Capillary-selective vasodilation through myosin inhibition halts ischaemic cascades.

An original research study in Nature developed R(+)2501, a capillary-selective vasodilator that targets smooth muscle myosin inhibition in pericytes. In animal models of reperfused myocardial infarction and acute kidney injury, it rapidly restored capillary blood flow and significantly improved survival. The drug reversed pericyte constriction and cleared trapped neutrophils, improving microvascular perfusion while preserving coronary autoregulation and systemic haemodynamics. The study also found that myocardial infarction-induced renal capillary no-reflow could be reversed, suggesting this mechanism contributes to the pathophysiology of cardiorenal syndrome type I.