Immunomodulatory activity of vardenafil on induced lung inflammation in cystic fibrosis mice.

Background: We tested the hypothesis that vardenafil, a common drug used for improving erectile dysfunction and able to partially normalize transepithelial chloride transport in cystic fibrosis (CF), modulates CF lung inflammation.

Methods: Inflammatory markers in lungs of F508del-CF and wild-type mice were monitored in response to lipopolysaccharide from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (LPS). The effect of pretreatment with vardenafil (0.14 mg/kg) was evaluated.

Results: A latent inflammatory status, characterized by neutrophil infiltrate, mouse macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, was found in baseline conditions in F508del-CF mice. Inflammatory markers were increased after LPS with higher responses in CF. Vardenafil globally attenuated inflammatory responses in both genotypes however reduction of macrophage infiltration, macrophage chemoattractant chemokine and interleukin-1β was observed in the CF group only.

Conclusion: Vardenafil reduces lung inflammation with a more pronounced effect in F508del-CF mice, particularly on macrophage cell markers.