Calcium antagonistic actions of tetrandrine depend on cell types.

We examined the effects of tetrandrine (TET) on Ca2+ mobilization in various types of cells using inositol trisphosphate-generating drugs and compared it with those using the microsomal Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin (TG) which is a tool for analyzing Ca2+ store-regulated Ca2+ entry (capacitative Ca2+ entry). In rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells, 100 microM TET abolished high K+ (30 mM)-induced sustained increase in [Ca2+]i and partially inhibited bradykinin (1 microM)-induced or TG (100 nM)-induced Ca2+ entry. In NIH/3T3 fibroblasts, 100 microM TET abolished Ca2+ entry induced by bombesin (1 microM) or TG (100 nM). In rat glioma C6 cells, the addition of 100 microM TET reduced the sustained elevation of [Ca2+]i induced by endothelin 1 (10 nM) or TG (100 nM) declining to the resting level. In rat parotid acinar cells, 100 microM TET abolished a sustained increase in [Ca2+]i induced by carbachol (100 microM) or TG (100 nM). In human leukemia T-cell line Jurkat, 100 microM TET did not inhibit Ca2+ entry evoked by the anti-CD3 antibody OKT3 (10 micrograms/ml) or TG (100 nM). The present results suggest that the action of TET on Ca2+ entry is dependent on cell types.