Peroxisome Proliferator activated receptors (PPARs) are therapeutic targets in the treatment of inflammatory lung disease. The PPARβ/δ agonist GW0742 has potent anti-inflammatory effects in the vasculature (Kapoor et al 2010) which has been linked to a decrease in the production of iNOS in the heart (Kapoor 2010) and activation of Akt-eNOS in arteries (Quintela et al 2014). Here in this study we measured changes in LPS induced NO production in rat arteries and lung parenchyma. Male Wistar (300-350g) rats were killed by CO2 followed by cervical dislocation, and the aorta, conductance and resistance pulmonary arteries and lung parenchyma were dissected under sterile conditions, and placed into 24 well plates. Following incubation with 1µg/ml LPS with/without 10-7M GW0742 tissues were incubated for 24 hours, and Griess assay performed to measure nitrite production (a measure of NO release).Our results show that LPS induces a significant increase in NO production from arteries and parenchyma (figure 1). Incubation with GW0742 alone has no effect on basal nitrite levels and does not have an effect on LPS-induced NO production in all types of arteries. In comparison, GW0742 significantly reduces LPS induced NO release in lung parenchyma comparable to inhibition by 10-4M L-NAME and 10-5M 1400W.Figure 1. 2mm rings of aorta, conductance pulmonary artery (CPS), resistance pulmonary artery (RPA) and 1mm2 lung parenchyma strips (lung) were incubated with 1ug/ml LPS ± 10-7M GW0742 in DMEM for 24 hours. Supernatant was removed and Griess assay performed to measure nitrite. Data is expressed as mean ± SEM; * and f denote p<0.05 by one way ANOVA and Tukey’s post-hoc test, respectively.In summary, incubation for 24 hours with 10-7M GW0742 significantly reduced LPS induced nitrite production in lung parenchyma but not in aorta or pulmonary arteries (conductance and resistance). These data suggest that the effects of PPARβ/δ agonists are tissue specific and might support their use as anti-inflammatory agents in lung disease. Kapoor et al Am J Respir Crit Care Med (2010):182; 1506–1515Quintela et al British Journal of Pharmacology (2014):171; 3089–3102Peer reviewe
