title: Bencyclane as an anti-sickling agent.
abstract: A vasodilating Ca2+ channel blocker, bencyclane, was used in 18 patients with homozygous sickle cell anaemia (SCD) to test the possible anti-sickling effect. With bencyclane intervention the Na(+)-K+ ATPase activity increased from 256 +/- 29 to 331 +/- 37 nmol Pi/mg protein/h (P < 0.0001) and the Ca(2+)-Mg2+ ATPase level increased from 172 +/- 12 to 222 +/- 44 nmol Pi/mg protein/h (P < 0.0001). The intracytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration reduced from 3.5 +/- 0.6 to 2.7 +/- 0.25 mumol/l (P < 0.0001). The patient's blood contained fewer irreversibly sickled cells (ISCs) (a reduction from 21.4% to 14.4%) (P < 0.05). At the same time MCHC of the erythrocytes decreased from 34.5 to 33.0 g/dl (P < 0.05). Bencyclane appears to be a promising anti-sickling agent that can be used orally in SCD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Haematology, Faculty of Medicine, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Koçak
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Başlamişli
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Güvenç
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tamer
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Aikimbaev
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Isbir
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D000986:Antisickling Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001537:Bencyclane / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017301:Ca(2+) Mg(2+)-ATPase / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000986:Antisickling Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D001537:Bencyclane; D017301:Ca(2+) Mg(2+)-ATPase; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase; D002118:Calcium