title: Inhibition of cell growth and intracellular Ca2+ mobilization in human brain tumor cells by Ca2+ channel antagonists.
abstract: The effects of various Ca2+ channel agonists and antagonists on tumor cell growth were investigated using U-373 MG human astrocytoma and SK-N-MC human neuroblastoma cell lines. Classical Ca2+ channel antagonists, verapamil, nifedipine, and diltiazem, and inorganic Ca2+ channel antagonists, Ni2+ and Co2+, inhibited growth of these tumor cells in a dose-dependent manner. Except Ni2+, these Ca2+ channel antagonists did not induce a significant cytotoxicity, suggesting that the growth-inhibitory effects of these drugs may be the result of the influence on the proliferative signaling mechanisms of these tumor cells. In contrast, Bay K-8644, a Ca2+ channel agonist, neither enhanced the growth of tumor cells nor increased intracellular Ca2+ concentration, indicating that voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels may not be involved in tumor cell proliferation. Moreover, growth-inhibitory concentrations of Ca2+ channel antagonists significantly blocked agonist (carbachol or serum)-induced intracellular Ca2+ mobilization, which was monitored using Fura-2 fluorescence technique. These results suggest that the inhibition of the growth of human brain tumor cells induced by Ca2+ channel antagonists may not be the result of interaction with Ca2+ channels, but may be the result of the interference with agonist-induced intracellular Ca2+ mobilization, which is an important proliferative signaling mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153.
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Sayeed
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Wurster
mesh_terms: D001498:3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002120:Calcium Channel Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003600:Cytosol / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016257:Fura-2; D006801:Humans; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D002120:Calcium Channel Agonists; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D001498:3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester; D002118:Calcium; D016257:Fura-2