Abstract

Mibefradil is a tetralol derivative originally developed as an antagonist of T-type voltage-gated calcium (Ca2+) channels to treat hypertension when used at nanomolar dosage. More recently, its therapeutic application in hypertension has declined and has been instead repurposed as a treatment of cancer cell proliferation and solid tumor growth. Beyond its function as a Cav blocker, the micromolar concentration of mibefradil can stimulate a rise in [Ca2+]cyt although the mechanism is poorly known. The chanzyme TRPM7 (transient receptor potential melastanin 7), the release of intracellular Ca2+ pools, and Ca2+ influx by ORAI channels have been associated with the increase in [Ca2+]cyt triggered by mibefradil. This study aims to investigate the cellular targets and pathways associated with mibefradil’s effect on [Ca2+]cyt. To address these questions, we monitored changes in [Ca2+]cyt in the specialized mouse epithelial cells (LS8 and ALC) and the widely used HEK-293 cells by stimulating these cells with mibefradil (0.1 μM to 100 μM). We show that mibefradil elicits an increase in [Ca2+]cyt at concentrations above 10 μM (IC50 around 50 μM) and a fast Ca2+ increase capacity at 100 μM. We found that inhibiting IP3 receptors, depleting the ER-Ca2+ stores, or blocking phospholipase C (PLC), significantly decreased the capacity of mibefradil to elevate [Ca2+]cyt. Moreover, the transient application of 100 μM mibefradil triggered Ca2+ influx by store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) mediated by the ORAI channels. Our findings reveal that IP3R and PLC are potential new targets of mibefradil offering novel insights into the effects of this drug.

Highlights

  • Mibefradil, known as Ro 40–5967, is an organic compound derivative of tetralol that has been used as a Ca2+ channel antagonist (CCA)

  • Relevant is the use of Ca2+ channel antagonists (CCA), which dilate the arteries and lower blood pressure, being effective in the treatment of angina or cardiac dysrhythmias [34]

  • Mibefradil was launched as a new potent Ca2+ antagonist in 1997 to inhibit T-type (Cav 3.1–3.3) channels and was used in the treatment of hypertension and angina [4]

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Summary

Introduction

Mibefradil, known as Ro 40–5967, is an organic compound derivative of tetralol that has been used as a Ca2+ channel antagonist (CCA). Patch-clamp studies revealed that mibefradil has an IC50 around 0.3–2.7 μM for Ca2+, Na+, and K+ voltage-dependent currents in HEK-293 cells [1,2,3]. Mibefradil, a T-type voltage-gated calcium (Ca2+) channels (Cav 3.1–3.3) inhibitor, was launched by Roche as Posicor® for the treatment of hypertension and stable angina at doses containing 50– 100 mg once a day [1, 4]. Mibefradil has been used to treat ovarian and pancreatic cancer, glioblastoma and has an anti-proliferative effect on several cancer cell lines [8,9,10,11,12,13]. The anti-proliferative and anti-tumoral properties of mibefradil were dependent on caspase activation, the transfer of Ca2+

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