Soluble Guanylate Cyclase Agonists Induce Bronchodilation in Human Small Airways.

Koziol-White, Cynthia J.; Ghosh, Arnab; Sandner, Peter; Erzurum, Serpil E.; Stuehr, Dennis J.; Panettieri Jr., Reynold A.

The soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC)--cyclic guanosine monophosphate signaling pathway evokes vascular smooth muscle relaxation; whether this pathway mediates airway smooth muscle relaxation remains controversial. We posit that sGC activators are equi-effective as β-agonists in reversing contractile agonist-induced airway smooth muscle shortening. To provide clarity, we tested the efficacy of sGC stimulator and activator drugs, BAY 41-2272 and BAY 60-2270, respectively, in reversing bronchoconstriction of human small airways using human precision-cut lung slices (hPCLS). Both BAY drugs reversed carbachol-induced bronchoconstriction to a maximal degree comparable to that of formoterol. Moreover, the sGC drugs remained effective bronchodilators despite formoterol-induced desensitization of the airways. Analysis of the hPCLS after their activation by sGC or β2-adrenergic receptor agonist showed distinct cyclic nucleotide accumulation in the hPCLS. Collectively, these data suggest that cAMP and cyclic guanosine monophosphate pathways are equi-effective for reversing carbachol-induced bronchoconstriction in the human airway via separate and distinct second messenger pathways. This should open the door for future studies to test whether sGC-targeted drugs alone or in combination can serve as effective bronchodilators in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

GUANYLATE cyclase; VASCULAR smooth muscle; MUSCLE contraction; BRONCHOCONSTRICTION; FORMOTEROL

American Journal of Respiratory Cell & Molecular Biology, 2020, Vol 62, Issue 1, p43

1044-1549

Academic Journal

10.1165/rcmb.2019-0001OC