Cell-membrane receptors for purines. Review

Purinergic receptors on insulin-secreting cells

The insulin secreting B cell is fitted with the two types of purinergic receptors: P2 (for ATP and/or ADP) and P1 (for adenosine). The activation of P2 purinoceptors by ATP or ADP evokes a biphasic stimulation of insulin secretion from isolated perfused rat pancreas; this stimulation is dose-dependent between 10(-6) and 10(-4) M. Non hydrolysable structural analogues are also effective, and the relative potency of various agonists (2-methylthio ATP >> ATP = ADP = alpha, beta-methylene ATP >> AMP) gave evidence for a P2y purinoceptor subtype. Proposed mechanisms include both an increased Ca2+ uptake and an increased intracellular Ca2+ mobilization via the hydrolysis of polyphosphoinositides. ATP (or ADP) potentiates physiological insulin-secreting agents (glucose and acetylcholine) and P2 purinoceptors could play a physiological role in the stimulation of insulin secretion. The activation of P1 purinoceptors (adenosine receptors) decreases insulin secretion. Using structural analogues of adenosine, the receptor was characterized as an A1 subtype; it is coupled to a pertussis toxin sensitive G protein and it inhibits adenylate cyclase. It is of physiological relevance that the B cell has the two types of purinoceptors with opposite effects. Recently, a metabolically stable structural analogue of ADP, adenosine-5'-0-(2-thiodiphosphate) or ADP beta S, has been described as a potent secretory agent, effective at nanomolar concentrations on isolated perfused rat pancreas. In vivo, this substance is able to increase insulin secretion and to improve glucose tolerance after IV administration in rats and oral administration in dogs. Furthermore in streptozotocin-induced diabetes. ADP beta S retains its insulin secreting effects. These results suggest that P2y purinoceptors could be a new target for antidiabetic drugs.

Background firing activity in guinea-pig neocortex in vitro

The background firing activity was recorded extracellularly in experiments on guinea-pig neocortical slices maintained in vitro. The following types of background firing activity were revealed: (i) high regular single spikes (48%), (ii) irregular single spikes (15%), (iii) bursts (7%), (iv) groups (7%), (v) mixed activity where single spikes alternated with bursts or groups (28%). The specific interspike interval distribution and the specific shape of autocorrelogram corresponded to each of these background firing activity types. Furie analysis of autocorrelograms showed periodic components in spike sequences with the maxima at 3, 12, and 28 Hz. When blocking synaptic transmission with 100 mM adenosine, about 70% of the background active cells "fell silent" and the remaining 30% of neurons continued to generate action potentials. The latter seem to be actual spontaneously active neurons, i.e. they were capable of autonomous spike generation. We failed to find any correlation between the type of neuronal firing and the ability of neurons to be spontaneously active. The selective blockade of inhibitory synapses with 100 mM picrotoxine did not practically change the character of background firing activity though the responses to stimulation became epileptic. An important conclusion to emerge from this study is that the background firing activity in cortical slices can include the actual spontaneous discharges related to intrinsic cell properties as well as those concerned with synaptic actions. Furthermore, a small number of spontaneously active neurons seem to be able to synaptically activate twice the number of cells. The inhibitory interneurons did not significantly influence the propagation of excitation with the absence of stimulation.

Stimulation of the P2Y purinergic receptor on type 1 astroglia results in inositol phosphate formation and calcium mobilization

Cultured astroglia express purinergic receptors that initiate phosphoinositide metabolism and calcium mobilization. Experiments were conducted to characterize the purinergic receptor subtype on type 1 astroglia responsible for stimulation these second-messenger systems. Inositol phosphate (IP) accumulation and calcium mobilization were measured after stimulation with ATP or purinergic receptor subtype-selective ATP analogues. ATP (10(-5) M) increased IP accumulation severalfold. Dose-effect assays monitoring astroglial IP accumulation revealed the order of potency that defines the P2Y receptor: 2-methylthioadenosine 5'-triphosphate greater than ATP greater than alpha beta-methyleneadenosine 5'-triphosphate greater than beta gamma-methyleneadenosine 5'-triphosphate. The influence of ATP on intracellular calcium levels in individual type 1 astroglia was examined using the calcium indicator dye, fura-2. Dose-effect experiments indicated that ATP was equally potent for generating inositol phosphates and increasing cellular calcium. The most prevalent response (87% of total responses) to ATP consisted of a rapid increase in calcium to a peak level that was approximately five times greater than the prestimulation level. This peak was followed by a decline to a plateau level that was significantly above baseline. This plateau phase of the calcium increase was maintained for at least 5 min in the presence of ATP and was dependent on external calcium. Many (23%) astroglia exhibited spontaneous calcium oscillations whose frequency and magnitude increased after the addition of 10(-5) M ATP. Immunocytochemical staining indicated that the responses occurred in glial fibrillary acidic protein positive cells. We conclude that type 1 astroglia express the P2Y purinergic receptor which regulates IP production and calcium mobilization.

Nucleoside transporter of cerebral microvessels and choroid plexus

The nucleoside transporter of cerebral microvessels and choroid plexus was identified and characterized using [3H]nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBMPR) as a specific probe. [3H]NBMPR bound reversibly and with high affinity to a single specific site in particulate fractions of cerebral microvessels, choroid plexus, and cerebral cortex of the rat and the pig. The dissociation constants (KD 0.1-0.7 nM) were similar in the various tissue preparations from each species, but the maximal binding capacities (Bmax) were about fivefold higher in cerebral microvessels and choroid plexus than in the cerebral cortex. Nitrobenzylthioguanosine and dipyridamole were the most potent competitors for [3H]NBMPR binding. Several naturally occurring nucleosides displaced specific [3H]NBMPR binding to cerebral microvessels in vitro, in a rank order that correlated well with their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier in vivo. Adenosine analogues and theophylline were less effective in displacing [3H]NBMPR binding than in displacing adenosine receptor ligands. Photoactivation of cerebral microvessels and choroid plexus bound with [3H]NBMPR followed by solubilization and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis labeled a protein(s) with a molecular weight of approximately 60,000. These results indicate that cerebral microvessels and choroid plexus have a much higher density of the nucleoside transporter moiety than the cerebral cortex and that this nucleoside transporter has pharmacological properties and a molecular weight similar to those of erythrocytes and other mammalian tissues.

Adenosine receptors in post-mortem human cerebral cortex and the effect of carbamazepine

Representative A1 site- and A2 site-selective ligands for adenosine receptors were found to bind to a single class of non-co-operative sites in synaptic membranes prepared from pieces of normal human temporal lobe cerebral cortex obtained at autopsies performed within 24 h post-mortem. The known adenosine antagonists theophylline and 1-isobutyl-3-methylxanthine also bound to these sites and could completely displace either ligand. Computer analysis combining data from 21 separate experiments which used membranes prepared from seven different autopsy cases gave the following kinetic parameters for the site: equilibrium dissociation constants (KD) for L-PIA, 4.1 +/- 0.9 nmol/l; KD for NECA, 26 +/- 4 nmol/l; KD for theophylline, 28 +/- 5 mumol/l; receptor number (Bmax), 510 +/- 77 fmol/mg protein. Carbamazepine could also displace either radioligand from the sites, although solubility limits for this drug were reached at 50% receptor occupancy. The KD for carbamazepine was 138 +/- 18 mumol/l. Other anticonvulsants tested were generally ineffective at their therapeutic concentrations, although phenytoin showed a small amount of ligand binding inhibition. The results are in line with earlier studies in rodent tissue preparations, and suggest a possible purinergic component in the anticonvulsant activity of carbamazepine in a man.

Species differences in the binding of [3H]nitrobenzylthioinosine to the nucleoside transport system in mammalian central nervous system membranes: evidence for interconvertible conformations of the binding site/transporter complex

The binding of [3H]nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBMPR) to specific sites in CNS membranes was investigated using cortical tissue from a variety of mammalian species. Mass law analysis of the site-specific binding of NBMPR data revealed that rat, mouse, guinea pig, and dog cortical membranes each contained an apparent single class of high-affinity (KD 0.11-4.9 nM) binding sites for NBMPR; rabbit cortical membranes, however, exhibited two distinct classes of NBMPR binding sites with KD values of 0.4 nM and 13.8 nM. Dipyridamole, a potent inhibitor of nucleoside transport, produced a biphasic profile of inhibition of the binding of NBMPR to guinea pig, rabbit, and dog membranes (IC50 less than 20 nM and IC50 greater than 6 microM for NBMPR binding sites displaying high and low affinity for dipyridamole, respectively). These results are indicative of heterogeneity of NBMPR binding sites in mammalian cortical membranes. Rat and mouse cortical membranes appear to possess only one type of NBMPR binding site, which has low affinity for dipyridamole. Detailed analysis of inhibitor-induced dissociation of NBMPR from its sites in each species led to the conclusion that these multiple forms of NBMPR binding sites are different conformations of a single site associated with the CNS nucleoside transport system, rather than two distinct sites. It is also suggested that the affinity of dipyridamole for each conformation of NBMPR site indicates the susceptibility of that conformation of the nucleoside transport system to inhibition by dipyridamole.

Release of adenosine, inosine and hypoxanthine from rabbit non-myelinated nerve fibres at rest and during activity

The composition of the efflux from desheathed rabbit vagus nerve, loaded with radioactivity by incubation in [3H]adenosine, was studied at rest and during electrical activity and after application of inhibitors of ecto-enzymes and modifications of intermediary metabolism. In addition, the degradation of externally applied ATP and adenosine was examined. [3H]ATP applied to the incubation medium was degraded to ADP, AMP, adenosine and inosine. The hydrolysis to nucleosides was inhibited by alpha, beta-methylene ADP; the appearance of AMP and nucleosides was slowed by beta, gamma-methylene ATP. Deamination of [3H]adenosine was blocked by 2-deoxycoformycin. The effluent from resting and stimulated preparations showed the presence of large amounts of inosine and hypoxanthine, smaller amounts of adenosine and adenine and traces of nucleotides. The composition of the effluent was not significantly altered by addition of alpha, beta-methylene ADP; beta, gamma-methylene ATP or 2-deoxycoformycin. Application of glucose-free solutions caused a large release of adenosine instead of inosine and hypoxanthine and a small increase in resting and stimulated efflux of 3H. Addition of 2-deoxyglucose produced a large increase in resting efflux and increased liberation of adenosine. Cyanide, 2,4-dinitrophenol, arsenate or salicylate increased the resting efflux of adenosine, inosine and hypoxanthine, and the effect of activity. It is concluded that electrical activity leads to release of adenosine, inosine and hypoxanthine, in various proportions depending on metabolic state, and that there is practically no liberation of nucleotides from nerve axons.

Inhibition by purines of the inotropic action of isoprenaline in rat atria

The effects of a series of adenosine derivatives were examined on the catecholamine-stimulated electrically-driven rat left atrium in vitro. All the purines tested reduced the positive inotropic action of isoprenaline, 0.1 microM, with the potency order: L-N6-phenlylisopropyladenosine (L-PIA) greater than 5'-N-ethylcarboxamide adenosine (NECA) greater than D-PIA greater than 2-chloroadenosine greater than adenosine. Dipyridamole did not change the IC50 of adenosine. The adenosine deaminase inhibitor, 2'deoxycoformycin, produced a small but nonsignificant shift to the left of the adenosine concentration-response curve. The cardiac depressant effects of these purines were reversed by theophylline and the IC50 values were unchanged in the presence of atropine or in atria taken from reserpine-treated rats. It is concluded that the purine receptor mediating these effects should not be classified on the A1/A2 system. The relationship between functionally characterized purine receptors and those originally defined as modulating adenylate cyclase is discussed.

Purine receptors in the rat anococcygeus muscle

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) caused contraction of the resting isolated rat anococcygeus muscle. Non-phosphorylated purines did not cause contraction of the resting muscle but did so in muscles in which the tone was raised by carbachol or guanethidine. Adenosine, (-)N6-phenylisopropyladenosine (PIA) and 5'-N-ethyl-carboxamide adenosine (NECA) were approximately equipotent, and these responses were not prevented by theophylline, quinidine, 2,2'-pyridylisatogen tosylate, phentolamine, methysergide, dipyridamole, hexobendine or indomethacin. The contractions became smaller as muscle tone progressively declined, and it is suggested that this effect may explain the apparent blockade of ATP responses by indomethacin reported previously. Adenosine, 2-chloroadenosine, ATP, PIA and NECA inhibited contractile responses of the anococcygeus to field stimulation of the excitatory adrenergic innervation. This inhibitory action was blocked by theophylline, and as PIA was easily the most potent purine tested, it may involve activation of an A1/Ri receptor. It is also argued, however, that the A/R scheme of classification may be inappropriate for the description of responses of intact tissues. As response to noradrenaline were not changed by the purines, the inhibitory effect on stimulation-evoked contractions is probably mediated at a presynaptic site. None of the purines tested had any effect on the neurally mediated inhibition of the anococcygeus which is seen when intrinsic tone is raised and the excitatory adrenergic nerves are blocked.