Doxazosin induces apoptosis of cells expressing hERG K+ channels.

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Thomas D, Bloehs R, Koschny R, Ficker E, Sykora J, Kiehn J, Schlomer K, Gierten J, Kathofer S, Zitron E, Scholz EP, Kiesecker C, Katus HA, Karle CA

Doxazosin induces apoptosis of cells expressing hERG K+ channels.

Eur J Pharmacol. 2008 Jan 28;579(1-3):98-103. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2007.10.051. Epub 2007 Dec 4.

PubMed ID

18054910 [ View in PubMed

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Abstract

The antihypertensive drug doxazosin has been associated with an increased risk for congestive heart failure and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) K(+) channels, previously shown to be blocked by doxazosin at therapeutically relevant concentrations, represent plasma membrane receptors for the antihypertensive drug. To elucidate the molecular basis for doxazosin-associated pro-apoptotic effects, cell death was studied in human embryonic kidney cells using three independent apoptosis assays. Doxazosin specifically induced apoptosis in hERG-expressing HEK cells, while untransfected control groups were insensitive to treatment with the antihypertensive agent. An unexpected biological mechanism has emerged: binding of doxazosin to its novel membrane receptor, hERG, triggers apoptosis, possibly representing a broader pathophysiological mechanism in drug-induced heart failure.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drugs

Doxazosin

Drug Targets

Drug	Target	Kind	Organism	Pharmacological Action	Actions
Doxazosin	HERG human cardiac K+ channel (Protein Group)	Protein group	Humans	Unknown	Inhibitor	Details