Background: It has recently been shown that systemic endothelial dysfunction is associated with airflow limitation in COPD. We conducted this ex vivo study to assess whether endothelial dysfunction of pulmonary arteries of former smokers was associated with modifications of airway functions.

Methods: Pharmacological experiments were conducted on arterial and bronchial rings obtained from lung specimen of 20 patients with COPD (13 Gold class 0, 7 GOLD class I or IIA). The impairment of acetylcholine-mediated vasodilation (constriction) of preconstricted arterial rings defined endothelial dysfunction. Resting tone (initial and after a contraction test) and cGMP-mediated dilation of bronchial rings in response to zaprinast were evaluated.

Results: Initial airway resting tone was correlated with airflow limitation (FEV₁ % predicted: Rho= –0.49; p=0.032). The acetylcholine response of arterial rings was correlated with zaprinast- induced bronchodilation (Rho=0.54, p=0.019). Patients with endothelial dysfunction (n=5), as compared with those displaying no dysfunction (n=15), were characterized by an increased resting tone (after contraction test), an impaired response to zaprinast but a similar degree of airflow limitation (FEV₁).

Conclusion: Endothelial dysfunction of pulmonary arteries is associated with increased resting tone and impaired cGMP-mediated dilation of airways in former smokers, suggesting common underlying mechanisms of pulmonary arterial and bronchial dysfunctions.