T-type calcium channel antagonists, mibefradil and NNC-55-0396 inhibit cell proliferation and induce cell apoptosis in leukemia cell lines

BACKGROUND: T-type Ca(2+) channels are often aberrantly expressed in different human cancers and participate in the regulation of cell cycle progression, proliferation and death. Methods: RT-PCR, Q-PCR, western blotting and whole-cell patch-clamp recording were employed to assess the expression of T-type Ca(2+) channels in leukemia cell lines. The function of T-type Ca(2+) channels in leukemia cell growth and the possible mechanism of the effect of T-type Ca(2+) channel antagonists on cell proliferation and apoptosis were examined in T-lymphoma cell lines. RESULTS: We show that leukemia cell lines exhibited reduced cell growth when treated with T-type Ca(2+) channel inhibitors, mibefradil and NNC-55-0396 in a concentration-dependent manner. Mechanistically, these inhibitors played a dual role on cell viability: (i) blunting proliferation, through a halt in the progression to the G1-S phase; and (ii) promoting cell apoptosis, partially dependent on the endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) release. In addition, we observed a reduced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in MOLT-4 cells in response to mibefradil and NNC-55-0396 treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that mibefradil and NNC-55-0396 regulate proliferation and apoptosis in T-type Ca(2+) channel expressing leukemia cell lines and suggest a potential therapeutic target for leukemia. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13046-015-0171-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.