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Purification of a functional receptor for calcium-channel blockers from rabbit skeletal-muscle microsomes.

The dihydropyridine receptor was purified from rabbit skeletal muscle microsomes in the presence of [3H]nitrendipine plus diltiazem or [3H](+)PN 200-110 to an apparent density of 1.5-2 nmol binding sites/mg protein. Sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis in the absence of reducing agents yielded three peptide bands of 142, 56 and 30 kDa in a relative ratio of 11:1:1.3, whereas in the presence of 40 mM dithiothreitol bands of 142, 122, 56, 31, 26 and 22 kDa were obtained in a relative ratio of 5.5:2.2:1:0.9:14:0.09. This gel pattern was observed regardless of whether the receptor was purified as a complex with nitrendipine plus diltiazem or with (+)PN 200-110. cAMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylated preferentially the 142-kDa band up to a stoichiometry of 0.82 +/- 0.07 (15) mol phosphate/mol peptide. The 56-kDa band was phosphorylated only in substoichiometric amounts. [3H]PN 200-110 bound at 4 degrees C to one site with apparent Kd and Bmax values of 9.3 +/- 1.7 nM and 2.2 +/- 0.3 (3) nmol/mg protein, respectively. The binding was stereospecific and was not observed in the presence of 1 mM EGTA. Desmethoxyverapamil interfered with the binding of [3H]PN 200-110 in an apparent allosteric manner. (-)Desmethoxyverapamil inhibited the binding of [3H]PN 200-110 at 37 degrees C and stimulated it at 18 degrees C. In agreement with these results, (-)desmethoxyverapamil increased the dissociation rate of [3H]PN 200-110 from 0.29 min-1 to 0.38 min-1 at 37 degrees C and decreased it threefold from 0.046 min-1 to 0.017 min-1 at 18 degrees C. The (+)isomer of desmethoxyverapamil inhibited PN 200-110 binding at all temperatures tested. d-cis-Diltiazem stimulated the binding of [3H]PN 200-110 at 37 degrees C with an apparent EC50 of 1.4 microM and decreased the dissociation rate from 0.29 min-1 to 0.11 min-1. The stimulatory effect of d-cis-diltiazem was temperature-dependent and was seen only at temperatures above 18 degrees C. These results suggest that the purified dihydropyridine receptor retains the basic properties of the membrane-bound receptor and contains separate sites for at least dihydropyridines and phenylalkylamines.

Animals↗

Calcium channel blocker overdose.

A case of diltiazem overdose with significant hemodynamic compromise is presented. Multiple therapeutic modalities were attempted with limited results. Control was finally achieved with a combination of norepinephrine, dobutamine, and cardiac pacing. Invasive pulmonary monitoring parameters are reported and were important in the management of this patient. The management of calcium channel blocker overdose and the various available therapeutic modalities are discussed.

Adult↗

Use of calcium channel blockers in hypoxic lung disease.

COPD patients who are hypoxic develop pulmonary hypertension primarily because alveolar hypoxia induces muscular hypertrophy of pulmonary arteries. This muscular hypertrophy will regress in animals if they receive continuous oxygen therapy. Since many COPD patients refuse to use oxygen continuously, calcium channel blockers, which inhibit hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, may be effective adjuvant therapy. Nifedipine lowers pulmonary vascular resistance during rest and exercise in hypoxic COPD patients.

Calcium Channel Blockers↗

Calcium channel blockers and dantrolene differentially regulate the production of interleukin-12 and interferon-gamma in endotoxemic mice.

Recent studies suggested that transmitters released from the sympathetic nerve terminals can modulate various inflammatory responses by occupation of receptors on immune cells. These neurotransmitters act via alteration of intracellular concentration of second messengers. For instance, intracellular calcium as a second messenger plays an important role in the regulation of immune responses. Endotoxemia has been shown to be associated with an increase in cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i). Previously we have demonstrated that the calcium channel blockers verapamil and diltiazem, as well as dantrolene, an agent that blocks the release of calcium from its cytoplasmic stores, inhibits tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-alpha) and augments interleukin-10 (IL-10) plasma levels in endotoxemic BALB/c mice. Here we investigated the effects of verapamil, diltiazem, and dantrolene on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-evoked production of interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in BALB/c, C57BL/6 IL-10+/+, and the IL-10 deficient C57BL/6 IL-10(0/0) mice. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) pretreatment with dantrolene (20 mg/kg), but not verapamil (10 mg/kg, i.p.) or diltiazem (20 mg/kg, i.p.) suppressed the LPS-induced (80 mg/kg, i.p.) plasma levels of IL-12 and IFN-gamma in BALB/c mice. Similarly to the BALB/c mice, dantrolene increased IL-10 plasma levels in C57BL/6 IL-10+/+ mice. On the other hand, dantrolene suppressed IL-12 and IFN-gamma production in both the C57BL/6 IL-10+/+ and C57BL/6 IL-10(0/0) mice. These data show that calcium entry blockers and dantrolene differentially regulate IL-12 and IFN-gamma production. Furthermore, dantrolene inhibits the IL-12 and IFN-gamma response independently of the increased release of IL-10.

Animals↗

[Do angiotensin converting enzyme and calcium channel blocker intervene in the progression of renal disease besides by lowering systemic hypertension?].

Systemic hypertension is accompanied by various renal diseases. Lowering of blood pressure is widely recognized effective for slowing further decline of renal function. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) and calcium channel blocker (CCB) have recently emerged as antihypertensive drugs endowed with renoprotective action directed specifically to the kidney. Improvement of glomerular hypertension which is more remarkably observed in ACEI than in CCB, is thought to be a factor responsible for renoprotection. Although this effect is widely shown in experimental models, consensus has not yet been reached as to whether this effect as well as the therapeutic efficacy are really exerted in various clinical settings other than diabetic nephropathy.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

Periodic paralysis and ventricular tachycardia: possible role of calcium channel blockers.

Few patients have been reported with familial periodic paralysis and ventricular tachycardia. The natural history of these cases was unfavorable, with most dying because of a presumed cardiac dysrhythmia. We report for the first time the results of an electrophysiologic study of a similar case and the successful use of calcium channel blockers, shedding light on the possible mechanism and management of these patients.

Adolescent↗

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis IgG-treated neuromuscular junctions develop sensitivity to L-type calcium channel blocker.

In order to search for early changes induced by the application of human immunoglobulin G (IgG) on motor nerve terminals, IgG from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and control subjects was injected subcutaneously into the levator auris muscle of mice. A week or a month after the last injection, endplate potentials were recorded. No changes in quantal content of transmitter release were observed. In control and ALS IgG-treated muscles, neurotransmitter release remained sensitive to P/Q-type and insensitive to N-type voltage-sensitive calcium channel (VSCC) blockers as in untreated muscles. In contrast, IgG from 5 of 8 different ALS patients induced a significant reduction in quantal content of the evoked response after incubation with nitrendipine, indicating that a novel sensitivity to this calcium channel blocker appears in these motor nerve terminals. These results indicate that ALS IgG induces plastic changes at nerve terminals. The expression of transmitter release coupled to L-type VSCC indicate that ALS IgGs are capable of inducing plastic changes at the nerve terminals that may participate in the process leading to neuronal death.

Adult↗

Effects of an ACE inhibitor and a calcium channel blocker on cardiovascular autonomic nervous system and carotid distensibility in patients with mild to moderate hypertension.

We investigated the relationship between cardiovascular autonomic nervous system function and carotid arterial distensibility during treatment with an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (derapril) or a calcium channel blocker (manidipine) for hypertension. In 37 patients with hypertension, autonomic function was assessed by heart rate variability and baroreceptor sensitivity using phenylephrine injection. Left ventricular mass index and carotid arterial distensibility were assessed by ultrasound examinations. Before the medication, both baroreceptor sensitivity and heart rate variability correlated with carotid arterial distensibility, but not with left ventricular mass index by multiple regression analysis. Subsequently, patients were randomly allocated into two groups, derapril (n = 18) and manidipine (n = 19) for 20 weeks. At the end of the study, the change in baroreceptor sensitivity correlated with change in carotid arterial distensibility (r = 0.41, P < .05), but not with change in left ventricular mass index. Although derapril and manidipine decreased blood pressure and left ventricular mass index to the same extent, the former improved heart rate variability, baroreceptor sensitivity (5.0 +/- 1.9 --> 5.6 +/- 2.0 msec/mm Hg), and carotid arterial distensibility (2.1 +/- 0.8 --> 2.5 +/- 1.0 %kPa), but the latter did not improve them at all. Thus, impairment of the autonomic balance was related to the impairment of carotid arterial distensibility in hypertension; derapril, but not manidipine, significantly improved these abnormalities.

Aged↗

Calcium channel blockers suppress the contact hypersensitivity reaction (CHR) by inhibiting antigen transport and presentation by epidermal Langerhans cells in mice.

Since Langerhans cells (LC) are the principal antigen-presenting cells among epidermal cells, treatments suppressing LC function may inhibit CHR. Although calcium channel blockers (CCB) have been shown to suppress the functions of several immunologically active cells, little is known about their effect on LC. In this study we show that pretreatment with topical 1% nifedipine or verapamil HCl significantly suppressed both the sensitization and elicitation phases of a CHR in mice. We then investigated whether CCB affected LC. Flow cytometric analysis of regional lymph node cells obtained 24 h after applying FITC demonstrated that topical CCB treatment significantly reduced the percentage of FITC+ NLDC-145+ cells, suggesting that CCB had suppressed antigen transport by LC. In vitro treatment with nifedipine or verapamil significantly suppressed the antigen-presenting capacity of LC in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, in vitro CCB treatment reduced the percentage of class II MHC antigen-positive epidermal cells and significantly suppressed class II MHC and B7-1 levels in LC, as determined by flow cytometry and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, whereas surface expression of B7-2 and mRNA was only weakly reduced. Neither expression of CD45 nor the percentage of CD45+ cells were affected, suggesting that the effects of CCB on LC were not due to cytotoxicity. Our results suggest that CCB inhibit CHR, at least in part, by suppressing the functions of LC.

Animals↗

Calcium channel blocker toxicity.

A retrospective review was conducted of all patients who were reported to a regional poison control center after "overdose" of a calcium channel blocker during a two-year period (1987 and 1988). An analysis of 91 patient cases is presented after excluding allergic reactions, cases involving coingestants, and patients lost to follow-up. Patients who developed any symptoms after ingestion were defined as manifesting toxicity. There were 38 cases of verapamil ingestion with toxicity developing in 18 patients. The mean nontoxic dose was 320 mg, whereas the mean toxic ingestion was 3.2 g. Nine patients became hypotensive, 13 developed conduction system abnormalities (sinus node suppression, atrioventricular nodal block, or bundle branch block), and 11 manifested arrhythmias. Ten developed neurological symptoms. There were 31 cases of nifedipine ingestion with toxicity developing in seven patients. The mean nontoxic dose was 19 mg, while the mean toxic ingestion was 340 mg. Four patients were hypotensive, only one developed cardiac conduction abnormalities, and four developed arrhythmias. Three had neurological symptoms. There were 24 cases of diltiazem ingestion with only minor toxicity developing in four patients. There was no statistically significant difference in the frequency of hypotension, arrhythmias, or neurological symptoms in patients who overdosed with verapamil as compared with nifedipine (by Fisher's exact test). However, conduction system abnormalities were more common with verapamil ingestion (P less than .05). Toxic manifestations after diltiazem over-dose were uncommon in our study. Eighteen of the 29 patients who developed toxicity required treatment in excess of gastrointestinal decontamination. Calcium was administered to 14 patients and was helpful in five.

Adolescent↗

The calcium channel blocker debate.

What, finally can we conclude from the work to date regarding the use of CCB's? The large clinical trials here give a number of clear messages to the prescriber. Short-acting dihydropyridine CCB's are unproven as prophylactic agents in ischaemic heart disease. In patients with poor left ventricular function post-infarct, CCB's are associated with an unchanged or increased mortality. Use of medications in the treatment of hypertension should be with proven first-line therapeutic agents; beta-blockers, diuretics; and the long-acting dihydropyridine CCB's nifedipine GITS and nitrendipine. The final argument in the discussion over the safety or otherwise of calcium channel blockers will rest in the completion in the future of a number of prospective, randomised, place-controlled clinical drug trials. These trials are currently ongoing, and their results may not be available until after the year 2000.

Calcium Channel Blockers↗

Short-term effects of the calcium channel blocker nimodipine (Bay-e-9736) in the management of primary degenerative dementia.

The etiology of Alzheimer's dementia (AD) is unknown, but several neurotransmitters, e.g., acetylcholine, have been implicated. Recently, the group of calcium channel antagonists have been reviewed for their potential neuropsychiatric applications. These agents are capable of enhancing cholinergic tone, neurofilament/microtubular stabilization, and regional perfusion rates. The following is a report of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study of 227 AD patients treated with nimodipine, a 1.4 dihydropyridine derivative and calcium channel antagonist. The subgroup receiving active drug (30 mg t.i.d.) experienced a prophylactic benefit across eight measures over 12 treatment weeks when contrasted with the disease progression seen among placebo recipients. Calcium channel blockers as neurotransmitter modulators and/or via calcium's theoretical role in neurofibrillary tangles, proteolysis, or neurofilament formation may represent a therapeutic opportunity for the AD patient.

Administration, Oral↗

Treatment of mild-to-moderate hypertension with calcium channel blockers: a multicentre comparison of once-daily nifedipine GITS with once-daily amlodipine.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is one of the most important causes of cardiovascular disease, and treatment of hypertension leads to a significant reduction in cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Although calcium channel blockers are regarded as an important part of the therapeutic armamentarium against cardiovascular diseases, and are among the most frequently prescribed antihypertensive medications, concern has been aroused about these drugs, particularly the short-acting dihydropyrldine derivatives. However, the value of nifedipine GITS(Adalat-Crono), the long-acting dihydropyrldine, is in need of being re-established. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness, safety and tolerability of once-daily nifedipine and amlodipine treatment in patients with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension. DESIGN: Randomised multicentre trial with an open comparison of treatments for 12 weeks, with a preceding placebo run-in period of 2 weeks (patients on beta-blockers at the time of enrollment entered a mandatory 2-week wash-out period before being allowed In the placebo run-in period;this wash-out period was one week for patients using any antihypertensive medication other than beta-blockers). SETTING: Nine centres (all university hospitals) in Turkey. PATIENTS: 155 patients with essential hypertension(diastolic blood pressure 95-109 mmHg). INTERVENTIONS: Initial treatment (step 1) consisted of 30 mg nifedipine GlTS (n = 76; (Adalat-Crono tablets), or 5 mg amlodipine (n = 79; Norvasct5-mg tablets), either administered once daily, as a morning dose, or f the blood pressure was not below 140/90 mmHg, or the reduction In diastolic blood pressure was lower than 10 mmHg after a treatment period of 6 weeks, the dose was increased (Step 2) to 60 mg once daily in the nifedipine group, or 10 mg once daily in the amlodipine group. MAIN EFFICACY PARAMETER: Diastolic blood pressure at trough after 12 weeks of active compound therapy adjusted to baseline. RESULTS: After 12 weeks of treatment, the mean diastolic blood pressure was 83.1 and 81.9 mmHg,in the nifedipine and amlodipine groups, respectively (p = 0.436). The mean decrease in systolic blood pressure (28.5 +/- 11.9 and 28.2 +/- 11.2 mmHg in the nifadipine and amlodipine groups, respectively) and the mean decrease in diastolic blood pressure (16.4A +/- 7.0 and 17.5 +/- 6.9 mmHg in the nifedipine and amlodipine groups, respectively), as well as the responder rates (88.1%and 92.1%, in the nifediplne and amlodipine groups, respectively) were comparable at the end of the study. No significant differences between groups were detected In the efficacy parameters assessed in this study. Both drugs were well tolerated. The overall incidence of adverse events was 7.9% in the nifadipine group and 10.1% In the amlodipine group. However, more patients discontinued treatment prematurely in the amlodipine group (13 patients; 19.7%), than in the nifedipine group (four patients; 5.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrated that once-daily nifedipine in GITS formation and amlodipine are comparably safe and effective treatment options in patients with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension.

Adult↗

Prevention and treatment of high altitude pulmonary edema by a calcium channel blocker.

High altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) is characterized by marked pulmonary hypertension. Treatment of 6 subjects suffering from radiographically documented HAPE with the calcium channel blocker nifedipine, lowered pulmonary artery pressure and resulted in clinical improvement, better oxygenation, reduction of alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient and a progressive clearing of alveolar edema on chest x-ray. This amelioration occurred despite continued exercise at an altitude above 4000 m and without supplementary oxygen. Prophylactic application of nifedipine slow release preparation, 20 mg every 8 hours, prevented HAPE in 9 out of 10 subjects with a history of radiographically documented HAPE upon rapid ascent and subsequent stay to an altitude of 4559 m. Seven of 11 comparable subjects who received placebo developed pulmonary edema at 4559 m. As compared with the subjects who received placebo, those who received nifedipine had a significantly lower mean systolic pulmonary artery pressure, alveolar-arterial pressure gradient of oxygen and symptom score of acute mountain sickness at 4559 m. Thus nifedipine offers a potential emergency treatment of HAPE when descent or evacuation is impossible and oxygen is not available. Prophylactic administration of nifedipine prevents HAPE in susceptible subjects. High pulmonary artery pressure has an important role in the pathogenesis of HAPE.

Acute Disease↗

Inhibitory action of a calcium channel blocker (nimodipine) on seizures and brain damage induced by pilocarpine and lithium-pilocarpine in rats.

The present work studied the effect of a calcium channel blocker (nimodipine) on rat behavioural changes and brain lesions observed after seizures induced by high doses of pilocarpine (400 mg/kg, s.c.; P400), and the association of lithium (3 mEq/kg, i.p., daily during 7 days) plus pilocarpine (a single dose of 15 mg/kg, s.c.) administered 24 h after the last injection of lithium. In the P400 model, nimodipine (5 or 10 mg/kg, i.p.) inhibited convulsions, status epilepticus, and significantly decreased the percentage of death and cerebral changes (Mann-Whitney, P = 0.0057). In the lithium-pilocarpine (Li-Pi) induced seizures, nimodipine even increased convulsive action and did not interfere with brain lesions. The results suggested that a calcium channel mechanism is involved in the P400 induced seizures, and that there is a difference in the physiopathology of epileptic seizures and brain damage induced by either P400 and Li-Pi models.

Animals↗

The calcium channel blocker nisoldipine minimizes the release of tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-6 following rat liver transplantation.

Kupffer cells, when activated, release toxic cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF), which can cause tissue injury. Takei et al. have reported that nisoldipine, a calcium channel blocker which decreases phagocytotic activity by Kupffer cells, also diminishes liver and lung injury and dramatically improves survival following liver transplantation. Therefore, we studied the effect of nisoldipine on the time course of TNF and interleukin-6 (IL-6) release following cold storage and liver transplantation in the rat. Livers were stored under survival and non-survival conditions in cold Euro-Collins solution in the presence or absence of nisoldipine (1.4 microM). After storage, the effluent was collected for determination of cytokines. The liver was then transplanted orthotopically and serum was collected at various time intervals for up to 5 h. In the effluent, TNF levels were very low in both the control and nisoldipine-treated groups and IL-6 was not measurable. Furthermore, when livers were stored under survival conditions and transplanted (liver stored in the cold for 4 h), serum TNF (2 U/ml) and IL-6 (350 U/ml) values were minimal in both the control and nisoldipine-treated groups. In contrast, when livers were stored under non-survival conditions and transplanted (liver stored in the cold for 10 h), TNF levels increased to 15 +/- 2 U/ml, 150 min after graft reperfusion, an increase which was prevented by nisoldipine (6.5 U/ml). Serum IL-6 levels were also elevated 300 min after transplantation in livers stored for 10 h. Nisoldipine also reduced the release of this cytokine. Serum transaminases (SGOT) were elevated to values around 2000 U/l 5 h following transplantation. In the nisoldipine-treated group, values were lower between 60 and 300 min. In the lung, interstitial and alveolar edema and cellular infiltration were detectable 5 h postoperatively and were diminished by nisoldipine. These data confirmed that TNF and IL-6 release were minimal following cold storage and transplantation of livers stored under survival conditions, but were elevated transiently after transplantation under non-survival conditions. Nisoldipine prevented cytokine release, most likely by blocking the activation of Kupffer cells, which may explain how it decreases liver and lung injury very early following liver transplantation.

Animals↗

Use of calcium channel blockers in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Recent studies in patients with either obstructive or nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy have suggested that increased resistance to diastolic filling of the stiff left ventricle may be an important mechanism contributing to symptoms. These observations have led to exploration of the effects of calcium channel blockers on systolic and diastolic function in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Acute hemodynamic studies using verapamil and nifedipine have shown that these agents tend to cause: (1) a slight fall in systemic arterial pressure and reflex increase in heart rate; (2) a reduction in left ventricular outflow gradient in most but not all patients; and (3) variable effect on left-side heart filling pressures. In contrast to beta-adrenergic blockers, these hemodynamic effects are not associated with depression of systolic function, but appear to be related to improved left ventricular distensibility. Clinical trials have suggested that long-term administration of verapamil in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy promotes improvement in symptomatic status and exercise tolerance in many but not all patients; similar results have been reported in preliminary studies using nifedipine. Potential major adverse effects include depression of sinoatrial activity and atrioventricular conduction with verapamil, and marked hypotension and, rarely, pulmonary edema with both verapamil and nifedipine.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗