Spiperone Stimulates Regeneration in Pulmonary Endothelium Damaged by Cigarette Smoke and Lipopolysaccharide

Endothelial dysfunction and destruction of the pulmonary microcirculation are important pathogenic factors in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In COPD, bronchial obstruction is associated with endothelial dysfunction. Thus, new pharmacological treatment options aimed at restoring the pulmonary endothelium represent a clinical need in COPD therapy. Notch1 has been shown to protect cells against apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress caused by cigarette smoke extract (CSE). Therefore, drug which effect on Notch1 may be a potential therapeutic target for COPD in the future.

In this study, we assessed the potential of spiperone to mediate regeneration of pulmonary endothelium in model of pulmonary emphysema induced by a CSE and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in female C57BL/6 mice.

Spiperone increased the number of capillaries as well as the expression of the CD31 in the alveolar tissue compared to the controls. Moreover, application of spiperone prevented alveolar wall destruction (DI), and reduced the area of emphysema. Lastly, we demonstrated that spiperone positively influenced mobilization and migration of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC, CD45^-CD34⁺CD31⁺), CD309⁺-endothelial cells, and angiogenesis precursors (CD45^-CD117⁺CD309⁺) into the lung. Spiperone administration significantly reduced the number Notch1 positive CD309⁺-endothelial cells and Notch1+ EPCs.

Overall, our results suggest that spiperone mediates endothelial regeneration in an animal model of COPD. Thus, it could represent a novel therapeutic approach for treatment of emphysema associated with COPD.