Suppressive Effect of Carvedilol on Na+/Ca2+ Exchange Current in Isolated Guinea-Pig Cardiac Ventricular Myocytes.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Carvedilol ((+/-)-1-(carbazol-4-yloxy)-3-[[2-(o-methoxyphenoxy)ethyl]amino]-2-propanol), a β-adrenoceptor-blocker, has multi-channel blocking and vasodilator properties. This agent dose-dependently improves left ventricular function and reduces mortality in patients with arrhythmia and chronic heart failure. However, the effect of carvedilol on the cardiac Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX1) has not been investigated.

METHODS AND RESULTS: We examined the effects of carvedilol and metoprolol, 2 β-blockers, on Na+/Ca2+ exchange current (INCX) in guinea-pig cardiac ventricular cells and fibroblasts expressing dog cardiac NCX1. Carvedilol suppressed INCX in a concentration-dependent manner but metoprolol did not. IC50 values for the Ca2+ influx (outward) and efflux (inward) components of INCX were 69.7 and 61.5 µmol/l, respectively. Carvedilol at 100 μmol/l inhibited INCX in CCL39 cells expressing wild type NCX1 similar to mutant NCX1 without the intracellular regulatory loop. Carvedilol at 30 µmol/l abolished ouabain-induced delayed afterdepolarizations.

CONCLUSION: Carvedilol inhibited cardiac NCX in a concentration-dependent manner in isolated cardiac ventricles, but metoprolol did not. We conclude that carvedilol inhibits NCX1 at supratherapeutic concentrations.