People with COPD are susceptible to respiratory infections which exacerbate pulmonary and/or cardiovascular complications, increasing their likelihood of death. The mechanisms driving these complications remain unknown but increased oxidative stress has been implicated. Here we investigated whether influenza A virus (IAV) infection, following chronic cigarette smoke (CS) exposure, worsens vascular function and if so, whether the antioxidant ebselen alleviates this vascular dysfunction. Male BALB/c mice were exposed to either room air or CS for 8 weeks followed by inoculation with IAV (Mem71, 1 x 104.5 pfu)). Mice were treated with ebselen (10 mg/kg) or vehicle (5% w/v CM-cellulose in water) daily. Mice were culled 3- and 10-days post-infection, and their lungs lavaged to assess inflammation. The thoracic aorta was excised to investigate endothelial and smooth muscle dilator responses, expression of key vasodilatory and oxidative stress modulators, infiltrating immune cells and vascular remodeling. CS increased lung inflammation and caused significant vascular endothelial dysfunction, which was worsened by IAV infection. CS-driven increases in vascular oxidative stress, aortic wall remodelling and supression of eNOS were not affected by IAV infection. CS and IAV infection significantly enhanced T-cell recruitment into the aortic wall. Ebselen abolished the exaggerated lung inflammation, vascular dysfunction and increased T-cell infiltration in CS and IAV-infected mice. Our findings showed that ebselen treatment abolished vascular dysfunction in IAV-induced exacerbations of cigarette smoke-induced lung inflammation indicating it may have potential for the treatment of cardiovascular comorbidities seen in acute exacerbations of COPD.
Background and Purpose Cardiovascular disease affects up to half of the patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), exerting deleterious impact on health outcomes and survivability. Vascular endothelial dysfunction marks the onset of cardiovascular disease. The present study examined the effect of a potent NADPH Oxidase (NOX) inhibitor and free‐radical scavenger, apocynin, on COPD‐related cardiovascular disease. Experimental Approach Male BALB/c mice were exposed to either room air (Sham) or cigarette smoke (CS) generated from 9 cigarettes·day−1, 5 days a week for up to 24 weeks with or without apocynin treatment (5 mg·kg−1·day−1, intraperitoneal injection). Key Results Eight‐weeks of apocynin treatment reduced airway neutrophil infiltration (by 42%) and completely preserved endothelial function and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) availability against the oxidative insults of cigarette smoke exposure. These preservative effects were maintained up until the 24‐week time point. 24‐week of apocynin treatment markedly reduced airway inflammation (reduced infiltration of macrophage, neutrophil and lymphocyte), lung function decline (hyperinflation) and prevented airway collagen deposition by cigarette smoke exposure. Conclusion and Implications Limiting NOX activity may slow COPD progression and lower cardiovascular disease risk, particularly when signs of oxidative stress become evident.
Background and Purpose: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) affects up to half of the patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which exerts deleterious impact on health outcomes and survivability. Vascular endothelial dysfunction marks the onset of cardiovascular disease. The present study examined the effect of a potent NADPH Oxidase (NOX) inhibitor and free-radical scavenger, apocynin, on COPD-related CVD. Experimental Approach: Male BALB/c mice were exposed to either room air (Sham) or cigarette smoke (CS) generated from 9 cigarettes per day, 5 days a week for up to 24 weeks with or without apocynin treatment (5 mg·kg-1·day-1, intraperitoneal injection). Key Results: Eight-weeks of apocynin treatment reduced airway neutrophil infiltration (by 42%) and completely preserved endothelial function and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity against the oxidative insults of CS exposure. These preservative effects were maintained up until the 24-week time point. 24-week of apocynin treatment exhibited marked benefits on airway inflammation (reduced infiltration of macrophage, neutrophil and lymphocyte) and lung function decline (hyperinflation), and prevented airway collagen deposition by CS exposure. Conclusion and Implications: Limiting NOX activity may slow COPD progression and lower CVD risk, particularly when signs of oxidative stress become evident.
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