Agonist-induced desensitization of a P2Y-purinergic receptor-regulated phospholipase C

Mechanisms of HIV-mediated blood-brain barrier compromise and leukocyte transmigration under the current antiretroviral era

HIV-associated neurological compromise is observed in more than half of all people with HIV (PWH), even under antiretroviral therapy (ART). The mechanism has been associated with the early transmigration of HIV-infected monocytes across the BBB in a CCL2 and HIV replication-dependent manner. However, the mechanisms of chronic brain damage are unknown. We demonstrate that all PWH under ART have elevated circulating ATP levels that correlate with the onset of cognitive impairment even in the absence of a circulating virus. Serum ATP levels found in PWH with the most severe neurocognitive impairment trigger the transcellular migration of HIV-infected leukocytes across the BBB in a JAM-A and LFA-1-dependent manner. We propose that targeting transcellular leukocyte transmigration could reduce or prevent the devastating consequences of HIV within the brains of PWH under ART.

Mechanosensitive ATP release maintains proper mucus hydration of airways

The clearance of mucus from the airways protects the lungs from inhaled noxious and infectious materials. Proper hydration of the mucus layer enables efficient mucus clearance through beating of cilia on airway epithelial cells, and reduced clearance of excessively concentrated mucus occurs in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cystic fibrosis. Key steps in the mucus transport process are airway epithelia sensing and responding to changes in mucus hydration. We reported that extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine were important luminal autocrine and paracrine signals that regulated the hydration of the surface of human airway epithelial cultures through their action on apical membrane purinoceptors. Mucus hydration in human airway epithelial cultures was sensed by an interaction between cilia and the overlying mucus layer: Changes in mechanical strain, proportional to mucus hydration, regulated ATP release rates, adjusting fluid secretion to optimize mucus layer hydration. This system provided a feedback mechanism by which airways maintained mucus hydration in an optimum range for cilia propulsion. Understanding how airway epithelia can sense and respond to changes in mucus properties helps us to understand how the mucus clearance system protects the airways in health and how it fails in lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis.

Calcium signaling of thyrocytes is modulated by TSH through calcium binding protein expression

TSH is an important stimulus to maintain thyroid epithelial differentiation. Impairment of TSH signal transduction can cause thyroid pathologies such as hot nodules, goiter and hyperthyroidism. In a gene expression study in Fischer rat thyroid cells (FRTL-5) using cDNA microarrays we found a TSH-dependent regulation of several calcium binding proteins, S100A4, S100A6 and annexin A6. Expression of these genes in FRTL-5 and regulation by TSH was confirmed with LightCycler qPCR and Western blotting. The differential expression of S100A4 was confirmed for cultured primary human thyrocytes. Calcium-imaging experiments showed that prestimulation with TSH attenuates ATP-elicited P2Y-mediated calcium signaling. Experiments with thapsigargin, TSH and calcium-free perfusion excluded an involvement of other purinergic receptors or an involvement of SERCA regulation. Instead, we find a correlation between S100A4 expression and the effects of TSH on calcium signaling. Overexpression of S100A4 in FRTL-5 and shRNA-mediated knockdown of S100A4 in follicular thyroid cancer cells (FTC133) confirm the ability of S100A4 to attenuate calcium signals. Under repeated stimulations with ATP the calcium retention of these cells is also modulated by S100A4, suggesting a role of S100A4 as calcium buffering protein. As a biological consequence of S100A4 overexpression we detected reduced ATP-stimulated cFos induction. Taken together, the results suggest that S100A4 and other calcium binding proteins are part of a signaling network connecting TSH signaling to calcium-mediated events which play a role in thyroid physiology like H2O2 production or even thyroid cancer.

P2Y receptors play a critical role in epithelial cell communication and migration

Cellular injury induces a complex series of events that involves Ca2+ signaling, cell communication, and migration. One of the first responses following mechanical injury is the propagation of a Ca2+ wave (Klepeis et al. [2001] J Cell Sci 114(Pt 23):4185-4195). The wave is generated by the extracellular release of ATP, which also induces phosphorylation of ERK (Yang et al. [2004] J Cell Biochem 91(5):938-950). ATP and other nucleotides, which bind to and activate specific purinergic receptors were used to mimic injury. Our goal was to determine which of the P2Y purinergic receptors are expressed and stimulated in corneal epithelial cells and which signaling pathways are activated leading to changes in cell migration, an event critical for wound closure. In this study, we demonstrated that the P2Y1, P2Y2, P2Y4, P2Y6, and P2Y11 receptors were present in corneal epithelial cells. A potency profile was determined by Ca2+ imaging for nucleotide agonists as follows: ATP > or = UTP > ADP > or = UDP. In contrast, negligible responses were seen for beta,gamma-meATP, a general P2X receptor agonist and adenosine, a P1 receptor agonist. Homologous desensitization of the Ca2+ response was observed for the four nucleotides. However, P2Y receptor internalization and degradation was not detected following stimulation with ATP, which is in contrast to EGFR internalization observed in response to EGF. ATP induced cell migration was comparable to that of EGF and was maximal at 1 microM. Cells exposed to ATP, UTP, ADP, and UDP demonstrated a rapid twofold increase in phosphorylation of paxillin at Y31 and Y118, however, there was no activation elicited by beta,gamma-meATP or adenosine. Additional studies demonstrated that wound closure was inhibited by reactive blue 2. These results indicate that P2Y receptors play a critical role in the injury repair process.

Defective P2Y purinergic receptor function: A possible novel mechanism for impaired glucose transport

Extracellular ATP is an ubiquitous mediator that regulates several cellular functions via specific P2 plasma membrane receptors (P2Rs), for which a role in modulating intracellular glucose metabolism has been recently suggested. We have investigated glucose uptake in response to P2Rs stimulation in fibroblasts from type 2 diabetic (T2D) patients and control subjects. P2Rs expression was evaluated by RT-PCR; intracellular calcium release by fluorometry; glucose transporter (GLUT1) translocation by immunoblotting and chemiluminescence; glucose uptake was measured with 2-deoxy-D-[1-(3)H]glucose (2-DOG) and ATP by luminometry. Cells from T2D patients, in contrast to those from healthy controls, showed no increase in glucose uptake after ATP stimulation; extracellular ATP caused, however, a similar GLUT1 recruitment to the plasma membrane in both groups. P2Rs expression did not differ between fibroblasts from diabetic and healthy subjects, but while plasma membrane depolarization, a P2X-mediated response was similar in both groups, no evident intracellular calcium increase was detectable in the cells from the former group. The calcium response in fibroblasts from diabetics was restored by co-incubation with apyrase or hexokinase, suggesting that P2YRs in those cells were normally expressed but chronically desensitised. In support to this finding, fibroblasts from T2D subjects secreted a two-fold larger amount of ATP compared to controls. Pre-treatment with apyrase or hexokinase also restored ATP stimulated glucose uptake in fibroblasts from diabetic subjects. These results suggest that extracellular ATP plays a role in the modulation of glucose transport via GLUT1, and that the P2Y-dependent GLUT1 activation is deficient in fibroblasts from T2D individuals. Our observations may point to additional therapeutic targets for improving glucose utilization in diabetes.

Protein kinase C-promoted inhibition of Galpha(11)-stimulated phospholipase C-beta activity

The effects of protein kinase C (PKC) activation on inositol lipid signaling were examined. Using the turkey erythrocyte model of receptor-regulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis, we developed a membrane reconstitution assay to study directly the effects of activation of PKC on the activities of Galpha(11), independent of potential effects on the receptor or on PLC-beta. Membranes isolated from erythrocytes pretreated with 4beta-phorbol-12beta-myristate-13alpha-acetate (PMA) exhibited a decreased capacity for Galpha(11)-mediated activation of purified, reconstituted PLC-beta1. This inhibitory effect was dependent on both the time and concentration of PMA incubation and occurred as a decrease in the efficacy of GTPgammaS for activation of PLC-beta1, both in the presence and absence of agonist; no change in the apparent affinity for the guanine nucleotide occurred. Similar inhibitory effects were observed after treatment with the PKC activator phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate but not after treatment with an inactive phorbol ester. The inhibitory effects of PMA were prevented by coaddition of the PKC inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide. Although the effects of PKC could be localized to the membrane, no phosphorylation of Galpha(11) occurred either in vitro in the presence of purified PKC or in intact erythrocytes after PMA treatment. These results support the hypothesis that a signaling protein other than Galpha(11) is the target for PKC and that PKC-promoted phosphorylation of this protein results in a phosphorylation-dependent suppression of Galpha(11)-mediated PLC-beta1 activation.

Cyclic AMP-induced desensitization of G-protein-regulated phospholipase C in turkey erythrocyte membranes

The interaction of the cyclic AMP and inositol lipid signalling systems was studied in turkey erythrocytes. Elevation of intracellular cyclic AMP concentrations by pretreatment of the cells with forskolin or 8-Br-cAMP resulted in a marked decrease in responsiveness of phospholipase C to G-protein activators in membranes prepared from treated cells. Decreases in responsiveness occurred with a t1/2 of approximately 5 min and were reversible after transfer of desensitized cells to drug-free medium. Pretreatment of the cells with forskolin inhibited inositol phosphate formation in a concentration-dependent manner and addition of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor IBMX 93-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine) during pretreatment increased the capacity of forskolin to desensitize phospholipase C activity. IBMX also produced a similar potentiation of forskolin-stimulated accumulation of cyclic AMP in turkey erythrocytes. Isoproterenol pretreatment of the cells induced, like forskolin, partial inhibition of inositol phosphate generation in response to G-protein activators and to P2y purinoceptor and beta-adrenoceptor agonists. The capacity of isoproterenol to induce desensitization of phospholipase C activity also was increased by the presence of IBMX during pretreatment of the cells. H8 (N-[2-(methylamino)ethyl]-5-isoquinoline-sulfonamide), an inhibitor of cyclic AMP-regulated protein kinase, completely prevented forskolin-induced desensitization but only partially blocked isoproterenol-induced desensitization. These results indicate that the cyclic AMP signalling cascade has a major inhibitory influence on receptor- and G-protein-activated inositol lipid signaling.

The histamine H1 receptor in GT1-7 neuronal cells is regulated by calcium influx and KN-62, a putative inhibitor of calcium/calmodulin protein kinase II

1. In GT1-7 cells, histamine stimulated the initial [Ca2+]i transient in a dose-dependent manner with a best-fit EC50 value of 4.2 +/- 4.2 microM (mean +/- s.e.mean, n = 4) and a best-fit maximal effect of 138 +/- 56 nM (n = 4) increase above basal calcium levels. 2. Pretreatment of cells with 30 microM histamine for 30 min desensitized the population mean peak calcium signal by 53% to 75 +/- 9 nM, (n = 3, P < 0.04). Analysis of the individual cells revealed that 39 +/- 7% (n = 94 cells from 8 experiments) of pretreated cells exhibited desensitized histamine-stimulated [Ca2+]i transients of < or = 1 standard deviation below the control cells mean calcium transient level. 3. The desensitization induced by histamine was prevented (P < 0.01) by KN-62 (10 microM), a putative inhibitor of the calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII). KN-62 (10 microM) alone did not induce [Ca2+]i mobilization, nor did it antagonize the histamine-stimulated [Ca2+]i signal. In addition, KN-62 did not appear to have its effect by hastening the rate of recovery from desensitization. 4. Histamine pretreatment in nominal (zero calcium + 0.2 mM EGTA) or in low (0.3 mM) extracellular calcium did not induce histamine receptor desensitization, supporting a role for extracellular calcium in the homologous H1 receptor desensitization process. 5. Histamine (30 microM) stimulated at least four different types of [Ca2+]i signals in GT1-7 cells. The majority (61%) were of single spikes with the remaining cells showing some form of calcium oscillatory behaviour. The proportion of GT1-7 cells showing histamine-induced calcium oscillations was histamine concentration-dependent and significantly reduced after acute desensitization. KN-62, when present during histamine pretreatment, prevented this fall in calcium oscillation. Under the conditions of nominal or 0.3 mM extracellular calcium the proportion of cells exhibiting histamine-stimulated calcium oscillations was not significantly different from the controls. 6. Bradykinin stimulated a [Ca2+]i transient in GT1-7 cells with a population mean peak response of 147 +/- 8 nM (n = 5) over basal levels. The bradykinin-induced [Ca2+]i signal was without any calcium oscillatory activity. Histamine pretreatment caused the heterologous desensitization of the bradykinin [Ca2+]i signal (44% reduction, P < 0.007), which was unaffected by KN-62. 7. The results presented here suggest that the histamine-mediated homologous H1 receptor desensitization process involves extracellular calcium and can be blocked by KN-62, a putative inhibitor of CaMKII. In contrast, KN-62 does not appear to prevent the histamine-mediated heterologous desensitization cascade. These findings suggest fundamental differences in the mechanisms underlying homologous and heterologous H1 receptor desensitization pathways in GT1-7 neuronal cells.

Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) receptors induce intracellular calcium changes in mouse leydig cells

Cytoplasmic calcium ([Ca(2+)](i)) changes evoked by adenosine 5(1)-triphosphate (ATP) were recorded in cultured individual Leydig cells within 10-18 h after cell dispersion. [Ca(2+)](i) was monitored using Fura-2AM loaded cells with a digital ratio imaging system. Five micromolars ATP induced biphasic [Ca(2+)](i) responses in most cells (94%,n=100), characterized by a fast increase from a basal level (126±5 nMSE,n=60 cells) to a peak (5-7 times above basal levels) within seconds, followed by a slow decrease toward a plateau level (2-3 times above basal) within 5 min. The peak phase of the [Ca(2+)](i) response increased with ATP concentrations (1-100 μM ATP) in a dose-dependent manner with an IC(50) of 5.9±1.2 μM, and it desensitized in a reversible manner with repeated application of 5 μM ATP at <5-min intervals. The [Ca(2+)](i) peak response was dependent on Ca(2+) release from an intracellular pool, whereas the plateau phase was dependent on extracellular [Ca(2+)]. ATP did not appear to induce formation of nonspecific membrane pores, since stimulation for 10 min with ATP (10-100 μM) in the presence of extracellular Lucifer yellow (LY) (5 mg/mL) did not result in dye loading of the cells. [Ca(2+)](i) transients were elicited by other adenosine nucleotides with an order of potencies (ATP>Adenosine diphosphate [ADP]>Adenosine> Adenosine monophosphate [AMP]) that was compatible with the expression of P(2) receptors. [Ca(2+)](i) responses were suppressed by the purinergic P(2) receptor antagonist, suramin. These results provide functional evidence for the expression of purinergic P(2) receptors in Leydig cells.

Receptor-induced heterologous desensitization of receptor-regulated phospholipase C

Activation of the P2Y purinoceptor on turkey erythrocytes results in a G11-mediated activation of a phospholipase C-beta isoenzyme and hydrolysis of polyphosphoinositides. The role of the protein kinase C and Ca(2+)-mobilizing arms of the inositol lipid signalling cascade in P2Y purinoceptor-induced desensitization of phospholipase C has been examined using erythrocytes as a model system. Preincubation of intact erythrocytes with either P2Y purinoceptor agonist, ADP beta S, or the protein kinase C-activating phorbol ester, phorbol 12-myristate, 13 acetate (PMA), resulted in a time of preincubation-dependent decrease in guanine nucleotide-, P2Y purinoceptor-, and beta-adrenoceptor-stimulated phospholipase C activities in membranes isolated from these cells. The extent of heterologous desensitization induced by ADP beta S and PMA were additive suggesting that they did not share a common mechanism. A lack of involvement of activation of protein kinase C in P2Y purinoceptor-induced heterologous desensitization was further supported by the observation that although protein kinase C inhibitors or down-regulation of protein kinase C resulted in a loss of PMA-induced desensitization, neither treatment affected the extent of P2Y purinoceptor-induced desensitization. In addition, elevation of intracellular Ca2+ or prevention of its elevation did not induce heterologous desensitization and had no effect on the desensitization induced by ADP beta S. Thus, neither the protein kinase C nor Ca2+ mobilizing arms of the inositol lipid signalling pathway appear to be involved in P2Y purinoceptor promoted heterologous desensitization of phospholipase C. These results are consistent with the existence of a novel feedback pathway for agonist-induced heterologous desensitization of a second messenger generating enzyme. Preincubation of cells with ADP beta S or the beta-adrenoceptor agonist, isoproterenol, followed by rechallenge with each of the receptor agonists revealed that receptor-specific desensitization occurs in addition to heterologous desensitization. Thus, multiple mechanisms account for agonist-induced desensitization of the inositol lipid signalling system of turkey erythrocytes.

ATP-evoked potassium currents in rat striatal neurons are mediated by a P2 purinergic receptor

The effect of ATP on cultured striatal neurons was examined by whole cell voltage clamp recordings. ATP produced outwardly rectifying currents that reversed near the expected equilibrium potential for the potassium ion and the currents were blocked by intracellular Cs+. Purinergic receptor agonists such as ADP, AMP adenosine, and 2-methylthio ATP (2-MeSATP) also evoked similar outward currents. The order of their potencies was ATP >> 2-MeSATP > or = ADP > adenosine > AMP, corresponding to a P2 purinergic receptor. ATP-evoked currents were blocked by a specific protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, GF109203X. In addition, the intracellular perfusion of a G-protein inactivator, GDP beta S abolished ATP-induced currents, whereas pertussis toxin (PTX) had no effect on the currents. These results suggest that ATP activates a potassium channel in striatal neurons, which is regulated by protein kinase C (PKC) activation through a P2 purinergic receptor linked to PTX-insensitive G protein.

Heterologous desensitization of bombesin- and vasopressin-stimulated phospholipase D activity in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts

Bombesin- and vasopressin-stimulated phospholipase D (PLD) activities are rapidly desensitized in 3T3 cells, in addition both agonists are subject to heterologous desensitization. Binding studies showed that homologous desensitization was partly a result of loss of cell surface receptors, whilst heterologous desensitization was independent of receptor changes. Pretreatment with either agonist reduced subsequent GTP gamma S-stimulated PLD activity by 50% whereas a pretreatment with GTP gamma S did not attenuate the response, suggesting that the G-protein or downstream effector systems were affected by receptor activation resulting in desensitization. The desensitization of receptor-stimulated PLD activation provides support for the phospholipase functioning in a key signalling pathway.

Homologous and heterologous regulation of receptor-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis

Signal transduction at a diverse range of pharmacologically distinct receptors is effected by the enhanced turnover of inositol phospholipids, with the attendant formation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and diacylglycerol. Although considerable progress has been made in recent years towards the identification and characterization of the individual components of this pathway, much less is known of mechanisms that may underlie its regulation. In this review, evidence is presented for the potential regulation of inositol lipid turnover at the level of receptor, phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C and substrate availability in response to either homologous or heterologous stimuli. Available data indicate that the extent of receptor-stimulated inositol lipid hydrolysis is regulated by multiple mechanisms that operate at different levels of the signal transduction pathway.

An immortalised murine hypothalamic neuronal cell, GT1-7, expresses functional histamine H1 receptors

Histamine, acting via H1 receptors, dose-dependently stimulated [3H]inositol phosphate production in GT1-7 neuronal cells. GT1-7 cells also responded to Substance P but not to other neuroactive drugs tested. Acute histamine pretreatment desensitised the histamine-induced response, resulting in a reduction in the maximal response and a slower time-course of [3H]-inositol phosphate production. The desensitisation phenomenon was reversible, with full recovery by 2 h.

Desensitization of histamine H1 receptor-mediated inositol phosphate accumulation in guinea pig cerebral cortex slices

1. Histamine stimulated the production of [3H]-inositol phosphates in untreated (control) guinea-pig cerebral cortex slices with a best-fit EC50 of 17 +/- 4 microM, and a best-fit maximum response of 385 +/- 23% over basal accumulation. 2. Histamine pretreatment desensitized guinea-pig cortex slices to a subsequent challenge with histamine, which was observed as a reduction in the best-fit maximum response to 182 +/- 32% over basal accumulation. 3. The time-course for the histamine-induced production of [3H]-inositol phosphates was approximately linear over 90 min of stimulation in both control and histamine pretreated slices. The rate of production in pretreated slices was significantly slowed compared to control, such that by 90 min of histamine stimulation the desensitized slices produced 2.8 times the basal [3H]-inositol phosphate accumulation compared to 5.3 fold the basal [3H]-inositol phosphate accumulation in the control slices. 4. Displacement of [3H]-mepyramine binding to homogenates of guinea-pig cerebral cortex by mepyramine and histamine revealed that histamine pretreatment did not alter the apparent affinity of the H1 receptor for histamine (control Kd = 6.3 +/- 0.7 microM, desensitized Kd = 7.9 +/- 1.6 microM) or mepyramine (control Kd = 3.4 +/- 0.8 nM, desensitized Kd = 3.4 +/- 1.3 nM), nor was there any reduction in the calculated maximum number of [3H]-mepyramine binding sites (control Bmax = 192 +/- 31 fmol mg-1 protein, desensitized Bmax = 220 +/- 50 fmol mg-1 protein). 5. The histamine-mediated desensitization of response in guinea-pig slices was mediated by the HI receptor subtype, since the attentuated maximum histamine-stimulated [3H]-inositol phosphate accumulation could not be prevented by inclusion of an H2- (ranitidine) and an H3- (thioperamide) receptor antagonist during the pretreatment period.6. The desensitized histamine-stimulated [3H]-inositol phosphate accumulation recovered to 90% of control levels over a period of 150 min after the removal of the conditioning dose of histamine, with a half-time of recovery of about 95 min.

Desensitization of histamine H1 receptor-mediated inositol phosphate production in HeLa cells

1. Histamine stimulated the accumulation of total [3H]-inositol phosphates (IPn) in control HeLa cells with an EC50 of 3.7 +/- 0.7 microM in the presence of 10 mM LiCl. The maximum response to histamine after 15 min incubation was 43 +/- 5% over basal accumulation and occurred at a concentration of 1 mM histamine. 2. The histamine-induced IPn production in HeLa cells was confirmed as H1 receptor-mediated, since the H1 antagonist mepyramine (10(-6) M) inhibited the histamine response (10(-4) M) by 83 +/- 7%, whereas the H2 antagonist, ranitidine (10(-4) M), and H3 antagonist, thioperamide (10(-6) M), were ineffective. 3. Histamine (10(-4) M) pretreatment of HeLa cells for 30 min desensitized the subsequent histamine-induced IPn accumulation. The desensitized cells accumulated IPn in response to histamine with an EC50 of 1.7 +/- 0.7 microM after 15 min incubation. The maximum histamine-induced IPn accumulation at 10(-4) M was 19 +/- 5% over basal and was significantly lower (P < 0.03) than the maximum response in control cells. 4. The desensitization of histamine-induced IPn accumulation was time-dependent and, at a desensitizing histamine concentration of 10(-4) M, the half-maximal attenuation occurred after approximately 9 min and maximum desensitization was achieved by 15-20 min. The desensitization of the IPn accumulation was a reversible phenomenon and full recovery of the response occurred 150 min after the removal of the desensitizing histamine-containing medium. The half-time for the recovery of the histamine-induced response was estimated at 120 min. 5. Bradykinin stimulated IPn, accumulation in HeLa cells, and the ECm in control cells of 1.9 +/- 0.2 nM was not significantly different from the EC50 value from histamine-pretreated cells of 1.6 +/- 0.9 nM. The bradykinin response at 1 microM was 194 +/- 48% over basal IPn accumulation in control cells and this value was significantly different (P <0.04) from the 1 microM bradykinin-induced IPn accumulation in histamine pretreated HeLa cells of 143 +/- 38% over basal.6. NaF stimulated IP,, accumulation in control HeLa cells in a dose-related manner, with the maximum effect occurring at 15-20 mM. The EC50 value for NaF-stimulated IPn accumulation in control cells was 10.5 +/- 1.1 mm and the maximum response was 136 +/- 41% over basal after 20 min incubation. In histamine desensitized HeLa cells the EC50 value for NaF was 12.3 +/- 0.4 mM after 20 min stimulation,which was not significantly different from the value obtained in control cells. The maximum NaF stimulated IPn formation in desensitized cells of 68 +/- 23% over basal occurred at 15 -20 mM and was significantly lower (P<0.01) than that obtained in control cells.7. We show here that the acute histamine pretreatment of HeLa cells results in the desensitization of histamine H1 receptor-mediated IPn production. The desensitization was not restricted to the H1 receptor-mediated signal transduction pathway, but also includes both the bradykinin- and NaF mediated responses, supporting a heterologous desensitization mechanism. Our results are consistent with the site of attenuation being at or distal to the G-protein and the underlying mechanism being a slowed time-course for the production of inositol phosphates.

Characterization of the effects of adenosine 5'-[beta-thio]-diphosphate in rat liver

1. In rat liver cells micromolar concentrations of adenosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate (ADP beta S), activate glycogen phosphorylase by an adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP)- independent mechanism. 2. As with adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP), ADP beta S also inhibits the rise in cyclic AMP after glucagon. 3. Cytosolic Ca2+ measured in single cells is rapidly increased with a pattern similar for ADP beta S and for ATP. 4. At variance with ATP, ADP beta S hardly increases inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) levels. 5. Phorbol myristic acetate, which inhibits only slightly the glycogenolytic effect of ATP, almost completely abolishes this effect of ADP beta S. 6. With adenosine 5'-[beta-[35S]thio]diphosphate (ADP beta[35S]) as radioligand, we detected specific purinoceptors on rat liver plasma membranes. Binding consists of a major binding component with KD = 0.7 microM and Bmax = 51 pmol mg-1 of protein, probably mediating the activation of glycogen phosphorylase, and a minor high affinity, low capacity binding component with no obvious function. 7. It is concluded that the differences in biological effects between ATP and ADP beta S may involve different receptors and/or different transduction mechanisms and that ADP beta[35S] can be used to detect the specific binding sites for ADP beta S.

Histamine-induced inositol phosphate accumulation in HeLa cells: lithium sensitivity

1. In the presence of 10 mM Li+ the histamine-stimulated accumulation of [3H]-inositol monophosphates [( 3H]-IP1) in HeLa cells prelabelled with [3H]-inositol increased over 10-20 min to a plateau level, which was normally maintained up to 60 min. Levels of [3H]-inositol bis- and trisphosphates [( 3H]-IP2 and [3H]-IP3) initially increased rapidly but declined to near basal levels by 20 min. 2. The same pattern of histamine-induced [3H]-IP1 accumulation was observed in cells in which [3H]-inositol was present 30 min before and during the incubation with histamine. Concentration-response curves for histamine measured in the presence of 10 mM Li+ were closely similar in cells prelabelled for 24 h with [3H]-inositol and in cells exposed to [3H]-inositol for only 30 min before addition of histamine, without removing the [3H]-inositol. The EC50 for histamine was 1.6 +/- 0.2 microM. 3. [3H]-IP1 accumulation induced by a sub-maximal concentration of histamine, 1 microM, also reached a plateau, but at a lower level than with 1 mM histamine. 4. Addition of 10 mM NaF at the plateau phase of [3H]-IP1 accumulation induced by 1 mM histamine resulted in a further increase in the level of [3H]-IP1. The level of [3H]-IP1 in the presence of histamine + NaF was 1.4 +/- 0.2 fold of that of the sum of the responses to histamine and NaF acting alone (basal levels subtracted). 5. Addition of 1 microM mepyramine at the plateau phase of [3H]-IP1 accumulation induced by 1 mM histamine in the presence of 10mM Li + resulted in a decline in the level of [3H]-IP1, implying that the metabolism of [3H]-IP1 is not completely blocked by 10mM Li' in HeLa cells. 6. Omission of the 15 min preincubation period with 10mM Li+ before stimulation with 100 microM histamine for 15 min resulted in an approximate halving of the level of [3H]-IP1, without any significant change in basal accumulation. Periods of preincubation with 10mM Li' longer than 15min did not produce any further increase in the level of [3H]-IP1 induced by histamine. 7. Basal and histamine-induced levels of [3H]-IP, increased as the concentration of Li+ was increased from 0 to 60mm, but the effect on the histamine-induced response was greater than on the basal level. Increasing the concentration of Li+ from 0 to 60 mm had only a small and mostly statistically insignificant effects on the levels of [3H]-1P2 and [3H]-1P3. The EC50 for histamine-induced [3H]-4P1 accumulation in the presence of 30mm Li + was 2.4 +/- 0.4 microM. 8. The results indicate that IP1 metabolism in HeLa cells is much less sensitive to Li+ than in mammalian brain. The plateau phase of histamine-induced [3H]-IP1 accumulation in the presence of 10mM Li+ thus represents a steady-state level. On a simple model the plateau level will be proportional to the rate of [3H]-IP1 formation at that time. The lower the concentration of Li' present, the better the approximation will be. The information obtained is thus not the same as when [3H]-1P, metabolism is completely blocked, in which case [3H]-IP1 accumulated can be used to calculate a mean rate of formation over the whole of the incubation period.

Identification of multiple phosphoinositide-linked receptors on human SK-N-MC neuroepithelioma cells

The biochemical and pharmacological characteristics of receptor-stimulated phosphoinositide (PPI) hydrolysis in human SK-N-MC neuroepithelioma cells have been examined. Of 11 ligands tested, the addition of four, i.e., norepinephrine, oxotremorine-M, endothelin-1, and ATP, each resulted in an increased release (three- to eightfold) of inositol phosphates from [3H]inositol-prelabeled cells. Agonist-stimulated PPI turnover was sustained for at least 30 min and required the addition of Ca2+ for full effect. An increased release of inositol phosphates could also be elicited by the addition of the Ca2+ ionophore, ionomycin. All four agonists enhanced the release of radiolabeled inositol mono- and bisphosphates, inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate, and inositol tetrakisphosphate. Increases in inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate were smaller and only consistently observed in the presence of norepinephrine or oxotremorine-M. Norepinephrine-stimulated PPI turnover was potently inhibited by prazosin, WB-4101, and 5-methylurapidil (Ki less than 2.5 nM), but was relatively insensitive to chlorethylclonidine pretreatment. This pharmacological profile is consistent with the involvement of an alpha 1A-receptor subtype. The presence of an M1 muscarinic cholinergic receptor is also indicated, because pirenzepine blocked oxotremorine-M-stimulated inositol phosphate release (Ki = 35 nM) with a 30-fold greater potency than the M2-selective antagonist, AF-DX 116. Of the three endothelins tested, only the addition of endothelin-1 and endothelin-2 promoted PPI hydrolysis, whereas endothelin-3 was essentially inactive. A P2 nucleotide receptor of broad agonist specificity is also present on these cells and activates PPI turnover in the absence of a generalized increase in plasma membrane permeability. These results indicate that SK-N-MC cells express at least four PPI-linked receptors. Because the functional coupling of three of these receptors, i.e., alpha 1A-adrenergic, endothelin, and P2 nucleotide, has not been extensively characterized previously in neural tissues, the SK-N-MC cell line may provide a useful model system for studies of these receptors and their regulation.

Biochemical properties of a P2Y-purinergic receptor

The turkey erythrocyte has substantial value as a model for the study of a receptor that exhibits pharmacological properties very similar to those delineated in mammalian tissues for a P2Y-purinergic receptor. The G protein-dependent coupling of this receptor to phospholipase C can be studied in detail, and the availability of an abundant source of homogeneous cells from which highly purified plasma membranes can be prepared, has led to the development of a radiolabeled, reversibly binding radioligand for a P2Y-purinergic receptor and a photoaffinity covalent radiolabel for this receptor. This source of plasma membranes highly enriched in P2Y-purinergic receptors should also serve as a rich starting material for the eventual purification and structural characterization of this important signaling protein.

Isolation of two novel adenosine binding proteins from bovine brain

Adenosine plays many significant roles both as a metabolic precursor and cell communicator. This report describes the preliminary characterization of two adenosine binding proteins isolated from bovine brain membranes. By using N6-9-aminononane adenosine labeled Sepharose 4B two major affinity bound proteins were purified having apparent molecular weights of 16 and 35 kDa. Either or both of the proteins could be selectively eluted from the affinity column with N6-9-aminononane adenosine, adenosine, cAMP, AMP, ADP, ATP, R-/S-phenylisopropyladenosine and NAD(H). By contrast, no proteins were eluted with caffeine, adenine, deoxyadenosine, 2',3'-AMP, inosine, IMP, xanthine, XMP, GMP, GTP or 5'-N-ethylcarboxamideadenosine. The selectivity of elution and lack of apparent enzymatic activity suggests that these proteins are novel membrane bound adenosine binding proteins.