Cilnidipine, an L/N-Type Calcium Antagonist, Improves Cardiac Remodeling Caused by Salt-Sensitive Hypertension and Produces an Anti-Atrial Fibrillation Effect

Professor Akira Takahara’s group at the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University, in collaboration with Ajinomoto Pharmaceuticals Co. has shown that cilnidipine, an L/N-type calcium antagonist, exhibits an anti-atrial fibrillation effect and improves salt-sensitive hypertension-related cardiac remodeling. The results of this study were selected as a Featured Article in the journal, Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin and published on May 1, 2021.

Key points

In this study, the improvement of cardiac remodeling and anti-atrial fibrillation effects of cilnidipine, a calcium channel blocker widely used for treating hypertension, have been investigated in salt-sensitive hypertensive rats.
Cilnidipine is an L/N-type calcium channel blocker, and its cardioprotective mechanism is thought to be partially associated with its inhibitory effect on sympathetic nerve activity via N-type calcium channel blockade.
Cilnidipine is expected to be effective as an upstream therapy for atrial fibrillation in hypertensive patients.

Summary
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common arrhythmias observed in hypertensive patients. In this study, cilnidipine, an L/N-type calcium channel blocker, exerted prevention of AF and improvement of cardiac remodeling more potently than amlodipine, an L-type calcium channel blocker, in Dahl salt-sensitive hypertensive rats. Further, plasma noradrenaline levels were lower in the cilnidipine group than in the amlodipine group, suggesting that blocking of the N-type calcium channels contributes to the superior cardioprotective effect of cilnidipine. These findings provide important information for treating hypertensive patients with atrial fibrillation.

Authors:
Akira Takahara (Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University) Megumi Aimoto (Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University) Eri Harada (Ajinomoto Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. Ajinomoto Co., Inc.) Kazumi Sugino (Ajinomoto Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. Ajinomoto Co., Inc.)

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