F. Khalfi et al., VERAPAMIL INHIBITS ELASTASE RELEASE AND SUPEROXIDE ANION PRODUCTION IN HUMAN NEUTROPHILS, Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin, 21(2), 1998, pp. 109-112
In response to activation of phagocytic cells and during inflammatory
disorders, some proteases and very reactive oxygen species are produce
d. These proteases and oxidants are involved in many diseases like tis
sue injury or atherosclerosis. We have shown in vitro that verapamil,
a calcium channel blocker, had antielastase and antioxidant properties
. This drug inhibited the release of elastase by neutrophils in a dose
-dependent manner when these cells were stimulated by phorbol-myristat
e-acetate (PMA), by N-formyl-methionyl-leucylphenylalanine (fMLP) and
by the calcium ionophore A23187 (Ca.I). In addition, verapamil inhibit
ed superoxide anion when human neutrophils were stimulated by PMA, fML
P, dioctanoylglycerol (DiC8), Ca.I or by opsonised zymosan (OZ). Verap
amil did not act by scavenging elastase or oxidants as demonstrated in
cell-free models which showed no direct antielastase or antioxidant e
ffect involved by verapamil. Superoxide anion and elastase inhibition
by verapamil has been considered to the mobilization of cytosolic calc
ium and inhibition of protein kinase C. The results suggest that verap
amil might contribute help the development and progression of atheroma
where oxidants and elastase are involved.