title: Benidipine, a dihydropyridine-Ca2+ channel blocker, increases the endothelial differentiation of endothelial progenitor cells in vitro.
abstract: Benidipine is a dihydropyridine-Ca2+ channel blocker used in the treatment of hypertension and angina pectoris. In the present study, we examined the effects of benidipine on the endothelial differentiation of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) using an in vitro culture method. Peripheral blood derived mononuclear cells (PBMCs) containing EPCs were isolated from C57BL/6 mice, and then the cells were cultured on vitronectin/gelatin-coated slide glasses. After 7 days of culture, endothelial cells differentiated from EPCs were identified as adherent cells with 1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethyl-indocarbocyanine-labeled acetylated low density lipoprotein (Dil-Ac-LDL) uptake and lectin binding under a fluorescent microscope. Incubation of PBMCs for 7 days with benidipine (0.01-1 micromol/l) significantly increased the number of Dil-Ac-LDL+/fluorescein isothiocyanate-lectin (FITC-Lectin)+ cells. Wortmannin, a phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, selectively attenuated the effect of benidipine on the endothelial differentiation. In addition, benidipine treatment augmented the phosphorylation of Akt, indicating that the PI3K/Akt pathway contributed, at least in part, to the endothelial differentiation induced by benidipine. These results suggest that the treatment with benidipine may increase the endothelial differentiation of circulating EPCs and contribute to endothelial protection, prevention of cardiovascular disease, and/or an improvement of the prognosis after ischemic damage.
authors: BioFrontier Laboratories, Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd., Machida, Japan. hiroshi.ando@kyowa.co.jp
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Ando
authors: Kosuke
authors: K
authors: Nakanishi
authors: Mami
authors: M
authors: Shibata
authors: Kazuhide
authors: K
authors: Hasegawa
authors: Kozo
authors: K
authors: Yao
authors: Hiromasa
authors: H
authors: Miyaji
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004095:Dihydropyridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010766:Phosphorylation; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004095:Dihydropyridines; D020011:Protective Agents; C061004:benidipine; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt