Minoxidil Cannot Be Used To Target Lysyl Hydroxylases During Postnatal Mouse Lung Development: A Cautionary Note

The study investigated the potential of minoxidil to inhibit lysyl hydroxylases in a mouse model of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a lung disorder in preterm infants. Minoxidil, known for treating hypertension and hair loss, was administered intraperitoneally to newborn mice at 50 mg/kg/day. The results showed that minoxidil did not affect lysine hydroxylation, collagen cross-linking, or lysyl hydroxylase expression in the lungs, nor did it alter normal or stunted lung development. The study concluded that minoxidil at this dosage does not reach active concentrations in neonatal mouse lung tissue to attenuate lysyl hydroxylase expression or activity, indicating that it cannot be used for this purpose in lung development and emphasizing the need for specific lysyl hydroxylase inhibitors for research and therapy.