In vitro inhibition of allergic histamine release by calcium antagonists

The ability of calcium entry blockers to inhibit allergic histamine release from rabbit leukocytes was studied. Bepridil, verapamil, nifedipine, diltiazem and TMB-8 produced concentration-dependent inhibition of allergic histamine release from rabbit leukocytes. The calculated IC50s (microM) were as follows: verapamil = 1.3; bepridil = 2.3; TMB-8 = 3.0; nifedipine = 3.3; and diltiazem = 5.3. Verapamil also exerted concentration-dependent inhibition of allergic histamine release from human basophils with an IC50 of 3.7 microM. These agents may act by interfering with the influx of Ca2+ into the leukocytes as well as calcium-dependent steps (e.g., activation of calmodulin, phospholipase A2 and/or 5-lipoxygenase etc.) in the process of histamine secretion.