Bepridil protects sickle cells against the adverse rheological effects of cyclical deoxygenation

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Calcium influx into sickle cells, with consequential activation of the Ca2+‐activated K+ efflux (Gardos) channel, is a potential cause of cellular dehydration and loss of deformability. Bepridil, a recently described inhibitor of the Gardos channel, was found at pharmacological concentration (1 μmol/1) to inhibit significantly (PP < 0.005) the formation of irreversibly sickled cells. Drugs that preserve the K+ and therefore water content of erythrocytes are of potential value for hydrotherapy of sickle cell disease.