Nifedipine inhibits activation of transcription factor NF-kappaB.

This study was performed to examine the effects of the calcium channel blockers, nifedipine, amlodipine, diltiazem, and verapamil on the activation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB. A549 cells, a human epithelium-like lung carcinoma cell line, were transfected with the NF-kappaB reporter plasmid, which contains the luciferase gene driven by promoters containing a TATA element and 5 copies of the kappaB cis-acting element, and co-transfected with 0.2 microg of pSV2neo vector using LipofectAMINE. Nifedipine significantly decreased the expression of luciferase protein stimulated with IL-1beta (1 ng/mL) compared with controls: 80+/-4% at 3 micromol/L, 47+/-2% at 10 micromol/L and 30+/-2% at 30 micromol/L (each, n=3, p<0.0001). The inhibitory effect of nifedipine on promoter activity was concentration-dependent, with a maximal effect obtained at 30 micromol/L. In contrast, high concentrations (30 micromol/L) of amlodipine, diltiazem or verapamil decreased promoter activity to only 89+/-3%, 90+/-3% or 87+/-2% of control, respectively. A comparable inhibitory effect of nifedipine was observed when cells were stimulated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha (50 ng/mL), or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA, 100 ng/mL). Electrophoretic mobility shift assay by lipopolysaccharide stimulation, using the RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line, also showed inhibition of NF-kappaB activation by nifedipine in concentrations of 30 and 50 micromol/L. Nifedipine possesses the unique property of inhibiting NF-kappaB, which may be independent of its calcium channel blocking activity, and may, in part, explain its immunosuppressive effect.