Receptors for substance P and neurokinins. Correlation between binding and biological activities

Expression of substance P receptors in normal and psoriatic skin

Recently, substance P receptors (SPR) have been detected in neonatal foreskin. Our purpose was to determine the expression of SPR in other localizations than neonatal foreskin. As SP has been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory cutaneous lesions, we wondered whether SPR localization was modified in psoriatic lesions. In normal skin, SP binding sites were detected using biotinylated SP and abrogated by a specific NK1 antagonist (spantide) on blood vessels, sweat glands and hair follicles. In the normal epidermis, SPR were usually observed on granular layers but may also be observed on other cell layers. The SP binding processed on cultured keratinocytes demonstrated that SPR were expressed in the epidermis, except basal cell layers, confirming that keratinocytes constitutively express SPR. In skin lesions of psoriatic patients, SP binding sites were expressed on the uppermost keratinocytes which are not granular cells, and seem to be overexpressed. Our results raise the question of the role of SPR on psoriatic keratinocytes.

Neurokinin subtype receptors mediating substance P contraction in immature rabbit airways

Two-week-old rabbit tracheal smooth muscle (TSM) and bronchial smooth muscle (BSM) segments were placed in organ baths, and isometric contractions to substance P (SP) were obtained. In the presence of phosphoramidon (PHOS), a neutral endopeptidase inhibitor, BSM segments were significantly more reactive and sensitive to SP than TSM segments. Neither neostigmine (NEO) nor atropine (ATR) eliminated these regional differences. Airway contractile responses to: 1) Senktide (NK-3 agonist); 2) neurokinin A (NKA, a NK-2 agonist); and 3) Septide (a highly selective NK-1 agonist) were separately obtained. In the presence of PHOS and NEO, Senktide was virtually inactive in both BSM and TSM. In the presence of PHOS, NEO, and ATR, NKA was equipotent in all airway segments; in contrast, the Septide response was significantly more reactive in BSM than in TSM segments. After inhibition of NK-1 activity with GR 82334, a competitive NK-1 receptor antagonist, the regional differences in SP reactivity were greatly diminished. This latter indication of a NK-1 contribution was confirmed using Septide-mediated inactivation of NK-1 receptors whereby the regional differences in airway sensitivity to SP were eliminated. These findings indicate that both endogenous neutral endopeptidase activity as well as NK-1 and NK-2 receptor influences may modulate the contractile responses to SP in immature rabbit airways.

Action of capsaicin and related peptides on the ionic transport across the skin of Rana esculenta

Capsaicin at low concentrations increases the short circuit current (SCC) across frog skin. Simultaneous measurements of both transepithelial fluxes of 22Na or 36Cl demonstrate that the SCC increase is due to stimulation of sodium active absorption. Capsaicin acts through the liberation of several peptides; thus these peptides were tested on the SCC across frog skin. Those more active are, in order of potency: Cyclic Calcitonin Gene Related Peptide (CGRP), Kassinin and Eledoisin, Substance P (SP) and Neurokinin A. Neurokinin B and Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP) have no effect. Also the actions of SP and CGRP are due mainly to stimulation of Na+ active absorption. A strict parallelism regarding the sensitivity to inhibitors (Naproxen, SQ22536 and CP96345) between SP, CGRP and Capsaicin strengthens the hypothesis that SP and CGRP are liberated by Capsaicin in this tissue.

Effect of thiorphan on response of the guinea-pig gallbladder to tachykinins

Tachykinins produced a concentration-related contraction of the isolated guinea-pig gallbladder, with a rank order of potency neurokinin A (NKA) greater than Arg-neurokinin B = neurokinin B (NKB) greater than substance P (SP). Only the effect of SP was potentiated by thiorphan (0.1-10 microM). A significant enhancement of the response to SP was also produced by captopril (1 microM). [Nle10]NKA-(4-10) and [beta-Ala8]NKA-(4-10), selective NK-2 receptor agonists, were active, whereas [Pro9]SP sulfone (selective NK-1 agonist) was almost ineffective. [MePhe7]NKB (selective NK-3 agonist) had some activity but only at high concentrations. Septide was almost ineffective and DiMeC7 had an action comparable to that of [MePhe7]NKB. None of the effects induced by these synthetic tachykinin analogs were significantly potentiated by thiorphan. Capsaicin (10 microM) produced a contraction which was unaffected by thiorphan. Both capsaicin and NKA-induced contractions were antagonized by Spantide at concentrations (5-10 microM) which had no effect against the atropine-sensitive contractions produced by electrical field stimulation. Capsaicin (1 microM) produced a consistent release of SP-like immunoreactivity (SP-LI) and a second application of the drug had no further effect, indicating complete desensitization. SP-LI release by capsaicin was almost doubled in the presence of thiorphan. These findings indicate that NK-2 and possibly some NK-3 receptors mediate the contractile response of the guinea-pig gallbladder to tachykinins. Both exogenous and endogenous (released by capsaicin) SP were degraded to a significant extent in this organ via a thiorphan-sensitive mechanism, the identity of which remains to be established.

Substance P, neurokinin A and neurokinin B in the ocular response to injury in the rabbit

1. Substance P (SP) and neurokinin A- (NKA)/neurokinin B (NKB)-like immunoreactivity (LI) were measured by radioimmunoassay in extracts of the rabbit uvea. The iris-ciliary body complex contained 3-4 times more NKA/NKB-LI than SP-LI. Tachykinins are thought to mediate many of the responses to ocular injury in the rabbit. Their possible role in the miosis and breakdown of the blood-aqueous barrier (BAB) was studied in vitro and in vivo. 2. In vitro, NKA had a more short-lasting contractile effect on the sphincter pupillae muscle than either SP or NKB, but SP was more potent than the other two. The tachykinin antagonist, spantide, dose-dependently suppressed the response to electrical stimulation (by 90% at 10(-4) M) and to the three tachykinins. An antiserum against SP (no cross-reaction with NKA or NKB) greatly suppressed the response to SP (by 90%) as well as to electrical field stimulation (by 40%). The responses to NKA and NKB were unaffected. 3. In vivo studies revealed that SP was more potent than NKA and NKB as a miotic. SP evoked a moderate breakdown of the BAB at high doses while NKA and NKB were virtually inactive. 4. We conclude that besides SP other tachykinins might play a role in the mediation of miosis in the rabbit eye but, of the three peptides investigated, only SP can be of importance for the breakdown of the BAB.

Agonist and antagonist binding to tachykinin peptide NK-2 receptors

The binding of tachykinin peptides and fragments to NK-2 receptor sites in hamster urinary bladder membranes was examined and compared to binding to NK-1 receptor sites in rat submandibular gland. Neurokinin A (NKA) and its C-terminal fragments bound with highest NK-2 affinity and selectivity. N-terminal fragments of NKA did not bind to either type of receptor. Kassinin and eledoisin were NK-2 selective while physalaemin, phyllomedusin, and uperolein were NK-1 selective. Of fifteen tachykinin antagonists examined, none exhibited appreciable affinity or selectivity (relative to agonists) for NK-1, NK-2, or rat cerebral cortical NK-3 receptor sites. NKA binding to NK-2 sites was stimulated by Mn++ greater than Mg++ greater than Ca++. At the optimal concentration, the Mn++ stimulation was due to both an increased Bmax and increased affinity. The nonhydrolyzable guanine nucleotide, GppNHp, reduced agonist binding but not antagonist binding to NK-2 receptor sites. The nucleotide effect was due to a reduction in both Bmax and affinity and was potentiated by Mn++. The results indicate that tachykinin NK-2 receptor sites possess distinct structural requirements for agonists and are linked to a G-protein coupling system.

Interaction of tachykinins with their receptors studied with cyclic analogues of substance P and neurokinin B

The activities of two groups of cyclic agonists of substance P (SP) have been studied. The disulfide bridge constraints have been designed on the basis of conformational studies on SP and physalaemin indicating an alpha-helical structure for the core of these two tachykinins (group I) and a folding of the C-terminal carboxamide towards the side chains of the glutamines 5 and 6 (group II). Only peptides simulating the alpha-helix present substantial potencies. [Cys3,6]SP is as active as SP in inhibiting 125I-labeled Bolton and Hunter SP-specific binding on rat brain synaptosomes and on dog carotid bioassay, two assays specific for the neurokinin 1 receptor. Moreover, [Cys3,6]SP is as potent as neurokinin B in inhibiting 125I-labeled Bolton and Hunter eledoisin-specific binding on rat cortical synaptosomes as well as in stimulating rat portal vein, two tests specific for the neurokinin 3 receptor. Interestingly, in contrast to neurokinin B, [Cys3,6]SP is a weak agonist of the neurokinin 2 receptor subtype, as evidenced by its binding potency in inhibiting 3H-labeled neurokinin A-specific binding on rat duodenum and in inducing the contractions of the rabbit pulmonary artery, a neurokinin 2-type bioassay. To increase the specificity of the cyclic analogue [Cys3,6]SP positions 8 and 9 were modified. [Cys3,6, Tyr8, Ala9]SP is slightly less selective than SP for the neurokinin 1 receptor subtype. [Cys2,5]neurokinin B constitutes a selective cyclic agonist for the neurokinin 3 receptor. The very weak potencies of the peptides from group II indicate that a certain degree of flexibility in the C-terminal moiety is required. Collectively, these results suggest that the neurokinin 1 and neurokinin 3 tachykinin receptors may recognize a similar three-dimensional structure of the core of the tachykinins. Different orientations of the common C-terminal tripeptide may be related to the selectivity for the different receptor subtypes.