Rivaroxaban improves vascular response in LPS-induced acute inflammation in experimental models

PLoS One. 2020 Dec 10;15(12):e0240669. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240669. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Rivaroxaban (RVX) was suggested to possess anti-inflammatory and vascular tone modulatory effects. The goal of this study was to investigate whether RVX impacts lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute vascular inflammatory response. Male rats were treated with 5 mg/kg RVX (oral gavage) followed by 10 mg/kg LPS i.p injection. Circulating levels of IL-6, MCP-1, VCAM-1, and ICAM-1 were measured in plasma 6 and 24 hours after LPS injection, while isolated aorta was used for gene expression analysis, immunohistochemistry, and vascular tone evaluation. RVX pre-treatment significantly reduced LPS mediated increase after 6h and 24h for IL-6 (4.4±2.2 and 2.8±1.7 fold), MCP-1 (1.4±1.5 and 1.3±1.4 fold) VCAM-1 (1.8±2.0 and 1.7±2.1 fold). A similar trend was observed in the aorta for iNOS (5.5±3.3 and 3.3±1.9 folds reduction, P<0.01 and P<0.001, respectively), VCAM-1 (1.3±1.2 and 1.4±1.3 fold reduction, P<0.05), and MCP-1 (3.9±2.2 and 1.9±1.6 fold reduction, P<0.01). Moreover, RVX pre-treatment, improved LPS-induced PE contractile dysfunction in aortic rings (Control vs LPS, Emax reduction = 35.4 and 31.19%, P<0.001; Control vs LPS+RVX, Emax reduction = 10.83 and 11.48%, P>0.05, respectively), resulting in 24.5% and 19.7% change in maximal constriction in LPS and LPS+RVX respectively. These data indicate that RVX pre-treatment attenuates LPS-induced acute vascular inflammation and contractile dysfunction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Aorta / drug effects
  • Aorta / immunology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Endothelium, Vascular / drug effects
  • Endothelium, Vascular / immunology
  • Humans
  • Lipopolysaccharides / immunology
  • Male
  • Rats
  • Rivaroxaban / administration & dosage*
  • Vasculitis / blood
  • Vasculitis / drug therapy*
  • Vasculitis / immunology
  • Vasoconstriction / drug effects*
  • Vasoconstriction / immunology

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Rivaroxaban

Grants and funding

This research project was supported by the Research Fund of Ministry of Education, Science and Technology-Republic of Kosovo. Project No. 2616. Facilities and infrastructure were provided by Kosovo Interdisciplinary Knowledge Triangle Center (KIKTC, Tempus IV grant). GDN is supported by Fondazione Cariplo 2016-0852; EFSD/Lilly European Diabetes Research Programme 2018, Fondazione Telethon GGP19146 and PRIN 2017K55HLC. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.