title: Block of HERG human K(+) channel and IKr of guinea pig cardiomyocytes by chlorpromazine.
abstract: Chlorpromazine, a commonly used antipsychotic drug, has been known to induce QT prolongation and torsades de pointes, which can cause sudden death. We studied the effects of chlorpromazine on the human ether-a-go-go-related gene (HERG) channel expressed in Xenopus oocytes and on delayed rectifier K current of guinea pig ventricular myocytes. Application of chlorpromazine showed a dose-dependent decrease in the amplitudes of steady-state currents and tail currents of HERG. The decrease became more pronounced at increasingly positive potential, suggesting that the blockade of HERG by chlorpromazine is voltage dependent. IC50 for chlorpromazine block of HERG current was progressively decreased according to depolarization: IC50 values at -30, 0, and +30 mV were 10.5, 8.8, and 4.9 microM, respectively. The block of HERG current during the voltage step increased with time starting from a level 89% of the control current. In guinea pig ventricular myocytes, bath application of 2 and 5 microM chlorpromazine at 36 degree C blocked rapidly activating delayed rectifier K current (IKr) by 31 and 83%, respectively. How-ever, the same concentrations of chlorpromazine failed to significantly block slowly activating delayed rectifier K current (IKs). Our findings suggest that the arrhythmogenic side effect of chlorpromazine is caused by blockade of HERG and rapid component of delayed rectifier K current rather than by blockade of the slow component.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Science, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Korea.
authors.forename: So-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Se-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jae Boum
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Youm
authors.forename: Won-Kyung
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Yung E
authors.initials: YE
authors.lastname: Earm
authors.forename: Chin O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Su-Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002746:Chlorpromazine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000072237:ERG1 Potassium Channel; D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers / Q000009:adverse effects*; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014982:Xenopus laevis
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D000072237:ERG1 Potassium Channel; D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels; C000606913:KCNH2 protein, human; C092509:KCNH6 protein, human; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D002746:Chlorpromazine