Inhalation of endothelin (ET)-A receptor antagonists has been shown to improve gas
exchange in experimental acute lung injury (ALI) but may induce side effects by increasing
circulating ET-1 levels. We investigated whether the inhaled ETA receptor
antagonist, LU-135252, at low doses, improves gas exchange without affecting ET-1 plasma
concentrations and lung injury in an animal model of ALI. Twenty-two piglets were examined
in a prospective, randomized, controlled study. In anesthetized animals, ALI was induced
by surfactant depletion. Animals received either LU-135252 at a dose of 0.3 mg/kg during
20 mins (LU group; n = 11), or nebulization of saline buffer (control
group; n = 11). The Mann-Whitney U test was used to
compare groups (P
< 0.05). In the LU group, arterial partial pressure of oxygen
(PaO2) and mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) improved compared with the
control group (PaO2, 319 ± 44 mm Hg vs. 57 ± 3 mm Hg; MPAP, 32 ± 2 mm Hg vs. 41
± 2 mm Hg; values at 6 hrs after induction of ALI; P
< 0.05). Mean arterial pressure and cardiac output were not different
between groups. ET-1 plasma concentrations increased from 0.96 ± 0.06 fmol/ml after
induction of ALI to a maximum of 1.17 ± 0.09 fmol/ml at 3 hrs after ALI onset in the LU
group and did not differ significantly from the control group (1.21 ± 0.08 fmol/ml, not
significant). On histologic examination, we found no differences in total lung injury
score between groups. However, the LU group revealed significantly reduced interstitial
inflammation and hemorrhage (P
< 0.05 vs. control group). In this animal model of ALI, inhalation of
LU-135252 at a dose of 0.3 mg/kg induced a significant and sustained improvement in gas
exchange, whereas there were no changes in ET-1 plasma concentrations. Furthermore, our
data indicate a trend toward decreased pulmonary inflammation in the group receiving the
inhaled ETA receptor antagonist