Involvement of the NO-cGMP-KATP channel pathway in the mesenteric lymphatic pump dysfunction observed in the guinea pig model of TNBS-induced ileitis

Mesenteric lymphatic vessels actively transport lymph, immune cells, fat, and other macromolecules from the intestine via a rhythmical contraction-relaxation process called lymphatic pumping. We have previously demonstrated that mesenteric lymphatic pumping was compromised in the guinea pig model of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced ileitis, corroborating clinical and experimental observations of a dilated and/or obstructed phenotype of these vessels in inflammatory bowel disease. Many mediators released during the inflammatory process have been shown to alter lymphatic contractile activity. Among them, nitric oxide (NO), an inflammatory mediator abundantly released during intestinal inflammation, decreases the frequency of lymphatic contractions through activation of ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of NO and KATP channels in the lymphatic dysfunction observed in the guinea pig model of TNBS-induced ileitis. Using quantitative real-time PCR, we demonstrated that expression of Kir6.1, SUR2B, and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) mRNAs was significantly upregulated in TNBS-treated animals. Pharmacological studies performed on isolated, luminally perfused mesenteric lymphatic vessels showed that the KATP channels blocker glibenclamide, the selective iNOS inhibitor 1400W, and the guanylyl cyclase inhibitor ODQ (1 H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3- a]quinoxalin-1-one) significantly improved lymphatic pumping in quiescent lymphatic vessels from TNBS-treated animals. Membrane potential measurement with intracellular microelectrodes revealed that vessels from TNBS-treated animals were hyperpolarized compared with their sham counterpart and that the hyperpolarization was significantly attenuated in the presence of glibenclamide and ODQ. Our findings suggest that NO and KATP play a major role in the lymphatic contractile dysfunction that occurred as a consequence of the intestinal inflammation caused by TNBS.