(-)[125I]pindolol binding to human peripheral lung beta-receptors

Comparison of enantiomers of SPFF, a novel beta2-Adrenoceptor agonist, in bronchodilating effect in guinea pigs

Previous study on racemic SPFF [2-(4-amino-3-chloro-5-trifluomethyl-phenyl)-2-tert-butylamino-ethanol hydrochloride], a novel beta2-adrenoceptor agonist, has validated that it is a potent, long-acting bronchodilator with relative higher beta2-adrenoceptor selectivity. On the basis of this study, we compared the pharmacological properties of SPFF and its enantiomers ((-)-SPFF and (+)-SPFF) in guinea pigs taking isoprenaline or salbutamol (SAB) as referenced drugs. For the relaxation of both normal and precontracted trachea strips in vitro, (-)-SPFF was found more potent than (+/-)-SPFF or (+)-SPFF. Moreover, we confirmed that the bronchodilator effect of (-)- and (+)-enantiomers were due to activation of the beta2-adrenoceptor because this effect was antagonized by a specific beta2-adrenoceptor antagonist, ICI-118551, with similar pA2 values to those of (+/-)-SPFF. Radioligand binding assay revealed that affinity of (-)-enantiomer to beta2-adrenoceptor was 6 and 164 fold greater than that of (+/-)- and (+)-SPFF, respectively. In addition, isomeric difference of overall selectivity between (-)-SPFF and (+)-SPFF was 10.7 fold for lung versus atria. (-)-SPFF displayed almost the same protective effect against bronchospasm induced by histamine-acetylcholine aerosol in conscious guinea pigs as (+/-)-SPFF did. However, the latent time of (+)-SPFF (1 mg.kg(-1)) was significantly shorter than that of (+/-)- and (-)-SPFF at the same doses. Finally, in the inhibition of histamine-induced increase of pulmonary resistance (RL) in anesthetized guinea pigs, (-)-SPFF was 1.3 and 3.5 times more potent than (+/-)- and (+)-SPFF. Correspondingly, in inhibiting the decrease of pulmonary compliance (CL) , the potencies of (-)- and (+)-enantiomers were approximately equivalent to that of (+/-)-SPFF. Furthermore, a study on the long-lasting action of the test drugs had shown that the effects of (-)-SPFF (30 microg.kg(-1)), (+/-)-SPFF (30 microg.kg(-1)) and (+)-SPFF (100 microg.kg(-1)) in inhibiting the increase of RL all lasted for 4 h. Nevertheless, the effects of (-)- and (+)-enantiomers were slightly lower 4 h after intraduodenal administration in inhibiting the decrease of CL. In conclusion, (-)-SPFF may be beneficial for the treatment of asthma because of its more potent efficacy and higher adrenoceptor affinity than (+/-)- or (+)-SPFF.

Transgenic mice carrying the human beta 2-adrenergic receptor gene with its own promoter overexpress beta 2-adrenergic receptors in liver

Up to now, transgenic mice models created to study the physiological impact of alterations in the human beta-adrenoceptor system have only focused on cardiac tissues and carried hybrid transgenes with strong cardiac promoters. We have developed a transgenic mouse strain (F28) carrying the human beta 2-adrenoceptor gene with its natural promoter region with the aim of producing a model that more closely reproduces the natural human beta 2-adrenoceptor tissue expression pattern. By means of northern blot analyses, using the appropriate probes, we have obtained evidence that (a) the human beta 2-adrenoceptor's structural gene is transcribed in several tissues of F28 mice; (b) the tissue distribution pattern of human beta 2-adrenoceptor mRNA in F28 mice completely differs from that of mouse beta 2-adrenoceptor mRNA; and (c) the tissue distribution pattern of mouse beta 2-adrenoceptor mRNA in F28 mice is very similar to that observed in their non-transgenic littermates. Like humans, F28 mice express human beta 2-adrenoceptor mRNA in liver, lung, brain, heart, and muscle. However, unlike humans, F28 mice do not accumulate human beta 2-adrenoceptor mRNA in kidney and spleen. By using [125I]iodocyanopindolol to label all beta-adrenoceptors and ICI 118,551 to discriminate between the binding to beta 2- and beta 1-adrenoceptors we have demonstrated that the beta 2-adrenoceptor binding activity increases over control values in F28 mouse tissues that accumulate transgenic mRNA. Accordingly, the number of beta 2-adrenoceptors increased slightly over the control values in muscle, heart, brain, and lung of F28 mice, while in liver these receptors were strongly overexpressed. We further showed that transgene beta 2-adrenoceptors couple to GTP-binding proteins, mediate beta-adrenoceptor agonist-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activation, and cause a strong enhancement of this response in liver membranes of F28 versus control mice. Finally, F28 mice show a phenotype of depressed ponderal development and perturbed hindquarter movements. This unique model should be useful to further investigate beta 2-adrenoceptor causal relationships with human pathologies.

Effects of in vitro mast cell degranulation on human lung beta-receptor binding parameters

BACKGROUND

Numerous studies have demonstrated that subjects with allergic asthma have beta-adrenergic hyporesponsiveness, predisposing these individuals toward bronchospasm, mucous production, and mast cell degranulation. Since sympathetic innervation of the human respiratory tract is sparse, reduced beta-responsiveness probably results from alterations at or beyond the receptor level.

OBJECTIVE

We therefore examined whether anaphylaxis of human lung tissue acutely modulated the human lung beta-receptor system in ways that might lead to decreased beta-adrenergic responsiveness.

METHODS

Fresh thoracotomy peripheral lung samples from 26 patients were incubated with (anaphylaxis) or without (control) anti-IgE (1:100) for up to 90 minutes and histamine release was documented. Lung fragments were quick frozen at various times after anti-IgE for analyses of beta-receptor binding parameters. Antagonist Kd (dissociation constant) and receptor concentration values were determined using (-)[125I]pindolol and agonist IC50 values were determined using isoproterenol.

RESULTS

In comparison with time O, neither anaphylaxis nor control samples had differences in receptor binding parameters with time. There were also no differences between anaphylaxis and control lung samples at any time point, and ratios of log control binding parameter/log anaphylaxis binding parameter ranged from 0.96 to 1.01.

CONCLUSIONS

Anaphylaxis of lung does not lead to acute changes in antagonist or agonist affinity for beta-receptors or changes in receptor concentration. Under the conditions studied, lung mast cell degranulation does not acutely alter the human lung beta-receptor system in ways that might account for the beta-adrenergic hyporesponsiveness found in allergic asthma.

Beta-adrenoceptors in human airway tissue: relationship between functional responsiveness and receptor number

Functional organ bath experiments and radiolabelled ligand binding studies were used to investigate the relationship between beta-adrenoceptor-mediated relaxation and the total number of beta-adrenoceptors in human lung parenchymal tissue and bronchial tissue. Sensitivity to the beta-adrenoceptor agonist isoprenaline (pD2) varied almost 10-fold (pD2 values 6.00 to 6.85) for lung parenchymal preparations and 35-fold for bronchial preparations (pD2 values 6.16 to 7.67) between patients. The total number of [3H] DHA labelled beta-adrenoceptors (Bmax) varied almost 6-fold for lung parenchymal membrane preparations (Bmax 164 to 936 fmol/mg protein) and less than 2-fold for bronchial tissue membrane preparations (Bmax 188 to 342 fmol/mg protein) between patients. Comparison of sensitivity to isoprenaline and beta-adrenoceptor number for lung parenchymal tissue from the same patient demonstrated a negative correlation (r = -0.80 [95% confidence intervals: -0.13, -0.96], 6 d.f., P less than 0.05), suggesting that beta-adrenoceptor-mediated sensitivity of lung parenchymal tissue is inversely related to the number of beta-adrenoceptors. However, there was an absence of correlation between sensitivity to isoprenaline and beta-adrenoceptor number in bronchial tissue from the same patient. Thus, the findings of the present study do not support the possibility of a direct relationship between the beta-adrenoceptor-mediated responsiveness and the beta-adrenoceptor number of human airway preparations.

The interaction of azelastine with human lung histamine H1, beta, and muscarinic receptor-binding sites

Azelastine has previously been demonstrated to inhibit histamine release, to antagonize histamine-mediated responses, and to be a bronchodilator. To determine the mechanism by which azelastine has antihistaminic and bronchodilatory actions, we studied its interaction with relevant human lung receptors. We performed competitive radioligand binding assays and determined the affinity of azelastine for [3H]pyrilamine (histamine H1), [125I]pindolol (beta), and [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate (muscarinic) binding sites. Azelastine had a relatively high affinity for histamine H1 receptors with IC50 values consistently as low or lower than values measured for other antihistamines. In contrast, azelastine had a very low affinity for both beta-receptors and muscarinic receptors with IC50 values greater than 2 logs greater than those determined for beta-agonists and muscarinic antagonists, respectively. Thus, bronchodilatory activity of azelastine does not appear to result from either beta-agonist or muscarinic-antagonist properties. Azelastine does, however, have the ability to inhibit the release of histamine and to bind to histamine H1 receptors, thereby effectively antagonizing histamine H1 receptor-mediated responses in the lung. These characteristics make azelastine a potentially very useful drug to treat allergic responses in the respiratory tract.

Distribution of the alpha-subunit of the guanine nucleotide-binding protein Gi2 and its comparison to G alpha o

Site specific antisera against a synthetic peptide corresponding to the sequence 3-17 of G alpha 12 have been raised and the specificity examined using purified homogeneous Go, Gi2 and Gi containing a 41 kDa alpha-subunit. The distribution of G alpha i2 was investigated in plasma membranes from different tissues and cells and compared to the distribution of G alpha o and other pertussis toxin sensitive G alpha. Considerable amounts of G alpha i2 were found in endocrine tissue especially in membranes from the adrenal and thyroid, in leucocytes and platelets where it constitutes the major, if not only, pertussis toxin-sensitive G alpha, as well as in some cell lines (C6, NG 108-15, S49 cyc-); erythrocytes contained a 41 kDa G alpha i which was different from G alpha i2. G alpha o was present abundantly in nervous tissue, adrenal medulla and cortex but also found in low amounts in other membranes except for lung, liver and blood cells. Subcellular fractionation of cardiac ventricular muscle demonstrated the presence of G alpha o and low amounts of G alpha i2 in sarcolemma, but only 41kDa G alpha i was present in sarcoplasmic reticulum. The importance of the distinct distribution in terms of signal transduction is discussed.