title: [Effect of Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchange blocker, Benzamil, on alveolar macrophage function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effect of Benzamil on cytosolic free calcium ions ([Ca(2+)] i) concentration, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in alveolar macrophage (AM) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Alveolar macrophages were collected from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and they were cultured and [Ca(2+)] i were determined by calcium fluorescent with indicator Fura-2/AM. The effects of Benzamil on the increase in cytosolic [Ca(2+)] i and on secretion of TNF-alpha, MDA were investigated in 36 patients with COPD and 36 healthy volunteers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (1) [Ca(2+)] i concentration (68.26+/-7.24) nmol/L, TNF-alpha (5.74+/-0.42) ng/L and MDA (3.77+/-0.61) microg/L were found in COPD patients, and they were significantly increased, as compared with the control group, in whom the contents were [Ca(2+)] i concentration (60.61+/-6.26) nmol/L, TNF-alpha (2.06+/-0.20) microg/L, MDA (1.91+/-0.19) ng/L (all P<0.01). (2)The following data namely [Ca(2+)] i concentration (168.34+/-17.58) nmol/L, TNF-alpha (9.67+/-1.01) ng/L and MDA (11.21+/-1.01) microg/L were obtained after anoxia in COPD patients (all P<0.01). (3)After incubation with Benzamil, and then subjected the cells to anoxia, the following data were obtained: [Ca(2+)] i concentration (129.21+/-14.33) nmol/L, TNF-alpha content (6.78+/-0.52) ng/L and MDA (8.47+/-0.79) microg/L and they were all lower than only anoxia was applied (all P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Benzamil not only downregulates alveolar macrophages activity but also suppresses the generation of the TNF-alpha and MDA.
authors.affiliation: General Hospital of Chinese People's Armed Police Forces, Beijing, China. lixuangle@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Li-Xiang
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jian-Peng
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ou-Xiang
authors.initials: OX
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Man-Jing
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000584:Amiloride / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019831:Sodium-Calcium Exchanger / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019831:Sodium-Calcium Exchanger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C013407:benzamil; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D000584:Amiloride; D002118:Calcium