Carvedilol-induced elevation in cytosolic free Ca2+ level and apoptosis in SIRC corneal epithelial cells

The effect of the cardiovascular drug carvedilol on cytosolic free Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca 2+]i) and viability was examined in Statens Seruminstitut rabbit cornea (SIRC) corneal epithelial cells. [Ca2+]i and cell viability were measured using the fluorescent dyes fura-2 and 4-[3-[4-lodophenyl]-2-4(4-nitrophenyl)-2H-5-tetrazolio-1,3-benzene disulfonate] (WST-1), respectively. Carvedilol at concentrations between 1 and 30 μM increased [Ca 2+]i in a concentration-dependent manner. The Ca2+ signal was reduced partly by removing extracellular Ca2+. Carvedilol induced Mn2+ quench of fura-2 fluorescence implicating Ca2+ influx. The Ca2+ influx was inhibited by suppression of protein kinase C activity. In Ca2+-free medium, after pretreatment with 1 μM thapsigargin (an endoplasmic reticulum Ca 2+ pump inhibitor), carvedilol-induced [Ca2+]i rise was reduced; and conversely, carvedilol pretreatment inhibited a major part of thapsigargin-induced [Ca 2+]i rise. Addition of the phospholipase C inhibitor 1-[6-[[17 beta-3-methoxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-yl]amino] hexyl]-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione (U73122; 2 μM) did not change carvedilol-induced [Ca2+]i rise. At concentrations between 5 and 70 μM, carvedilol killed cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The cytotoxic effect of 20 μM carvedilol was not reversed by prechelating cytosolic Ca2+ with BAPTA/AM. Apoptosis was induced by 5—70 μM carvedilol. Collectively, in SIRC corneal epithelial cells, carvedilol-induced [Ca2+]i rises by causing Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum in a phospholipase C-independent manner, and Ca 2+ influx via protein kinase C-regulated Ca2+ channels. Carvedilol-caused cytotoxicity was mediated by Ca2+-independent apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner.