Niflumic acid affects store-operated Ca(2+)-permeable (SOC) and Ca (2+)-dependent K (+) and Cl (-) ion channels and induces apoptosis in K562 cells.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are known to induce apoptosis in a variety of cancer cells. However, the precise mechanisms by which NSAIDs facilitate apoptosis in tumor cells are not clear. In the present study, we show that niflumic acid (NA), a member of the fenamates group of NSAIDs and Cl(-) and Ca(2+)-activated Cl(-) (CAC) channels blocker, induced apoptosis (by ~8 %, 24 h treatment) and potentiated (by 8-10 %) apoptotic effect of endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) mobilizer thapsigargin (Tg) in human erythroleukemic K562 cell line. The whole-cell patch clamp and Fluo-3 flow cytometric experiments confirmed an inhibitory effect of NA (100 and 300 µM) on store-operated (SOC) channels. We also found that NA-blocked CAC channels were activated by acute application of Tg (2 µM) in K562 cells. NA blockage of CAC channels was accompanied by activation of Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (SK4) channels. The observed effects of NA were not connected with COX-2 inhibition since 100-nM NA (IC50 for COX-2 inhibition) did not induce either apoptosis or affect the channels activity. We conclude that inhibition of SOC channels plays a major role in NA-induced apoptosis. Increased apoptotic levels in Tg-treated K562 cells in the presence of NA may be due to the blockage of CAC and stimulation of SK4 channels in addition to SOC channels inhibition.