Exendin-4, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, regulates ductus arteriosus by vasodilation and anti-remodeling through the PKA pathway

• Published in: European journal of pharmacology 2024-12, Vol.985, p.177106, Article 177106
• Main Authors: Liu, Yi-Ching, Tseng, Yu-Hsin, Wu, Yen-Hsien, Tong, Lorraine, Tsai, Siao-Ping, Huang, Shang-En, Wu, Bin-Nan, Lo, Shih-Hsing, Chen, I-Chen, Dai, Zen-Kong, Yeh, Jwu-Lai, Hsu, Jong-Hau
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Anti-remodeling; Cell Movement - drug effects; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases - metabolism; Ductus arteriosus; Ductus Arteriosus - drug effects; Exenatide - pharmacology; Exendin-4; Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor; Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor - agonists; Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor - metabolism; Male; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle - drug effects; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle - metabolism; PKA pathway; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Signal Transduction - drug effects; Vascular Remodeling - drug effects; Vasodilation; Vasodilation - drug effects
• ISSN: 0014-2999; 1879-0712; 1879-0712
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.177106

The mechanisms of ductus arteriosus (DA) closure involve vasoconstriction and vascular remodeling. Previous findings indicate that the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) exhibits antihypertensive and anti-remodeling effects in the pulmonary circulation. However, its role in the DA remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate whether exendin-4 (Ex-4), a GLP-1RA, can regulate DA patency and elucidate its mechanisms. After confirming the presence of GLP-1R in neonatal rat DA tissue in vivo, the effects of Ex-4 on DA patency in neonatal rats were sequentially examined. Two hours after birth, we observed spontaneous closure of the DA in control rats. In contrast, Ex-4 prevented the closure of DA, accompanied by reduced intimal thickening. Ex-4 attenuated oxygen-induced vasoconstriction in isolated DA rings ex vivo. This effect was diminished in the presence of H89, a PKA inhibitor. In vitro, Ex-4 inhibited platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB-induced proliferation and migration of DA smooth muscle cells. Additionally, Ex-4 inhibited PDGF-BB-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, calcium mobilization, and signal transduction of MAPK and Akt pathways. Furthermore, Ex-4 preserved the nuclear expression of Nrf2 attenuated by PDGF-BB. Similarly, all these in vitro effects of Ex-4 were blunted by H89. In conclusion, Ex-4 maintains postnatal DA patency through vasodilatation and anti-remodeling via the PKA pathway. The GLP-1R/PKA pathway emerges as a promising target of DA patency in clinical management. [Display omitted]