivo evidence that cytochrome b5 reductase 3 (Cyb5R3) is an sGC heme iron reductase and regulates downstream cGMP signaling. Of major significance, we also demonstrate that a Cyb5R3 T116S polymorphism with allele frequency of 0.23 in African Americans associates with increase blood pressure and is incapable of reducing sGC. Proximity ligation assay (PLA) experiments show that endogenous Cyb5R3 and oxidized sGC associate. Knockdown of Cyb5R3 results in reduced cGMP production and downstream signaling in rat aortic smooth muscle cells (SMC). Overexpression of Cyb5R3 not only rescues cGMP production but also increases baseline cGMP, whereas T116S mutant does not. Finally, inhibition of Cyb5R3 in mice significantly increases systemic blood pressure. Our studies are the first to identify an sGC heme iron reductase, provide evidence for Cyb5R3 as a key biological regulator of sGC activity and vascular tone in SMC, and link a human polymorphism of Cyb5R3 to increased blood pressure; all of which may lead to the development of novel therapeutics targeting Cyb5R3 for the treatment of CVD. Importantly, the co-expression of Cyb5R3 and sGC in multiple cells types suggests that this regulation of sGC activity may have broad applications for multiple physiological and pathophysiological processes. Results: Conclusions:


2008 ◽  
Vol 295 (6) ◽  
pp. F1735-F1743 ◽  
Author(s):  
Makoto Hagiwara ◽  
Grant Bledsoe ◽  
Zhi-Rong Yang ◽  
Robert S. Smith ◽  
Lee Chao ◽  
...  

Intermedin (IMD) is a newly discovered peptide related to calcitonin gene-related peptide and adrenomedullin, and has been shown to reduce blood pressure and reactive oxygen species formation in vivo. In this study, we determined whether IMD exerts vascular and renal protection in DOCA-salt hypertensive rats by intravenous injection of adenovirus harboring the human IMD gene. Expression of human IMD was detected in the rat kidney via immunohistochemistry. IMD administration significantly lowered blood pressure, increased urine volume, and restored creatinine clearance. IMD also dramatically decreased superoxide formation and media thickness in the aorta. Vascular injury in the kidney was reduced by IMD gene delivery as evidenced by the prevention of glomerular and peritubular capillary loss. Moreover, IMD lessened morphological damage of the renal tubulointerstitium and reduced glomerular injury and hypertrophy. Attenuation of inflammatory cell accumulation in the kidney by IMD was accompanied by inhibition of p38MAPK activation and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 expression. In addition, IMD gene transfer resulted in a marked decline in myofibroblast and collagen accumulation in association with decreased transforming growth factor-β1 levels. Furthermore, IMD increased nitric oxide excretion in the urine and lowered the amount of lipid peroxidation. These results demonstrate that IMD is a powerful renal protective agent with pleiotropic effects by preventing endothelial cell loss, kidney damage, inflammation, and fibrosis in hypertensive DOCA-salt rats via inhibition of oxidative stress and proinflammatory mediator pathways.


2019 ◽  
Vol 133 (15) ◽  
pp. 1705-1720 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mei Xue ◽  
Ting Li ◽  
Yue Wang ◽  
Yunpeng Chang ◽  
Ying Cheng ◽  
...  

Abstract Cardiovascular complications contribute to the major mortality and morbidity in type 2 diabetes. Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is increasingly recognized as an important cause of heart failure. EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial has reported that empagliflozin, the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor, exerts cardiovascular benefits on diabetic population. However, the mechanism by which empagliflozin alleviates DCM still remains unclear. In the current study, we investigated the cardiac protective effects of empagliflozin on spontaneous type 2 diabetic db/db mice and its potential mechanism. Eight weeks of empagliflozin treatment (10 mg/kg/day) decreased body weight and blood glucose level, and increased urinary glucose excretion (UGE) in diabetic mice. Echocardiography revealed that both systolic and diastolic functions of db/db mice were also obviously improved by empagliflozin. Furthermore, empagliflozin-treated diabetic mice presented with amelioration of cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. In addition, diabetic hearts exhibited the deterioration of oxidative stress, apoptosis and pyroptosis, while these effects were significantly counteracted after empagliflozin treatment. Moreover, empagliflozin rescued diabetes-induced suppression of sGC (soluble guanylate cyclase enzyme)-cGMP (cyclic guanosine monophosphate)-PKG (cGMP-dependent protein kinase) pathway. However, when sGC-β expression of hearts was inhibited by transvascular delivery of small interfering RNA, cardiac dysfunction was aggravated and the advantages of empagliflozin were reversed through inhibiting sGC-cGMP-PKG pathway. Collectively, these findings indicate that empagliflozin improves cardiac function involving the inhibition of oxidative stress-induced injury via sGC-cGMP-PKG pathway and may be a promising therapeutic option for DCM.


Circulation ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 116 (suppl_16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guido Boerrigter ◽  
Lisa C Costello-Boerrigter ◽  
Harald Lapp ◽  
Johannes-Peter Stasch ◽  
John C Burnett

Background: B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) signals via particulate guanylyl cyclase (pGC) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). In heart failure (HF), BNP reduces cardiac filling pressures and in selected patients augments sodium excretion and glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Studies have established that pGC and soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC), the main target of nitric oxide (NO), can be compartmentalized with both enzymes affecting distinct intracellular cGMP pools, resulting in different biological actions. Importantly, sGC may be oxidized in disease states like HF making it unresponsive to NO and nitrovasodilators. BAY 58 –2667 (BAY) is a novel NO and heme independent sGC activator that preferentially stimulates oxidized sGC. We hypothesized that adding direct sGC stimulation with BAY to pGC activation with BNP in HF would enhance vasodilation and cardiac unloading without attenuating the distinct renal actions of BNP. Methods: Severe HF was induced by tachypacing in 13 dogs. On day 11, cardiorenal function was assessed in an acute study under anesthesia at baseline and with intravenous BNP (50 ng/kg/min) alone or in combination with BAY (0.3 ug/kg/min). Results: BNP significantly increased urine flow (UV), urinary sodium excretion (UNaV), GFR, renal blood flow (RBF) and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and decreased cardiac output (CO), mean arterial pressure (MAP), right atrial pressure (RAP) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP). Despite a greater decrease in MAP compared to BNP, BAY+BNP resulted in similar increases in UNaV, UV and GFR. Dual pGC and sGC stimulation resulted in greater decreases in SVR, RAP and PCWP together with an augmentation of CO compared to BNP alone. Conclusion: Particulate GC activation with BNP in experimental HF enhances renal function and leads to renal but not systemic vasodilation. Addition of the sGC stimulator BAY provides systemic vasodilation, greater cardiac unloading, and augmented CO. Despite a larger decrease in MAP, additional sGC stimulation does not impair the renal actions observed with pGC stimulation alone. These findings support coactivation of sGC with BAY and pGC with BNP as a novel and beneficial therapeutic strategy in HF to optimize activation of distinct GC enzymes and cGMP.


2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (6) ◽  
pp. 1381-1383
Author(s):  
Allia Sindilar ◽  
Carmen Lacramioara Zamfir ◽  
Eusebiu Viorel Sindilar ◽  
Alin Constantin Pinzariu ◽  
Eduard Crauciuc ◽  
...  

Endometriosis is described as a gynecological disorder characterized by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus; extensively explored because of its increasing incidency, with an indubitable diagnostic only after invasive surgery, with no efficient treatment, it has still many aspects to be elucidated. A growing body of facts sustain oxidative stress as a crucial factor between the numerous incriminated factors implicated in endometriosis ethiopathogeny. Reactive oxygen species(ROS) act to decline reproductive function. Our study intends to determine if an experimental model of endometriosis may be useful to assess the impact of oxidative stress on endometrial cells; we have used a murine model of 18 adult Wistar female rats. A fragment from their left uterine horn was implanted in the abdominal wall. After 4 weeks, a laparatomy was performed, 5 endometrial implants were removed, followed by biochemical tissue assay of superoxide dismutase(SOD) and catalase(CAT). At the end of the experiment, the rats were sacrificed, the implants were removed for histopathological exam and biochemical assay of antioxidant enzymes. The results revealed decreased levels of antioxidant enzymes, pointing on significant oxidative stress involvement.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (18) ◽  
pp. 1544-1557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sijia Xiao ◽  
Qianbin Li ◽  
Liqing Hu ◽  
Zutao Yu ◽  
Jie Yang ◽  
...  

Soluble Guanylate Cyclase (sGC) is the intracellular receptor of Nitric Oxide (NO). The activation of sGC results in the conversion of Guanosine Triphosphate (GTP) to the secondary messenger cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate (cGMP). cGMP modulates a series of downstream cascades through activating a variety of effectors, such as Phosphodiesterase (PDE), Protein Kinase G (PKG) and Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Ion Channels (CNG). NO-sGC-cGMP pathway plays significant roles in various physiological processes, including platelet aggregation, smooth muscle relaxation and neurotransmitter delivery. With the approval of an sGC stimulator Riociguat for the treatment of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH), the enthusiasm in the discovery of sGC modulators continues for broad clinical applications. Notably, through activating the NO-sGC-cGMP pathway, sGC stimulator and activator potentiate for the treatment of various diseases, such as PAH, Heart Failure (HF), Diabetic Nephropathy (DN), Systemic Sclerosis (SS), fibrosis as well as other diseases including Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) and Central Nervous System (CNS) disease. Here, we review the preclinical and clinical studies of sGC stimulator and activator in recent years and prospect for the development of sGC modulators in the near future.


Diabetes Care ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 34 (9) ◽  
pp. 1946-1948 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlo Clerici ◽  
Elisabetta Nardi ◽  
Pier Maria Battezzati ◽  
Stefania Asciutti ◽  
Danilo Castellani ◽  
...  

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 3418
Author(s):  
Grzegorz Grześk ◽  
Alicja Nowaczyk

For years, guanylate cyclase seemed to be homogenic and tissue nonspecific enzyme; however, in the last few years, in light of preclinical and clinical trials, it became an interesting target for pharmacological intervention. There are several possible options leading to an increase in cyclic guanosine monophosphate concentrations. The first one is related to the uses of analogues of natriuretic peptides. The second is related to increasing levels of natriuretic peptides by the inhibition of degradation. The third leads to an increase in cyclic guanosine monophosphate concentration by the inhibition of its degradation by the inhibition of phosphodiesterase type 5. The last option involves increasing the concentration of cyclic guanosine monophosphate by the additional direct activation of soluble guanylate cyclase. Treatment based on the modulation of guanylate cyclase function is one of the most promising technologies in pharmacology. Pharmacological intervention is stable, effective and safe. Especially interesting is the role of stimulators and activators of soluble guanylate cyclase, which are able to increase the enzymatic activity to generate cyclic guanosine monophosphate independently of nitric oxide. Moreover, most of these agents are effective in chronic treatment in heart failure patients and pulmonary hypertension, and have potential to be a first line option.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. e041500
Author(s):  
Zoe Menczel Schrire ◽  
Craig L Phillips ◽  
Shantel L Duffy ◽  
Nathaniel S Marshall ◽  
Loren Mowszowski ◽  
...  

IntroductionMelatonin has multiple proposed therapeutic benefits including antioxidant properties, synchronisation of the circadian system and lowering of blood pressure. In this protocol, we outline a randomised controlled trial to assess the feasibility, acceptability and tolerability of higher dose (25 mg) melatonin to target brain oxidative stress and sleep disturbance in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).Methods and analysisThe study design is a randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group trial. Forty individuals with MCI will be recruited from the Healthy Brain Ageing Clinic, University of Sydney and from the community, and randomised to receive either 25 mg oral melatonin or placebo nightly for 12 weeks. The primary outcomes are feasibility of recruitment, acceptability of intervention and adherence to trial medication at 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes will include the effect of melatonin on brain oxidative stress as measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy, blood pressure, blood biomarkers, mood, cognition and sleep. Outcomes will be collected at 6 and 12 weeks. The results of this feasibility trial will inform a future conclusive randomised controlled trial to specifically test the efficacy of melatonin on modifiable risk factors of dementia, as well as cognition and brain function. This will be the first trial to investigate the effect of melatonin in the population with MCI in this way, with the future aim of using this approach to reduce progression to dementia.Ethics and disseminationThis protocol has been approved by the Sydney Local Health District Ethics Committee (X18-0077). This randomised controlled trial will be conducted in compliance with the protocol published in the registry, the International Conference for Harmonisation on Good Clinical Practice and all other applicable regulatory requirements. The findings of the trial will be disseminated via conferences, publications and media, as applicable. Participants will be informed of results of the study at the conclusion of the trial. Eligible authors will include investigators who are involved in the conception and design of the study, the conduct of the trial, the analysis of the results, and reporting and presentation of study findings.Trial registration numberAustralian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTRN 12619000876190).Protocol versionV.8 15 October 2020.


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