Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0034063 (pulmonary edema)
 10,665 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH) is characterized by elevated pulmonary arterial pressure (P(PA)), right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH), pulmonary vascular remodeling, pulmonary edema and polycythemia. Currently, there is no safe and effective treatment for HPH. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is the most potent peptide vasodilator discovered thus far. We previously demonstrated that exogenous CGRP reversed HPH in rats. However, the CGRP1 receptor antagonist CGRP(8-37) and smaller inhibitory C-terminal CGRP fragments that can be formed by enzymatic cleavage in vivo may compromise the beneficial effects of endogenous or exogenous CGRP. We here examine the agonistic efficacy of N-terminal rat alpha-CGRP peptides containing the disulfide bridge (Cys(2)-Cys(7)) with amidated C-terminal in prevention of HPH. Chronic infusion of CGRP(1-8), CGRP(1-13), or CGRP(1-14) at 7 nmol/h/rat via the right jugular vein during 14 days of hypobaric hypoxia (10% inspired O(2)) significantly decreased the P(PA), RVH and pulmonary arterial medial thickness in comparison with controls, suggesting that these CGRP sequences can mitigate chronic HPH in rats. Systemic pressure was unchanged by infused peptides indicating no carry-over effect. In conclusion, N-terminal CGRP fragments (CGRP(1-8), CGRP(1-13) and CGRP(1-14)) may have a protective role in hypoxic pulmonary hypertension.
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PMID:Specific N-terminal CGRP fragments mitigate chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in rats. 1252 41

We aim to test the hypothesis that hypercalcemia produces pulmonary edema (PE) and to elucidate the mechanism. Experimentations were carried out in conscious rats and isolated perfused rat lungs. We evaluated PE by lung weight changes, protein concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage, dye leakage, and microvascular permeability. Plasma nitrate/nitrite, methyl guanidine (MG), proinflammatory cytokines, procalcitonin levels, and histopathological examinations were evaluated. Immunochemical staining and reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to detect inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and endothelial NOS (eNOS) in the lungs. Hypercalcemia was produced in the conscious rat and isolated perfused lungs. Calcitonin and L-N(6) (1-iminoethyl)-lysine (L-Nil) were administered before hypercalcemia to observe their effects. Hypercalcemia caused severe PE in rats. Pathological and immunochemical examinations revealed hemorrhagic edema with iNOS activity in the alveolar macrophages and epithelial cells. RT-PCR showed an increase in iNOS mRNA expression. Hypercalcemia increased nitrate/nitrite, MG, proinflammatory cytokines and procalcitonin levels. Pretreatment with calcitonin or L-Nil prevented these changes. In conclusion, hypercalcemia caused PE in conscious rats and isolated perfused rat lungs. The increases in nitrate/nitrite, free radicals, proinflammatory cytokines, procalcitonin and iNOS activity suggest that hypercalcemia induces a sepsis-like syndrome. The effect of hypercalcemia on the lung may involve iNOS and NO.
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PMID:The detrimental role of inducible nitric oxide synthase in the pulmonary edema caused by hypercalcemia in conscious rats and isolated lungs. 1790 44