Astemizole, an inhibitor of ether-à-go-go-1 potassium channel, increases the activity of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib in breast cancer cells

Abstract Background Expression and activity of the potassium channel ether-à-go-go-1 (EAG1) are strongly related to carcinogenesis and tumor progression, which can be exploited for therapeutic purposes. EAG1 activity may be reduced by preventing its phosphorylation with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinase inhibitors and by astemizole, which blocks the channel pore and downregulates its gene expression. Objective We aimed to study the potential cooperative antiproliferative effect of the EGFR inhibitor gefitinib and the EAG1-blocker astemizole, in breast cancer cells. Materials and Methods The cells were characterized by immunocytochemistry. Inhibitory concentrations were determined by non-linear regression analysis using dose-response curves. The nature of the pharmacological effect was evaluated by the combination index equation while cell cycle analysis was studied by flow cytometry. Results Astemizole and gefitinib inhibited cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner, with inhibitory concentrations (IC 50) values of 1.72 µM and 0.51 µM, respectively. All combinations resulted in a synergistic antiproliferative effect. The combination of astemizole and gefitinib diminished the percentage of cells in G2/M and S phases, while increased accumulation in G0/G1 of the cell cycle. Conclusions Astemizole and gefitinib synergistically inhibited proliferation in breast cancer cells expressing both EGFR and EAG1. Our results suggest that the combined treatment increased cell death by targeting the oncogenic activity of EAG1.

Inhibition of the Human Ether-a-go-go-related Gene (HERG) K+ Channels by Lindera erythrocarpa

Lindera erythrocarpa Makino (Lauraceae) is used as a traditional medicine for analgesic, antidote, and antibacterial purposes and shows anti-tumor activity. We studied the effects of Lindera erythrocarpa on the human ether-a-go-go-related gene (HERG) channel, which appears of importance in favoring cancer progression in vivo and determining cardiac action potential duration. Application of MeOH extract of Lindera erythrocarpa showed a dose-dependent decrease in the amplitudes of the outward currents measured at the end of the pulse (I(HERG)) and the tail currents of HERG (I(tail)). When the BuOH fraction and H2O fraction of Lindera erythrocarpa were added to the perfusate, both I(HERG) and I(tail) were suppressed, while the hexane fraction, CHCl3 fraction, and EtOAc fraction did not inhibit either I(HERG) or I(tail). The potential required for half-maximal activation caused by EtOAc fraction, BuOH fraction, and H2O fraction shifted significantly. The BuOH fraction and H2O fraction (100 microgram/mL) decreased gmax by 59.6% and 52.9%, respectively. The H2O fraction- and BuOH fraction-induced blockades of I(tail) progressively decreased with increasing depolarization, showing the voltage-dependent block. Our findings suggest that Lindera erythrocarpa, a traditional medicine, blocks HERG channel, which could contribute to its anticancer and cardiac arrhythmogenic effect.

In vivo targeting of ERGpotassiumchannels inmice and dogs by a positron-emitting analogue of fluoroclofilium

The antiarrhythmic clofilium is an efficient blocker of hERG1 potassium channels that are strongly expressed in the heart. Therefore, derivatives of clofilium that emit positrons might be useful tools for monitoring hERG1 channels in vivo. Fluoroclofilium (F-clofilium) was synthesized and its channel-blocking properties were determined for hERG1 and hEAG1 channels expressed in HEK 293 cells and in Xenopus oocytes. When applied extracellularly in the whole-cell patch-clamp configuration, F-cloflium exhibited a slower onset of block when compared with clofilium, presumably owing to its lower membrane permeability. When applied in the inside-out configuration at the intracellular membrane side, it blocked hEAG1 channels almost as efficiently as clofilium (IC50 1.37 nM and 0.83 nM, respectively). Similar results were obtained for hERG1, showing Fclofilium is a potent hERG1 and hEAG1 channel blocker once it has reached the intracellularly accessible target site at the channel. Using the 18Flabeled analog we studied the in vivo binding and distribution of F-clofilium in mice and a dog. Greatest activity was found in kidneys and bones. A small but significant enrichment of activity in the dog myocardium known for its expression of cERG1 channels allowed to depict the myocardium of a living dog by PET. Thus, F-clofilium is a useful tool for imaging hERG channels in living organisms.