Cardiac sarcolemmal purity is essential for the verification of adenylate cyclase inhibition via A1-adenosine receptors

Role of the second transmembrane domain of rat adenosine A1 receptor in ligand-receptor interaction

Initial mutagenesis studies exploring the ligand recognition model of A1 adenosine receptor (A1R) mainly focused on the residues in the 5th-7th transmembrane domains (TMs5-7). Little is known about the role of residues in TM2. To explore the importance of reserved hydrophobic region in TM2 of A1R, we mutated the hydrophobic residues at positions 65 and 69 to hydrophilic residues (L65T, Leu-65 to Thr-65; I69T, Ile-69 to Thr-69; I69S, Ile-69 to Ser-69) to change the hydrophobicity at the outer end of TM2. Binding assays showed that the affinities of mutant receptors were significantly decreased for ribose group-containing agonists (2-chloro-N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CCPA) and 5'-N-ethyl-carboxamidoadenosine (NECA)) but not for antagonists, N6-cyclopentyl-9-methyladenine (N-0840), an adenine derivative lacking ribose group, and 8-cyclopentyl-1, 3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX), a xanthine derivative. This observation suggests that the hydrophobic region at the outer end of TM2 may mediate the recognition of the ribose group of CCPA and NECA.

Adenosine receptors: G protein-mediated signalling and the role of accessory proteins

Ever since the discovery of the effects of adenosine in the circulation, adenosine receptors continue to represent a promising drug target. Firstly, this is due to the fact that the receptors are expressed in a large variety of cells; in particular, the actions of adenosine (or, respectively, of the antagonistic methylxanthines) in the central nervous system, in the circulation, on immune cells and on other tissues can be beneficial in certain disorders. Secondly, there exists a large number of ligands, which have been generated by introducing several modifications in the structure of the lead compounds (adenosine and methylxanthine), some of them highly specific. Four adenosine receptor subtypes have been identified by molecular cloning; they belong to the family of G protein-coupled receptors, which transfer signals by activating heterotrimeric G proteins. It has been appreciated recently that accessory proteins impinge on the receptor/G protein interaction and thus modulate the signalling reaction. These accessory components may be thought as adaptors that redirect the signalling pathway to elicit a cell-specific response. Here, we review the recent literature on adenosine receptors and place a focus on the role of accessory proteins in the organisation of adenosine receptor signalling. These components have been involved in receptor sorting, in the control of signal amplification and in the temporal regulation of receptor activity, while the existence of others is postulated on the basis of atypical cellular reactions elicited by receptor activation.

Protein kinase C phosphorylates a 15 kDa protein but not phospholamban in intact rat cardiac myocytes

In the present study the effects of the protein kinase C activator 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) as well as the alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor agonists methoxamine and isoproterenol on protein phosphorylation of intact rat cardiac myocytes were investigated. TPA, isoproterenol and methoxamine were shown to stimulate phosphorylation of a 15 kDa protein. EC50 for TPA and isoproterenol were 4 x 10(-8) M and 5 x 10(-9) M respectively. The time course of phosphorylation by TPA and isoproterenol greatly differed, revealing a maximal phosphorylation (2.9-fold) after 10 min and 1 min respectively. Cell fractionation showed a significant enrichment of the 15 kDa protein in a crude membrane preparation. While the 15 kDa protein was the only phosphoprotein stimulated by TPA and methoxamine, isoproterenol additionally enhanced the 32Pi incorporation into four proteins corresponding to 6 kDa (phospholamban), 28 kDa, 97 kDa and 140 kDa. Furthermore, dephosphorylation of a 21 kDa substrate upon beta-adrenoceptor stimulation was observed. Phospholamban phosphorylation was effectively (max. 9.1-fold) stimulated by isoproterenol (EC50 of 5 x 10(-9) M), reaching a maximal phosphorylation state within 1 min. The present study clearly demonstrates: (1) TPA stimulates the phosphorylation of a membrane-localized 15 kDa protein and this effect can be mimicked by both isoproterenol and methoxamine; (2) TPA, in contrast to isoproterenol, does not change the phosphorylation state of phospholamban. Whilst phospholamban under in vitro conditions is known to be a substrate for protein kinase C, it does not appear to be accessible for the enzyme in intact cardiac myocytes.

Apparent heterogeneity of cardiac A1 adenosine receptors as revealed by radioligand binding experiments on N-ethylmaleimide-treated membranes

While G protein-coupled receptors are often studied by analyzing antagonist radioligand: "cold" agonist inhibition curves using an independent site model, it is now clear that KL and KH values determined in these analyses are not reliable estimates of the affinities of the agonists for "free" and G protein-coupled forms of the receptor. Thus, such experiments cannot be used to contrast the characteristics of a given type of receptor in different tissues, i.e., to probe for the existence of receptor subtypes. Since treatment with N-ethylmaleimide treatment blocks receptor: Gi/Go protein interactions, such analyses on N-ethylmaleimide-pretreated membranes should allow direct assessment of the affinities of competing ligands for the free receptor or for multiple receptor subtypes. As A1 adenosine receptors couple to Gi, and perhaps to Go, we have performed A1 adenosine receptor radioligand "competition" studies first on control, then on N-ethylmaleimide-pretreated bovine cardiac and cerebral cortical membranes. Results of experiments with the antagonist radioligand [3H]xanthine amine congener appeared to be confounded by ligand binding to A2 adenosine receptors present in the cardiac membrane preparations. Further experiments utilized the A1-specific radioligand [3H]1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine. These experiments confirmed once more that the KL values determined by computer analysis of "competition" curves performed on control membranes are not reliable estimates of the affinities of the competing ligand for free receptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of adenosine analogues on contractile response and cAMP content in guinea-pig isolated ventricular myocytes

In the present study the effects of adenosine analogues were investigated on cAMP content and contractile response in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes. The adenosine analogues (-)-N6-phenylisopropyladenosine (R-PIA), 5'-N-ethylcarboxamideadenosine (NECA) and (+)-N6-phenylisopropyladenosine (S-PIA) in the presence of 0.01 mumol/l isoprenaline reduced contractile response concentration-dependently. R-PIA and NECA were about equipotent (IC25: 0.01 mumol/l and 0.039 mumol/l respectively), while S-PIA was less potent (IC25: 0.6 mumol/l). Isoprenaline stimulated cAMP content was reduced by R-PIA (IC25: 0.004 mumol/l) and with lower potency by S-PIA (IC25: 0.15 mumol/l), but the extent of reduction of cAMP by R-PIA and S-PIA (to 55% and 64% respectively) was less than the reduction of contractile response (to 26% and 55% respectively). This suggests that the effects of R- and S-PIA on contractile response are only in part due to a reduction in cAMP content. In addition, NECA did not decrease cAMP content but decreased contractile response to the same extent as R-PIA. Similar results were obtained in the presence of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor Ro 20-1724. Time course studies revealed that the effects of R-PIA (1 mumol/l) on cAMP content and contractile response coincided reaching steady state after 5 min and remained stable thereafter. The effects of NECA (1 mumol/l) on contractility also reached steady state within 5 min, whereas it did not change cAMP content. It is concluded that the reduction of contractility by adenosine analogues in the presence of isoprenaline can only in part be explained by a reduction of cAMP content.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of adenosine analogues on force and cAMP in the heart. Influence of adenosine deaminase

The effects of the adenosine receptor agonists (-)-N6-phenylisopropyladenosine (PIA) and 5'-N-ethylcarboxamideadenosine (NECA) on the force of contraction, adenylate cyclase activity and cAMP content in the presence of isoprenaline (Iso) were studied in ventricular preparations of the guinea-pig heart. Only in the presence of adenosine deaminase (ADA) and 50 mM sodium chloride, i.e. under 'optimal' conditions, did PIA and NECA reduce the Iso-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in broken cell preparations, with a maximal effect of about 25%. In electrically driven (1 Hz) papillary muscles from guinea-pigs, both compounds concentration dependently reduced the Iso-stimulated force of contraction maximally by about 50% in the presence of ADA (1 microgram/ml). cAMP was measured in the same preparations. Low concentrations (0.1-1 microM) of PIA reduced the cyclic AMP content while higher concentrations increased the cyclic AMP content. The negative inotropic effect of NECA was accompanied by a concentration-dependent increase in the cyclic AMP content. We conclude that the negative inotropic effect of PIA in the presence of Iso is only in part due to a decrease in the cyclic AMP content resulting from inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity. Such an effect was only detected in the presence of ADA so that endogenous adenosine can obviously mask small effects of PIA on adenylate cyclase activity or the cyclic AMP content. In addition, the negative inotropic effect of NECA in the presence of isoprenaline was not accompanied by a reduction but an increase in the cyclic AMP content.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Evidence for adenylate cyclase-coupled A1-adenosine receptors on ventricular cardiomyocytes from adult rat and dog heart

Isolated metabolically stable cardiomyocytes from adult rats and mongrel dogs were used to characterize the mechanism underlying the antiadrenergic effect of adenosine. In a system not affected by cellular heterogeneity, isoproterenol (3 x 10(-9) M - 10(-5) M) in the presence of adenosine deaminase (5U/ml) dose dependently increased cellular cAMP (5-80 pmol/mg). The effect of isoproterenol (0.1 microM) was inhibited by various adenosine derivatives, the rank order of potency being in the rat: (-)-N6-(R-phenyl-isopropyl)-adenosine (R-PIA) greater than 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA) greater than S-PIA, and in the dog NECA greater than R-PIA greater than S-PIA. The cAMP increase induced by forskolin (1 microM) was attenuated in the rat by R-PIA. 8-phenyltheophylline (3 microM) antagonized the effect of R-PIA on isoproterenol-stimulated cAMP formation. Basal cAMP content was not influenced by R-PIA or NECA. Omission of adenosine deaminase from the incubation medium attenuated the isoproterenol-induced cAMP increase in the rat by about 30%. Our findings provide evidence for the presence of adenylate cyclase-coupled A1-adenosine receptors on cardiomyocytes which may mediate the antiadrenergic effect of adenosine in the heart.

Binding of [3H]ouabain to endothelial cells derived from various vascular beds

Binding experiments were performed with [3H]ouabain on plasma membranes derived from several types of isolated and cultivated endothelial cells. Identical saturation curves for [3H]ouabain binding to endothelial cells from pig aorta, caval vein, and pulmonary artery were obtained with a dissociation constant (KD) of 3.29 +/- 0.31 nmol/l and a binding capacity (Bmax) of 5.22 +/- 0.12 pmol/mg protein. On guinea-pig coronary endothelial cells, saturation of [3H]ouabain revealed much lower affinity (KD 95 +/- 15 nmol/l, Bmax 2.08 +/- 0.09 pmol/mg protein). All Scatchard plots were linear, indicating a homogeneous class of binding sites. In competition experiments, cardiac glycosides and their aglycons displaced the radioligand with a structure-activity relationship typical for interaction with Na+/K+-ATPase (proscillaridin A greater than ouabain greater than digoxin greater than g-strophanthidin greater than digoxigenin greater than dihydrodigoxin); in particular, removal of the sugar moiety results in considerable reduction of affinity. Furthermore, K+ displayed a steep inhibition curve with a half-maximal inhibitory constant of 2 mmol/l. All these findings suggest the presence of endothelial ouabain receptors linked to Na+/K+-ATPase. However, direct measurement of this enzyme was not possible due to an extremely high Mg2+-ATPase activity.

An antiadrenergic effect of adenosine on guinea-pig but not rabbit ventricles

The antiadrenergic effect of adenosine was investigated using isolated guinea-pig heart and guinea-pig and rabbit papillary muscle. Adenosine, 15 microM, completely abolished the increased tension stimulated by 0.1-1.0 nM isoprenaline in Langendorff-perfused guinea-pig hearts. With guinea-pig papillary muscles, adenosine decreased by 40% the increased force stimulated by 1-10 nM isoprenaline. When 5 microM 2-chloroadenosine was used in conjunction with 1 unit ml-1 adenosine deaminase, a complete inhibition of the isoprenaline-stimulated tension was seen in guinea-pig papillary muscles. The antiadrenergic effect of 2-chloroadenosine was blocked by 8-phenyltheophylline. In rabbit, there was little effect of 2-chloroadenosine (plus deaminase) on isoprenaline-stimulated tension. (-)-N6 (R-phenylisopropyl)-adenosine (PIA) had no effect on basal or isoprenaline-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity of guinea-pig or rabbit sarcolemmal membranes. We conclude that the antiadrenergic effect of adenosine is mediated by A type receptors and is seen in guinea-pig but not rabbit. Production of adenosine by superfused papillary muscle may obscure the effect of added adenosine. We find no evidence that the antiadrenergic effect is mediated by inhibition of adenylate cyclase.

Glomeruli and microvessels of the rabbit kidney contain both A1- and A2-adenosine receptors

Rabbit renal cortices were fractionated by collagenase dispersion and glomeruli, microvessels and tubuli purified on a discontinuous sucrose gradient. Binding experiments with (-)[125I]N6-(4-hydroxyphenylisopropyl)-adenosine ([125I]HPIA) provided evidence for the presence of A1-adenosine receptors in the glomerular and microvascular fraction. With glomeruli, saturation isotherms for specific [125I]HPIA binding were mono-phasic with a KD of 1.3 nmol/l and a Bmax of 7.7 fmol/mg protein. In kinetic experiments, an association rate constant of 4.9 X 10(5) (mol/l-1 s-1 and a dissociation rate constant of 4.3 X 10(-4) s-1 were obtained, yielding a KD of 0.9 nmol/l. Adenosine analogs displaced [125I]HPIA binding with a rank order of potency typical of A1-adenosine receptors; furthermore, binding was inhibited by methylxanthines and modulated by GTP. Saturation experiments with the microvessels revealed a KD of 1.9 nmol/l and a Bmax of 13.4 fmol/mg protein. However, no inhibition of glomerular and microvascular adenylate cyclase activity could be demonstrated, but instead both 5'-N-ethylcarboxamido-adenosine (NECA) and N6-(R-phenylisopropyl)-adenosine (R-PIA) stimulated enzyme activity, with EC50 values of 0.14 mumol/l and 1.5 mumol/l, respectively. The concentration-response curve for NECA was shifted to the right (factor 9) by 10 mumol/l 8-phenyltheophylline. On the other hand, computer simulation of biphasic curves (adenylate cyclase inhibition in the presence of activation via a stimulatory receptor) indicates that the failure to observe an A1-adenosine receptor-mediated inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity in the presence of stimulatory adenosine receptors may be attributable to methodological constraints.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cardiac ventricular beta 2-adrenoceptors in guinea-pigs and rats are localized on the coronary endothelium

In mammalian heart tissue beta 2-adrenoceptors are known to coexist with beta 1-adrenoceptors. In the present study, evidence that beta 2-adrenoceptors in guinea-pig and rat ventricles are primarily localized on the coronary endothelium is provided by competition binding studies with the subtype-selective beta-adrenoceptor antagonists ICI 89.406 (beta 1-selective) and ICI 118.551 (beta 2-selective) on four different plasma membrane preparations. (1) Following density gradient centrifugation of cardiac ventricular microsomes from rats or guinea-pigs, endothelial plasma membranes migrated at slightly higher density than the sarcolemmal membranes, as verified by endothelial (angiotensin converting enzyme) and sarcolemmal markers (adenylate cyclase, [3H]ouabain binding). At the activity peak of angiotensin converting enzyme, the relative amount of beta 2-adrenoceptors in guinea-pigs and rats was 25% and 65%, respectively. (2) On sarcolemmal membranes corresponding to the activity peak of adenylate cyclase, beta-adrenoceptors consisted of the beta 1-type exclusively (guinea-pig), or to at least 90% (rat). (3) Cultures of coronary endothelial cells derived from guinea-pigs revealed only beta 2-adrenoceptors. (4) Isolated guinea-pig cardiomyocytes contained only beta 1-adrenoceptors, a finding recently established in rat myocytes as well.

Two saturable recognition sites for (-) [125I]iodo-N6-(4-hydroxyphenyl-isopropyl)-adenosine binding on purified cardiac sarcolemma

Analysis of (-) [125]iodo-N6-(4-hydroxyphenylisopropyl)-adenosine [( 125I]HPIA) binding to purified sarcolemmal preparations of guinea pig and bovine hearts revealed two classes of binding sites when unlabeled iodo-HPIA (100 mumol/l) was used as non-specific binding marker. In the presence of 1 mmol/l theophylline, however, only the high affinity component was detected. Adenosine receptor agonists caused biphasic displacement of [125I]HPIA binding, with a high affinity potency rank order typical of interaction with A1-adenosine receptors. Biphasic competition curves were also observed with 8-phenyltheophylline and isobutylmethylxanthine, whereas the theophylline curve was monophasic up to 1 mmol/l. In brain membranes, specific binding of [125I]HPIA as well as of [3H]PIA was further reduced when unlabeled iodo-HPIA replaces theophylline as the non-specific binding marker. These results suggest the presence of two [125I]HPIA binding sites on cardiac sarcolemma and brain membranes, but receptor function can only be ascribed to the high affinity sites. The low affinity site probably represents an artefact, which is often observed when non-specific binding is defined with the unlabeled counterpart or a structurally related ligand of the radioligand used.