title: Amlodipine increases endothelial nitric oxide by dual mechanisms.
abstract: Several experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated the antiatherogenic profile of the long-acting calcium antagonist amlodipine. Given the pivotal role of endothelial (dys)function during atherogenesis, we investigated the influence of amlodipine on endothelial nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. Acute addition of amlodipine to segments of porcine coronary arteries resulted in a significant increase in NO release which could be blocked by the NO synthase inhibitor L-NMMA (N-monomethylarginine). This effect was mirrored by a rise in intracellular cGMP levels in porcine endothelial cell cultures. Long-term (24 h) treatment of porcine endothelial cell cultures with amlodipine (0.1-10 micromol/l) significantly enhanced the basal NO formation in a concentration-dependent manner which was abrogated in the presence of L-NMMA (0.1 mmol/l). In EA.hy 926 endothelial cells, amlodipine treatment for 24 h significantly increased the endothelial NO synthase protein expression. To evaluate whether the observed increase in NO was additionally due to an antioxidative protection of NO, we examined the influence of amlodipine in different in vitro models. In a cell-free system, amlodipine quenched superoxide anions (hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase assay) at high concentrations (150 micromol/l). Addition of artificial membrane preparations (dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine) to mimic a physiological environment significantly enhanced this antioxidative effect. In a more physiological model of hyperglycemia (30 mmol/l, 20 min) induced formation of reactive oxygen species from native endothelial cells of porcine coronary arteries, amlodipine concentration dependently attenuated the reactive oxygen species release (>60%; 10 micromol/l). We conclude, that amlodipine increases the endothelial NO bioavailability, firstly via enhanced NO formation and secondly by prolonging the half-life of NO through antioxidative properties. This may result in an improved endothelial function.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pharmakologie, Klinikum der Universität zu Köln, Cologne, Germany. Reinhard.Berkels@medizin.uni-koeln.de
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Berkels
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Taubert
authors.forename: Henning
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bartels
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Breitenbach
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Klaus
authors.forename: Renate
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Roesen
mesh_terms: D017311:Amlodipine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects*; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D009573:Nitrites / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013481:Superoxides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D009573:Nitrites; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013481:Superoxides; D017311:Amlodipine; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase; D006152:Cyclic GMP