G1 cell cycle arrest by amlodipine, a dihydropyridine Ca2+ channel blocker, in human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells

We demonstrated previously that amlodipine, a dihydropyridine Ca2+ channel blocker, exhibits antitumor effects on human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells both in vitro and in vivo, in part through inhibition of capacitative Ca2+ entry. In this study, we examined the effects of amlodipine on cell cycle distribution and cell cycle regulatory molecules in A431 cells, since a rise in intracellular Ca2+ is required at several points during cell cycle progression. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that treatment with amlodipine (20–30 μM, for 24 h) induced G1 phase cell accumulation. The amlodipine-induced G1 arrest was associated with a decrease in phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (pRB), a regulator of G1 to S phase transition, reduction of protein levels of cyclin D1 and cyclin dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), G1 specific cell cycle proteins, and increased expression of p21Waf1/Cip1, an inhibitory protein of CDK/cyclin complexes. In vitro kinase assay revealed that amlodipine significantly decreased CDK2-, CDK4-, and their partners cyclin E- and cyclin D1-associated kinase activities. The amlodipine-induced reductions in cyclin D1 protein expression and in CDK2 kinase activity were reproduced by a dihydropyridine derivative, nicardipine, having an inhibitory effect on A431 cell growth, but not by nifedipine, lacking the antiproliferative activity. Our results demonstrate that amlodipine caused G1 cell cycle arrest and growth inhibition in A431 cells through induction of p21Waf1/Cip1 expression, inhibition of CDK/cyclin-associated kinase activities, and reduced phosphorylation of pRB.