Characterization of [3H](+/-)L-364,718 binding to solubilized cholecystokinin (CCK) receptors of rat pancreas

Cholecystokinin depolarizes neurons of cat pancreatic ganglion

The effect of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) on membrane potential and conductance of cat pancreatic ganglion neurons was studied in vitro by means of intracellular microelectrode recording methods. Microejection of S-CCK-8 and NS-CCK-8 evoked, by direct action, a slow, reversible membrane depolarization. The majority of neurons tested were more sensitive to S-CCK-8. The depolarizing response to S-CCK-8 and NS-CCK-8 was accompanied in different neurons by a variable change in membrane permeability to Na+ and/or K+. The effects of S-CCK-8 and NS-CCK-8 were mediated by the CCKB receptor. The results suggest that S-CCK-8 and NS-CCK-8 increase the excitability of pancreatic ganglion neurons by acting on postsynaptic CCKB receptors.

The use of receptor desensitization to analyse CCKA and CCKB/gastrin receptors coupled to contraction in guinea-pig stomach muscle

1. The results of previous studies have been in conflict with respect to the involvement of specific cholecystokinin (CCKA) and CCKB/gastrin receptors in guinea-pig gastric muscle. Here, in an in vitro, guinea-pig gastric muscle assay, pentagastrin (PG) and tetragastrin (TG) behaved as high potency agonists and produced symmetrical concentration-effect curves. In contrast, cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK-8), while also behaving as a high potency agonist, produced flat asymmetrical curves. Unlike recent data reported using this tissue (Boyle et al., 1993), the CCKA receptor-selective antagonist, devazepide (3, 10, 30 nM) produced a rightward shift of the upper region of the CCK-8 curve rendering it biphasic. The lower phase was abolished by the CCKB/gastrin receptor-selective antagonist, L-365260 (300 nM) indicating that the contractile effects of CCK-8 in this tissue are mediated by both receptor types. 2. L-365260 produced a concentration-dependent, parallel rightward displacement of PG concentration-effect curves. However, a flat Schild plot slope parameter (0.77 +/- 0.06) was obtained. Therefore, an empirical pA2 value of 8.64 +/- 0.21 was estimated from the smallest dose ratio. This value is consistent with published values characteristic of an interaction at CCKB/gastrin receptors. 3. TG (1 microM) was used to densensitize selectively the CCKB/gastrin receptors in the gastric muscle assay and thereby expose a population of receptors capable of responding to subsequent stimulation by CCK-8 but not by PG. The selectivity of TG for CCKB/gastrin- over CCKA receptors was demonstrated by its low efficacy compared to CCK-8 in the guinea-pig gallbladder assay, a tissue shown previously to contain a homogeneous population of CCKA receptors. In TG-desensitized gastric muscle, CCK-8 concentration-effect curves were symmetrical and could be displaced in a simple parallel fashion by devazepide at nanomolar concentrations consistent with an interaction at CCKA receptors (pKB approximately 10). 4. These results indicate that the guinea-pig gastric muscle contains both CCKA- and CCKB/gastrin receptors and the effects of CCK-8 are mediated via both of these receptors. Notwithstanding the complexity of the behaviour of L-365260, it was possible to obtain a reasonable description of the system using a simple 2-receptor model in which the effects of individual receptor activation were assumed to be additive. The absence of a simple competitive interaction of PG with L-365260 may indicate, for example, non-homogeneity of CCKB/gastrin receptors or lack of concentration equilibrium between the bath and the receptor biophase.

Characterization of a new diphenylpyrazolidinone cholecystokinin antagonist in vitro isolated rat pancreatic acini

The effects of a newly developed diphenylpyrazolidinone cholecystokinin (CCK) antagonist LY219,057 were examined in the isolated rat pancreatic acini and compared with those of devazepide (previously designated L364,718 or MK-329). LY219,057 caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of 100 pM CCK octapeptide (CCK-8)-stimulated amylase release, with a half-maximal inhibition (ID50) at 287.5 +/- 28.4 nM and was 200 times less potent than devazepide (ID50 = 1.4 +/- 0.2 nM). The antagonism was competitive in nature because LY219,057 caused a parallel rightward shift of the dose-response curve for CCK-8-stimulated amylase secretion without altering the maximal increase. LY219,057 significantly inhibited amylase release in response to CCK-8 and cerulein but had no effect on amylase release stimulated by other receptor secretagogs or agent bypassing receptors. LY219,057, whether added at the beginning or 20 min after the CCK-8 stimulation, inhibited amylase release. This compound caused a residual inhibition of the action of CCK-8. Acini preincubated with 1.0 microM LY219,057 for 30 min at 37 degrees C were threefold less sensitive to CCK-8 than the acini preincubated without LY219,057. These results indicate that LY219,057 acts as a potent, competitive, and specific CCK receptor antagonist of the action of CCK on the exocrine pancreas.

Study of the states and populations of the rat pancreatic cholecystokinin receptor using the full peptide antagonist JMV 179

The full peptide antagonist of the pancreatic cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor, JMV 179, [Boc-Tyr(SO3H)-Ahx-Gly-dTrp-Ahx-Asp phenylethyl ester, where Tyr(SO3H) = sulfated tyrosine, Ahx = 6-aminohexanoic acid] was modified at its N-terminus by incorporation of p-hydroxyphenyl propionate (Bolton-Hunter reagent, BH) and was subsequently radioiodinated. After HPLC purification, 125I-BH-JMV-179, a CCK antagonist radioligand of high specific activity (2000 Ci/mmol) was obtained. 125I-BH-JMV-179 bound to a single population of sites on rat pancreatic plasma membranes, (Kd = 3.9 nM, Bmax = 40 pmol/mg protein). Binding was dependent on time, temperature, and protein concentration, and was fully reversible. JMV 179 radioligand detected four times as many sites as an agonist radioligand [C. Hadjiivanova, M. Dufresne, S. Poirot, P. Sozzani, N. Vaysse, L. Moroder and D. Fourmy (1992) Eur. J. Biochem. 204, 273-279]. Agonists and antagonists of the A- and B-subtype CCK/gastrin receptors inhibited 125I-BH-JMV-179 binding with an order of potency compatible with the A-subtype CCK receptor pharmacology. Moreover, the sulfate group on the tyrosine residue of the CCK peptides appeared to be of much less importance for antagonist affinity than for agonist affinity. Inhibition of 125I-BH-JMV-179 binding by agonists (except JMV 180), demonstrated the presence of two affinity classes of binding sites. The population of sites having an apparent high affinity for CCK represented 30 pmol/mg protein and threefold the number of high-affinity sites previously identified by an agonist radioligand. In presence of non-hydrolyzable GTP, all the sites bound CCK agonists with a low affinity. Moreover, saturation analysis of JMV 179 radioligand binding in the presence of CCK indicated that CCK interacted competitively with all JMV 179 sites and demonstrated binding of JMV 179 radioligand to two distinct affinity classes of sites. In the presence of GTP[S] a single affinity class of sites for JMV 179 radioligand was found as in the control experiments without CCK. This study, with the first CCK peptide antagonist radioligand, demonstrates that CCK receptors exist in two interconvertible affinity states regulated by guanine-nucleotide-binding regulatory protein(s) in rat pancreatic plasma membranes. JMV 179 radioligand does not induce receptor coupling but distinguishes the two affinity states of the CCK receptors. JMV 179 reveals the existence of populations of high-affinity and low-affinity sites for CCK which had not previously been detected by agonist radioligand binding, thus suggesting heterogeneity of CCK receptor sites in membranes.

2-Naphthalenesulphonyl L-aspartyl-(2-phenethyl)amide (2-NAP)--a selective cholecystokinin CCKA-receptor antagonist

1. The in vitro pharmacological characterization of the sodium salt of 2-naphthalenesulphonyl 1-aspartyl-(2-phenethyl)amide [2-NAP], a hydrophilic compound derived from the C-terminal aspartate-phenylalanine dipeptide of cholecystokinin (CCK), is described. 2. 2-NAP behaved as a competitive antagonist of sulphated cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) at CCKA-receptors in both intact tissue bioassays (guinea-pig gall bladder, pancreas and ileum, human and rabbit gall bladder) and a radioligand displacement assay (guinea-pig pancreatic cells). The mean pKB, over assays, was 6.5. 3. Compared to the other assays, the rabbit gall bladder assay gave a significantly higher pKB estimate [7.0] for 2-NAP and a significantly lower estimate [8.9] for devazepide (formerly L-364,718 and MK-329), a well-characterized CCKA-receptor antagonist; these anomalous results suggest that a different class of CCKA-receptors may be involved. 4. 2-NAP, was found to be highly selective, having at least 300 fold greater affinity for CCKA-receptors than for 50 other pharmacological loci, including gastrin/CCKB, as estimated by bioassay or radioligand displacement.

Cibacron blue-induced enhancement of agonist binding to cholecystokinin (CCK) receptors in solubilized pancreatic membranes

The pancreatic receptor for cholecystokinin (CCK) typifies many G protein-coupled receptors in that its ability to bind agonist can be reduced by GTP or the solubilization of membranes. We found, however, that a dye, cibacron blue, caused up to a 6-fold increase in binding of the CCK receptor agonist, 125I-CCK-8, to rat pancreatic membranes solubilized with digitonin. Binding optimally enhanced in this manner was comparable to binding of 125I-CCK-8 to native membranes with respect to time-course, maximal amount bound, reversibility, and sensitivity to inhibition by various CCK receptor ligands. Increases in affinity of the CCK receptor for CCK-8 accounted fully for the enhancement of binding of 125I-CCK-8. Cibacron blue did not enhance binding of 125I-CCK-8 to native membranes, and also failed to enhance binding of the CCK receptor antagonist, [3H]L-364,718, to solubilized or native membranes. The ability of cibacron blue to enhance binding of agonist but not that of antagonist suggests that this dye may mimic or perhaps stimulate the effects of G protein on CCK receptors. Such a phenomenon may provide new insights into the mechanisms by which receptors distinguish agonists from antagonists.

Purification, molecular cloning, and functional expression of the cholecystokinin receptor from rat pancreas

The cholecystokinin (CCK) family of peptides and their receptors are widely distributed throughout the gastrointestinal and central nervous systems where they regulate secretion, motility, growth, anxiety, and satiety. The CCK receptors can be subdivided into at least two subtypes, CCKA and CCKB on the basis of pharmacological studies. We report here the purification of the CCKA receptor to homogeneity from rat pancreas by using ion-exchange and multiple affinity chromatographic separations. This allowed partial peptide sequencing after chemical/enzymatic cleavage and synthesis of degenerate oligonucleotide primers. These primers were used for initial cloning of the cDNA from rat pancreas by PCR. The predicted protein sequence of the cDNA clone contained the five partial peptide sequences obtained from the purified protein. Seven putative transmembrane domains suggest its membership in the guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory protein-coupled receptor superfamily. In vitro transcripts of the cDNA clone were functionally expressed in Xenopus oocytes and displayed the expected agonist and antagonist specificity.

Biochemical characterization of a subtype pancreatic cholecystokinin receptor and of its agonist binding domain

This study was undertaken in order to improve photoaffinity labelling efficiency of pancreatic cholecystokinin receptor by the cleavable probe 125I-ASD-(Thr28,Ahx31)-CCK-25-33 and to further characterize the denaturated receptor and its agonist binding domain. Membrane bound pancreatic cholecystokinin receptor was specifically labelled by 125I-ASD-(Thr28,Ahx31)-CCK-25-33 as a component of Mr approximately 85,000-100,000. The efficiency of the photolabelling was 3-4%. Performing photolysis on [125I-ASD-(Thr28,Ahx31)-CCK-25-33-receptor] complexes solubilized by CHAPS did not affect specificity of the labelling reaction but enhanced its efficiency so that up to 10% of the receptor site population could be cross-linked. Several lectins were tested for their ability to recognize and purify the cholecystokinin receptor denaturated by Nonidet P-40. Wheat germ agglutinin provided the best recovery and purification rate. The receptor was fully adsorbed on immobilized wheat germ agglutinin, while only a fraction was retained on ricin II (28%) and Ulex europaeus (58%), thus suggesting that the receptor is heterogeneously glycosylated. Finally, major labelled receptor fragments were generated by enzymatic digestion. There were: endoproteinase Glu-C----Mr approximately 34,000; endoproteinase Glu-C/trypsin----Mr approximately 12,000; chymotrypsin/endoproteinase Glu-C----Mr approximately 16,000 and 12,000. The fragment of Mr approximately 34,000 was deglycosylated to a component of Mr approximately 22,000 whereas the other fragments were insensitive to deglycosylation Such results strongly suggest that cholecystokinin binding occurs in a non-glycosylated domain of the cholecystokinin receptor protein.

Localization of peripheral cholecystokinin receptors in vivo using the cholecystokinin antagonist [3H](+/-)-MK-329

Cholecystokinin (CCK) regulates various gastrointestinal functions through specific receptors. The mechanisms responsible for disorders of these functions could be elucidated by non-invasively localizing CCK receptors and quantifying their number in vivo. MK-329 is a highly selective and very high affinity antagonist at the peripheral CCK receptor. We investigated the in vivo binding of [3H](+/-)-MK-329 in mice to determine if binding to CCK receptors could be detected after systemic administration of the tracer. The uptake of [3H](+/-)-MK-329 increased in the pancreas from 5 min to 4 h after administration. The binding was saturable, stereospecific, and more than 80% specific. A total/non-specific binding ratio of 43 was reached at 8 h post-injection. The pancreas was the only organ where specific binding could be detected. Our results suggest that MK-329 labeled with a positron emitter such as C-11 could be used with positron emission tomography to image and quantify peripheral CCK receptors in man.

Immune recognition of affinity-labelled cholecystokinin receptor

The present study was undertaken to characterize the immune recognition of pancreatic cholecystokinin receptor by an anti-cholecystokinin antibody. Cholecystokinin receptor from pancreatic plasma membranes was photoaffinity labelled using the specific, cleavable probe 125I-labelled 2-(p-azidosalicylamido)-1,3-dithiopropionate-[Thr28,Ahx31 ]CCK(25-33) [CCK(25-33) is the C-terminal nonapeptide of the 33-amino-acid form of cholecystokinin]. Labelled receptor was then solubilized and subsequently prepurified on immobilized wheat-germ agglutinin. The C-terminal-directed anti-cholecystokinin serum (8E) specifically immunoprecipitated a fraction of affinity-labelled cholecystokinin receptor which was identified at Mr 85,000 - 100,000 on SDS/PAGE. The binding affinity of antiserum 8E for covalently labelled cholecystokinin receptor was lower (Kd 0.11 +/- 0.02 nM) than for cholecystokinin (Kd 3.65 +/- 0.55 pM). The compound L364-718, an A-subtype cholecystokinin-receptor antagonist did not interfere with the immune recognition of cholecystokinin. However, the recognition of affinity-labelled cholecystokinin receptor was enhanced as a result of an increasing availability of cholecystokinin molecules. Indeed, the amount of immunoprecipitated receptor was doubled in the presence of 10 microM L364-718. This study offers the possibility of using an anti-cholecystokinin antibody for cholecystokinin-receptor purification and demonstrates that prepurified affinity-labelled cholecystokinin receptor retains A-subtype specificity.

CCK-antagonist L-364,718: influence on rat pancreatic growth induced by caerulein and bombesin-like peptides

The present study investigates the inhibitory effect of the novel potent benzodiazepine-related CCK-antagonist L-364,718 on pancreatic growth in the rat induced by chronic administration of caerulein and bombesin-like peptides. Caerulein, injected s.c. twice daily at a dose of 1 microgram/kg body weight, and bombesin (10 micrograms/kg) induced a similar increase (1.5-3-fold) in pancreatic wet weight, total protein, amylase, trypsin, putrescine and spermidine content after 14 days of treatment. Growth induced by caerulein showed a significant increase in total DNA content suggesting cellular hyperplasia, whereas bombesin-like peptides led to cellular hypertrophy. In comparison to bombesin the decapeptide neuromedin C (10 micrograms/kg) was found to be 30-50% less potent. In the same dose range, neuromedin B and the tachykinins neurokinin A and B, all structurally related to bombesin, had no significant trophic effect on the rat pancreas. Administration of the CCK-antagonist L-364,718 twice daily at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg or at 1.0 mg/kg, either s.c. or orally, led dose-dependently to a near-complete inhibition of the caerulein-induced trophic effect. In contrast, L-364,718 administered at identical dosages, did not affect pancreatic hypertrophy induced by bombesin and neuromedin C. It is concluded that both peptides mediate their effect on the rat pancreas directly and not via release of endogenous cholecystokinin. Tachykinins are not involved in the regulation of pancreatic growth. Caerulein- and bombesin-like peptides have comparable effects on the stimulation of protein and polyamine synthesis.