Nitrendipine, an antihypertensive alpha calcium channel blocker, is cytotoxic to neuroblastoma cells

Backgrounds Alpha calcium channel blockers (CCB) are widely prescribed for the treatment of hypertension, including Nitrendipine (NTD). The anti-hypertension effect of NTD is related to binding and blocking the activity of the voltage-gated L-type calcium channels. These channels consist of four subunits (α1, α2/δ, γ and β subunits), localized in the plasma membrane. Methods Cellular proliferation was determined by the XTT method and apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry. The expression of the α1c subunit (Cacna1c) of the voltage-gated L-type calcium channels was reduced by siRNA and assessed by quantitative RT-PCR. Results NTD blocked the proliferation of murine neuroblastoma (N2a cells) and induced apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. A decrease in Cacna1c expression did not have a significant effect on NTD toxicity of N2a cells. Conclusion NTD induced apoptosis on neuroblastoma cells, appears to be independent of the expression of the L-type calcium channel.