Journal of Pharmacological Sciences
Online ISSN : 1347-8648
Print ISSN : 1347-8613
ISSN-L : 1347-8613
Full Paper
Effect of Azelastine on Cardiac Repolarization of Guinea-Pig Cardiomyocytes, hERG K+ Channel, and Human L-type and T-type Ca2+ Channel
Mi-Hyeong ParkSeung Ho LeeDae Hyun ChuKwang Hee WonBok Hee ChoiHan ChoeSu-Hyun Jo
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2013 Volume 123 Issue 1 Pages 67-77

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Abstract

Azelastine is a second generation histamine H1–receptor antagonist used as an anti-asthmatic and anti-allergic drug that can induce QT prolongation and torsades de pointes. We investigated the acute effects of azelastine on human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) channels, action potential duration (APD), and L-type (ICa,L) and T-type Ca2+ current (ICa,T) to determine the electrophysiological basis for its proarrhythmic potential. Azelastine increased the APD at 90% of repolarization concentration dependently, with an IC50 of 1.08 nM in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes. We examined the effects of azelastine on the hERG channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes and HEK293 cells using two-microelectrode voltage-clamp and patch-clamp techniques. Azelastine induced a concentration-dependent decrease of the hERG current amplitude at the end of the voltage steps and tail currents. The IC50 for the azelastine-induced block of the hERG currents expressed in HEK293 cells was 11.43 nM, while the drug inhibited ICa,L and ICa,T with IC50 values of 7.60 and 26.21 μM, respectively. The S6 domain mutations, Y652A partially attenuated and F656A abolished hERG current block. These results suggest that azelastine is a potent blocker of hERG channels rather than ICa,L or ICa,T, providing molecular mechanisms for the arrhythmogenic side effects during the clinical administration of azelastine.

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© 2013 The Japanese Pharmacological Society
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