Inhaled nitric oxide: an sGC-dependent IOP lowering agent

Background The nitric oxide (NO)-soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC)cyclic guanosine 3’5’-monophosphate (cGMP) pathway regulates intraocular pressure (IOP). Preclinical and clincial studies have demonstrated the ability of NO-donor compounds to lower IOP (e.g. VESNEO). The use of inhaled NO gas (iNO), a specific pulmonary but not systemic vasodilator, is an approved therapy for pulmonary hypertension and is under development as a treatment for other cardiovascular diseases (e.g. for myocardial ischemia, the NOMI trial). We hypothesized that breathing NO lowers IOP in an sGC-dependent manner.