Open AccessAmlodipine Inhibits Pro-inflammatory Cytokines and Free Radical Production and Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression in Lipopolysaccharide / Interferon-γ-Stimulated Cultured Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells
Author(s) -
Tz-Chong Chou,
Shih-Ping Yang,
Dee Pei
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
japanese journal of pharmacology/japanese journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1347-3506
pISSN - 0021-5198
DOI - 10.1254/jjp.89.157
Subject(s) - nitric oxide synthase , nitric oxide , vascular smooth muscle , lipopolysaccharide , pharmacology , nitrite , tumor necrosis factor alpha , endocrinology , medicine , chemistry , cytokine , amlodipine , blood pressure , smooth muscle , organic chemistry , nitrate
Overproduction of nitric oxide (NO) from inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is importantly involved in the pathogenesis of endotoxemia and atherosclerosis. Calcium antagonists are commonly used as cardiovascular drugs and have a beneficial effect on prolonging survival in various models of endotoxin shock. The present study was to investigate the effect of a calcium antagonist amlodipine on nitrite, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) formation and iNOS induction both in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-treated rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMC) and in a rat model of endotoxemia. Incubation with amlodipine (0.1 - 10 microM) for 24 h resulted in a significant and dose-dependent attenuation in medium nitrite, TNF-alpha and IL-1beta formation as well as iNOS protein expression in LPS/IFN-gamma-treated RASMC. In addition, amlodipine inhibited leucigenin-induced superoxide formation in RASMC. In the rat endotoxic model, the serum nitrite/nitrate, TNF-alpha and IL-1beta levels as well as iNOS protein expression of lungs were also suppressed by administration of amlodipine (50 microg/kg, i.v.). These results suggest that amlodipine may exert vascular beneficial effects by suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines and free radical generation as well as iNOS induction in smooth muscle cells during activation of inflammatory mechanism.