Effects of 5 HIV protease inhibitors on vasomotor function and superoxide anion production in porcine coronary arteries

J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2005 Sep 1;40(1):12-9. doi: 10.1097/01.qai.0000172368.05327.7b.

Abstract

HIV protease inhibitors (PIs) have been implicated to cause cardiovascular complications. Previous studies demonstrated that the PI ritonavir (RTV) caused endothelial dysfunction in porcine arteries. This study investigated and compared the effects of 5 commonly used PIs on vasomotor function, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression, and oxidative stress in porcine coronary arteries. Vessel rings were incubated with 15 microM of RTV, amprenavir (APV), saquinavir (SQV), indinavir (IDV), or nelfinavir (NFV) for 24 hours. Vasomotor function was studied using a myograph system. The contractility of the rings was significantly reduced for RTV and SQV. In response to bradykinin at 10(-5) M, the endothelium-dependent relaxation was significantly reduced for RTV, APV, and SQV. The eNOS mRNA levels were significantly reduced for RTV, APV, and SQV. Furthermore, the superoxide anion (O(2)(-)) levels of the vessels were significantly increased for RTV and APV. It was found that nitric oxide production was decreased, whereas the level of nitrotyrosine proteins was increased in RTV-treated vessels. Furthermore, antioxidant seleno-L-methionine (SeMet) reversed RTV-induced O(2)(-) production and vasomotor dysfunction. Thus, the HIV PIs RTV, APV, and SQV at 15 microM have more potent in vitro effects on vasomotor dysfunction, eNOS downregulation, and O(2)(-) production than IDV and NFV. The antioxidant SeMet can block these adverse effects of RTV. The results suggest that antioxidant therapy may have applications for controlling PI-associated cardiovascular complications.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bradykinin / pharmacology
  • Carbamates
  • Coronary Vessels / drug effects*
  • Coronary Vessels / metabolism
  • Coronary Vessels / physiopathology*
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects
  • Furans
  • HIV Protease Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • HIV Protease Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Indinavir / pharmacology
  • Methionine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Methionine / drug effects
  • Muscle Contraction / drug effects
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / drug effects*
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / physiopathology
  • Myography
  • Nelfinavir / pharmacology
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase / genetics
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase / metabolism
  • Organ Culture Techniques
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • Ritonavir / pharmacology
  • Saquinavir / pharmacology
  • Selenium Compounds / pharmacology
  • Sulfonamides / pharmacology
  • Superoxides / metabolism*
  • Swine
  • Vasomotor System / drug effects*
  • Vasomotor System / physiopathology

Substances

  • Carbamates
  • Furans
  • HIV Protease Inhibitors
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Selenium Compounds
  • Sulfonamides
  • Superoxides
  • amprenavir
  • Indinavir
  • Methionine
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase
  • Nelfinavir
  • Saquinavir
  • Ritonavir
  • Bradykinin