Verapamil inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation and function in vitro.
Calcium is a divalent cation which acts both as a cofactor for critical protein function and as a "second signal" to trigger cytosol events after membrane depolarization. The presence of calcium is critical to T-lymphocyte function. Verapamil is a calcium channel blocker at the membrane level and may affect cytosol calcium-calmodulin as well. Verapamil effect was measured on two assays of lymphocyte proliferation (concanavalin A and phytohemagglutinin lectin and alloantigen stimulated) and on cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Verapamil inhibited proliferation at 10(-5) M doses and abrogated it at 10(-4) M. Verapamil interferes with critical calcium-mediated events in T lymphocyte proliferation and function. T-lymphocyte calcium channel blockade may be an effective immunosuppressive strategy.
McMillen
M A
MA
Lewis
T
T
Jaffe
B M
BM
Wait
R B
RB
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology*
D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D003208:Concanavalin A; D014700:Verapamil