In vitro inhibitory effect of lercanidipine on cholesterol accumulation and matrix metalloproteinases secretion by macrophages.
J Cardiovasc Pharmacol
; 44(4): 416-22, 2004 Oct.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-15454849
Plaque rupture and thromboembolism play a major role in atherosclerotic acute syndrome. Experimental studies have demonstrated the potential direct anti-atherosclerotic effects of calcium antagonists. We investigated the in vitro effect of lercanidipine (REC 15/2375), a third-generation, highly lipophilic calcium antagonist on cholesterol metabolism and matrix metalloproteinases secretion in macrophages, two functions that predispose plaques to rupture. Lercanidipine (10(-6)-10(-5) M) inhibited cholesterol esterification in macrophages and reduced cellular free and esterified cholesterol accumulation from acetylated LDL (63%, 62% of control P < 0.05, respectively). In addition, lercanidipine inhibited the release of metalloproteinases in the extracellular medium (50% and 95% inhibition at 10(-5) M for MMP-9 and MMP-2, respectively). Experiments performed with lercanidipine enantiomers or other dihydropyridine derivatives, endowed with different lipophilicity and affinity for calcium channels, indicated that the above effects could be related to the lipophilic, but not to the calcium channel blocking properties of these molecules. When cells, after exposure to the drug, were allowed to equilibrate, lercanidipine inhibitory action could be observed at initial concentrations as low as 10(-9) M, which is the actual concentration range observed in plasma in clinical settings. In conclusion, our data indicate that lercanidipine may exert potent anti-atherosclerotic effects by inhibiting macrophage functions involved in plaque stability.
Buscar en Google
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Dihidropiridinas
/
Bloqueadores de los Canales de Calcio
/
Colesterol
/
Macrófagos Peritoneales
/
Metaloproteinasas de la Matriz
Límite:
Animals
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Cardiovasc Pharmacol
Año:
2004
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Italia
Pais de publicación:
Estados Unidos