flunarizine and Glioma

Gap junctions (GJs), which consist of proteins called connexins, are intercellular channels that allow the passage of ions, second messengers, and small molecules. GJs and connexins are considered as emerging therapeutic targets for various diseases. Previously, we screened numerous compounds using our recently developed iodide yellow fluorescent protein gap junctional intercellular communication (I-YFP GJIC) assay and found that flunarizine (FNZ), used for migraine prophylaxis and as an add-on therapy for epilepsy, inhibits GJIC in LN215 human glioma cells. In this study, we confirmed that FNZ inhibits GJIC using the I-YFP GJIC assay. We demonstrated that FNZ inhibits GJ activities via a mechanism that is independent of calcium channels and dopaminergic D2, histaminergic H1, or 5-HT receptors. In addition, we showed that FNZ significantly increases connexin 43 (Cx43) phosphorylation on the cell surface, but does not alter the total amount of Cx43. The beneficial effects of FNZ on migraines and epilepsy might be related to GJ inhibition.

Topics: Biological Transport; Cell Communication; Cell Line, Tumor; Connexin 43; Connexins; Flunarizine; Gap Junctions; Glioma; Humans; Migraine Disorders; Phosphorylation

Monitoring of excitation activity of nerve cells is very useful for not only brain research but also assessment of the effects of various chemicals, including drugs and toxins. We previously reported a novel enzyme-luminescence method for real-time monitoring of l-glutamate release from C6 glioma cells with high levels of sensitivity ( approximately 10 nM) and temporal resolution (<1 s) using a luminescence plate reader. In the present study, we tested the applicability of this novel system for assessment of effects of drugs in vitro. Several drugs (e.g., veratridine and 4-aminopyridine) were administered to C6 glioma cells for inducing glutamate release. Moreover, antagonists of voltage-dependent Ca (2+) channels (e.g., nifedipine, flunarizine, and NiCl 2) and Na (+) channels (e.g., carbamazepine and lidocaine) were applied separately for evaluating the effects of these chemicals on glutamate release from the cells. The combined effect of carbamazepine and lidocaine was also investigated by using our method, and the combined effect was found to be more potent than that of single drug administration. These results indicated that the glutamate release from C6 cells was modulated by these drugs in a way similar to that found by using several conventional analytical techniques. We therefore conclude that the developed monitoring system for real-time detection of dynamic l-glutamate release from cells could be very useful for application to assessment of drugs acting on the nervous system.

Topics: 4-Aminopyridine; Animals; Brain Neoplasms; Carbamazepine; Cell Line, Tumor; Enzymes; Flunarizine; Glioma; Glutamic Acid; Lidocaine; Luminescence; Nickel; Nifedipine; Rats; Veratridine

Our aim was to determine whether the Ca2+ ion or cell membrane Ca2+ and Na+/Ca2+ ion transport systems are involved in maintaining the cell-associated activity of technetium-99m-hexakis-methoxy-isobutyl-isonitrile (99mTc-MIBI) and technetium-99m-ethylene-bis[bis(2-ethoxyethyl)phosphin] (99mTc-tetrofosmin) in tumour cell lines. The cell-associated activities of 99mTc-MIBI and 99mTc-tetrofosmin were assessed in various buffers, with or without Na+ and/or with different concentrations of Ca2+, in Lewi's murine lung cell carcinoma and human glioma cell lines. Different Ca2+ channel modulators, such as verapamil, flunarizine and 3,4-dichlorobenzamil (DCB), were used to assess the effect of Ca2+ channels on the cell-associated activity of 99mTc-MIBI and 99mTc-tetrofosmin. Despite significant differences between cell lines, the cell-associated activity of 99mTc-MIBI was higher in buffers without extracellular Ca2+ and Na+. The cell-associated activity of 99mTc-MIBI was significantly lower in all buffers containing high concentrations of Ca2+ in both cell lines. The cell-associated activity of Tc-tetrofosmin was also significantly higher in buffers without Ca2+, and was significantly decreased in buffers with high concentrations of Ca2+. All modulators significantly increased the cell-associated activity of 99mTc-MIBI in both cell lines in all buffers. All modulators increased the cell-associated activity of 99mTc-tetrofosmin, particularly in buffers containing Ca2+. The cell-associated activities of both 99mTc-MIBI and 99mTc-tetrofosmin may be dependent on verapamil-, flunarizine- and DCB-sensitive Ca2+ channels.

Topics: Amiloride; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Calcium; Calcium Channels; Carcinoma, Lewis Lung; Cell Survival; Extracellular Space; Flunarizine; Glioma; Humans; Ion Channel Gating; Metabolic Clearance Rate; Mice; Organophosphorus Compounds; Organotechnetium Compounds; Radionuclide Imaging; Radiopharmaceuticals; Sodium; Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Verapamil

We studied the effect of intracarotid infusion of various calcium antagonists on regional CBF (rCBF) in the C6 rat glioma by a hydrogen clearance method. Nimodipine at doses of 0.1, 0.5 and 1 microgram/kg/min was found to produce tumor-specific increases in the rCBF (40.2 +/- 18.4%, p < 0.01, 67.8 +/- 32.6%, p < 0.001 and 37.3 +/- 37.2%, p < 0.05, respectively) without affecting systemic blood pressure. Regarding the time course of the nimodipine effects, at a dose of 0.5 micrograms/kg/min, rCBF in the tumor showed maximum value at fifteen minutes after the start of the intracarotid infusion. Diltiazem at doses of 5, 20, and 40 micrograms/kg/min also increased tumor rCBF in a dose-dependent manner (27.9 +/- 12.5%, p < 0.001, 52.0 +/- 21.8%, p-AN 0.001 and 54.5 +/- 18.4%, p < 0.001, respectively). Both nifedipine and flunarizine significantly increased the rCBF in the tumor, while they did not cause a higher percent increase of the rCBF when compared with those of nimodipine and diltiazem. No significant percent increase of the rCBF in the tumor was observed in verapamil treated rats. These results indicate that tumor vessels may have an altered response to calcium antagonists, especially to nimodipine and diltiazem, when compared to normal brain capillaries. The varied responses to calcium antagonists could be explained by their differences in tissue selectivity and affinity to calcium channels.

Topics: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Brain; Brain Neoplasms; Calcium Channel Blockers; Cerebrovascular Circulation; Diltiazem; Flunarizine; Glioma; Male; Neoplasm Transplantation; Nifedipine; Nimodipine; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Verapamil

Bradykinin-induced increases in the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) were recorded in single NG108-15 cells with indo-1-based dual-emission microfluorimetry (50% effective concentration, 16 nM). A 1-min exposure to 30 nM bradykinin completely depleted the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3)-sensitive Ca2+ store; refilling the store required extracellular Ca2+ (half time, 2 min). Refilling the IP3-sensitive store was completely blocked by 1 microM La3+ and 10 microM nitrendipine, but not 10 microM verapamil, 10 microM flunarizine, 1 microM nitrendipine, or 0.1 microM La3+. Thapsigargin irreversibly depleted the Ca2+ store and prevented its refilling (half-maximal inhibitory concentration, 3 nM). Influx of Ca2+ across the plasma membrane did not increase after depletion of the IP3-sensitive store by exposure to bradykinin, although maintained presence of the agonist produced significant Ca2+ influx. Similarly, Mn2+ and Ba2+ influx, as measured by indo-1 quenching and spectral shifts, did not increase following depletion of IP3-sensitive store. In contrast to depletion of the IP3-sensitive Ca2+ store by bradykinin, thapsigargin (10 nM) treatment produced Ca2+ and Ba2+ influx. We conclude that after Ca2+ mobilization, the IP3-sensitive Ca2+ store in NG108-15 cells is refilled with cytoplasmic Ca2+ via a thapsigargin-sensitive Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase. Cytoplasmic Ca2+ is replenished by a persistent leak of Ca2+ across the plasma membrane. This leak is not modulated by the status of the intracellular Ca2+ store. In NG108-15 cells, agonist and thapsigargin-evoked Ca2+ entry are mediated by activation of plasmalemmal Ca2+ channels independent of the status of the IP3-sensitive intracellular Ca2+ store.

Topics: Animals; Bradykinin; Calcium; Calcium-Transporting ATPases; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Flunarizine; Glioma; Hybrid Cells; Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate; Mice; Neuroblastoma; Nitrendipine; Terpenes; Thapsigargin; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Verapamil