Characterization of bradykinin-induced phosphoinositide turnover in neurohybrid NCB-20 cells

Gβγ signaling and Ca2+ mobilization co-operate synergistically in a Sos and Rac-dependent manner in the activation of JNK by Gq-coupled receptors

The mechanism by which G(q)-coupled receptors stimulate the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activity has not been fully delineated. Here, we showed that stimulation of endogenous G(q)-coupled receptors in human hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cells resulted in an Src family kinase- and Ca(2+)-dependent JNK activation. Cos-7 cells transfected with HA-tagged JNK and various G(q)-coupled receptors also exhibited similar characteristics and provided further evidence for the involvement of Gbetagamma, an upstream intermediate for Src family kinases. The Ca(2+) and Gbetagamma signals operate in a high degree of independence. Transient expression of Gbetagamma subunits and elevation of cytoplasmic Ca(2+) level by thapsigargin activated JNK in a synergistic fashion. JNK activities triggered by G(q)-coupled receptors, Gbetagamma and thapsigargin were all suppressed by dominant negative (DN) mutants of Son of sevenless (Sos) and Rac. We propose that the co-operative effect between Gbetagamma-mediated signaling and the increased intracellular Ca(2+) level represents a robust mechanism for the stimulation of JNK by G(q)-coupled receptors.

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.

Traumatic optic neuropathy

Knowledge concerning the pathophysiologic mechanisms of traumatic optic neuropathy is limited. The optic nerve is a tract of the brain. Therefore, the cellular and biochemical pathophysiology of brain and spinal cord trauma and ischemia provide insight into mechanisms that may operate in traumatic optic neuropathy. The dosage of methylprednisolone (30 mg/kg/6 hours) which was successful in the National Acute Spinal Cord Injury Study 2 (NASCIS 2) evolved from the unique pharmacology of corticosteroids as antioxidants. The management of traumatic optic neuropathy rests on an accurate diagnosis which begins with a comprehensive clinical assessment and appropriate neuroimaging. The results of medical and surgical strategies for treating this injury have not been demonstrated to be better than those achieved without treatment. The spinal cord is a mixed grey and white matter tract of the brain in contrast to the optic nerve which is a pure white matter tract. The treatment success seen with methylprednisolone in the NASCIS 2 study may not generalize to the treatment of traumatic optic neuropathy. Conversely, if the treatment does generalize to the optic nerve, NASCIS 2 data suggests that treatment must be started within eight hours of injury, making traumatic optic neuropathy one of the true ophthalmic emergencies. Given the uncertainties in the treatment, ophthalmologists involved in the management of traumatic optic neuropathy are encouraged to participate in the collaborative study of traumatic optic neuropathy.

Loss of responses to bradykinin, ATP or carbachol follows depletion of a shared pool of calcium ions

Treatment of NCB-20 neuronal hybrid cells in culture with 100 microM ATP, 100 microM carbachol or 1 microM bradykinin is followed by a transient rise in intracellular calcium ion concentration ([Ca2+]i). Exposure of these cells to any one of these three agonists (ATP, carbachol or bradykinin) is also followed by heterologous desensitization of responses mediated by either of the other two classes of agonist. The heterologous desensitization is not inhibited by Ro-31-2880 (a selective protein kinase C inhibitor), neither is it accompanied by a reduction in the receptor-dependent increase in inositol trisphosphate. Cells were pre-treated in the absence or presence of extracellular Ca2+ with 1 microM bradykinin, 100 microM carbachol or carrier alone, and thereafter exposed to 1 microM ionomycin. The results showed that pre-treatment with bradykinin or carbachol reduced the maximum increase in [Ca2+]i triggered by ionomycin. Exposure of cells to 1 microM ionomycin in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ totally eliminated the subsequent increase in [Ca2+]i mediated by bradykinin, ATP or carbachol. The results indicate that the heterologous desensitization that follows exposure to bradykinin, ATP or carbachol in NCB-20 cells is mediated by a reduction in a shared pool of intracellular calcium ions.

The neuropeptide bradykinin stimulates phosphoinositide turnover in HSDM1C1 cells: B2-antagonist-sensitive responses and receptor binding studies

Bradykinin (BK) and its analogs (1 nM-100 microM) stimulated phosphoinositide (PI) turnover in murine fibrosarcoma (HSDM1C1) cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The relative potencies (EC50) were: BK = 48 +/- 4 nM; Lys-BK = 39 +/- 3 nM; Met-Lys-BK = 158 +/- 33 nM, Des-Arg9-BK = 2617 +/- 598 nM (means +/- SEM, n = 3-14). All these analogs were full agonists and they produced up to 5.4 +/- 0.4-fold stimulation of PI turnover at the highest concentration (10-100 microM) of the peptides. In contrast, the analogs [D-Arg0-HYP3-Thienyl5,8-D-Phe7]-BK (HYP3-antagonist), [D-Arg0-HYP3-Thienyl,5,8-D-Phe7]-BK (Thienyl antagonist) and Des-Arg9-Leu8-BK were inactive, as agonists, at 0.1 nM-1 microM in this system. These data suggested that BK-induced PI turnover in these cells was mediated via B2-type of BK receptors. This was confirmed further by the fact that both the B2-selective Hyp3- and Thienyl-antagonists inhibited BK-induced PI turnover with KBS of 369 +/- 51 nM and 368 +/- 118 nM respectively while the B1-selective antagonist, Des-Arg9-Leu8-BK, was inactive at 1 microM. [3H]BK receptor binding studies revealed two binding sites, one with high affinity (Kd = 0.24 +/- 0.06 nM; Bmax = 1.4 +/- 0.4 pmol/g tissue) and the other with low affinity (Kd = 18.5 +/- 0.95 nM; Bmax = 25.1 +/- 0.52 pmol/g tissue), on HSDM1C1 cell homogenates. The rank order of affinity of BK analogs at inhibiting specific [3H]BK binding was similar to that found for PI turnover.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Regulation of bradykinin-induced phosphoinositide turnover in cultured cerebellar astrocytes: possible role of protein kinase C

Phosphoinositide hydrolysis was studied in primary cultures of rat cerebellar astrocytes prelabeled with [3H]myo-inositol. Among the agonists examined, the rank order of efficacies in causing phosphoinositide hydrolysis was bradykinin > endothelin-1 > ATP > norepinephrine. The bradykinin response was robust (24-fold increase) with EC50 value of 30 nM and saturating concentration of 1 microM. Preincubation of cells with pertussis toxin did not affect the activation of phosphoinositide turnover by bradykinin. Although short-term (within 90 min) treatment of cells with phorbol dibutyrate attenuated bradykinin-induced phosphoinositide breakdown, the inhibitory effect was lost after 3-6 h of phorbol dibutyrate treatment. Extended (24 h) preincubation resulted in a potentiation of bradykinin response. Homologous desensitization of bradykinin response was observed in cells prestimulated with bradykinin for up to 6 h. However, similar to the effect of phorbol dibutyrate, 24-h pretreatment with bradykinin selectively sensitized the response to bradykinin. Up-regulation of the bradykinin response was also observed in cells prestimulated with endothelin-1 or norepinephrine for 24 h, although these treatments resulted in only homologous desensitization to their own response. Our results suggest that cultured cerebellar astrocytes express bradykinin receptors coupled to phospholipase C and in these cells protein kinase C plays a more prominent role in the negative-feedback regulation of bradykinin-evoked phosphoinositide response.

Bradykinin receptors: pharmacological properties and biological roles

Kinins contribute to the acute inflammatory response and are implicated in the pathophysiology of inflammatory disease. The development of therapeutically viable agents that counteract the effects of kinins is, therefore, potentially very rewarding. Since kinin actions are generally mediated via an interaction with cell-surface receptors, one approach is the development of site-specific receptor antagonists. The emphasis in this review is to outline our current understanding of the properties of bradykinin receptors and the potential therapeutic applications for drugs acting at these sites. As a result of the recent introduction of potent bradykinin receptor antagonists and the cloning of bradykinin receptor genes, considerable advances in kinin research can now be confidently anticipated.

Inhibition of cyclic AMP accumulation in intact NCB-20 cells as a direct result of elevation of cytosolic Ca2+

Earlier studies established that adenylyl cyclase in NCB-20 cell plasma membranes is inhibited by concentrations of Ca2+ that are achieved in intact cells. The present studies were undertaken to prove that agents such as bradykinin and ATP, which elevate the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) from internal stores in NCB-20 cells, could inhibit cyclic AMP (cAMP) accumulation as a result of their mobilization of [Ca2+]i and not by other mechanisms. Both bradykinin and ATP transiently inhibited [3H]cAMP accumulation in parallel with their transient mobilization of [Ca2+]i. The [Ca2+]i rise stimulated by bradykinin could be blocked by treatment with thapsigargin; this thapsigargin treatment precluded the inhibition of cAMP accumulation mediated by bradykinin (and ATP). A rapid rise in [Ca2+]i, as elicited by bradykinin, rather than the slow rise evoked by thapsigargin was required for inhibition of [3H]cAMP accumulation. Desensitization of protein kinase C did not modify the inhibitory action of bradykinin on [3H]cAMP. Effects of Ca2+ on phosphodiesterase were also excluded in the present studies. The accumulated data are consistent with the hypothesis that hormonal mobilization of [Ca2+]i leads directly to the inhibition of cAMP accumulation in these cells and presumably in other cells that express the Ca(2+)-inhibitable form of adenylyl cyclase.

Manipulation of intracellular calcium in NCB-20 cells

A number of lines of evidence indicate that the Ca2+ and cyclic AMP signalling systems interact in NCB-20 cells. However, to date, the regulation of [Ca2+]i homeostasis has not been studied in this cell line. The present study aimed to clarify our understanding of [Ca2+]i homeostasis in these cells and to evaluate tools that manipulate [Ca2+]i, independently of protein kinase C effects. Bradykinin, by a B2-receptor, elevated [Ca2+]i by a pertussis-toxin-insensitive mechanism. The BK-stimulated [Ca2+]i rise originated from intracellular sources, without a contribution from Ca2+ entry mechanisms. The effect of BK was precluded by pretreatment with thapsigargin and ionomycin--compounds that elevated [Ca2+]i independent of phospholipase C activation. Both compounds, however, exerted effects in addition to stimulating release of Ca2+ from BK-sensitive stores; the BK-sensitive Ca2+ pool was a subset of the thapsigargin-sensitive pool; ionomycin strongly stimulates Ca2+ entry. Activation of protein kinases A and C attenuated the duration of the BK-induced rise in [Ca2+]i, without affecting the peak [Ca2+]i, suggesting interference with the BK response at a step downstream of the activation of phospholipase C. Application of these approaches should enhance the delineation of the consequences of Ca2+ mobilization on cyclic AMP accumulation.

Inhibition of cAMP accumulation by intracellular calcium mobilization in C6-2B cells stably transfected with substance K receptor cDNA

C6-2B rat glioma cells were stably transfected with substance K receptor cDNA and used to study interactions between cAMP and Ca2+ signaling pathways. Activation of the newly expressed receptors by substance K increased the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration, as monitored by single-cell fura-2 imaging, and markedly inhibited agonist-stimulated cAMP accumulation. Blockade of intracellular Ca2+ mobilization abolished the substance K receptor-mediated inhibition of isoproterenol-induced cAMP production. Phosphodiesterase inhibitors, down-regulation or inhibition of protein kinase C, and pertussis toxin failed to prevent substance K-induced inhibition of agonist-stimulated cAMP accumulation. An increased intracellular Ca2+ concentration caused by either calcium ionophores or activation of endogenous bradykinin receptors was found to markedly reduce cAMP production in wild-type cells. These results demonstrate that elevated intracellular Ca2+ concentration can negatively modulate agonist-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in C6-2B glioma cells.

Bradykinin receptors of cerebral microvessels stimulate phosphoinositide turnover

We examined by ligand binding methods whether bradykinin (BK) receptors exist in rat and pig cerebral microvessels, and in the cerebral cortex from which the microvessels were isolated. We found a high-affinity and saturable BK receptor site in both rat and pig cerebral microvessels, but not in their cerebral cortex. The maximal density of binding and the dissociation constant were 8.0 +/- 4.1 and 6.8 +/- 1.5 fmol/mg of protein and 47 +/- 24 and 150 +/- 8 pM (mean +/- SD) in cerebral microvessels of the pig and rat, respectively. The high-affinity specific binding of BK was effectively displaced by des-Arg0[Hyp3-Thi5-8,D-Phe7]BK, a specific B2 receptor antagonist, but not by des-Arg9[Leu8]BK, a specific B1 antagonist. We also demonstrated that BK increases phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis in cerebral microvessels of the rat and pig. This effect was also blocked by the B2, but not by the B1, antagonist. Increased phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis was manifested by a rapid transient increase in inositol trisphosphate and the later slow accumulation of inositol bisphosphate and inositol monophosphate. Preincubation of microvessels with phorbol ester, stable GTP analogs, pertussis toxin, or in Ca(2+)-free buffer did not influence BK activation of phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis. These results demonstrate the existence of BK receptors of the B2 subtype in brain microvessels, which may play an important role in modulation of the brain microcirculation, probably via increased phosphoinositide turnover.

Simultaneous monitoring of cytosolic free calcium and exocytosis at the single cell level

Abstract Quinacrine, a fluorescent basic molecule, accumulates in secretory granules of pituitary cells, as was revealed by its colocalization with immunoreactive prolactin. Thus quinacrine fluorescence may be used to monitor secretory activity at the single cell level. Rat pituitary cells in primary culture were loaded with quinacrine and stimulated with physiological secretagogues, such as thyrotrophin-releasing hormone or bradykinin, which induced a multiphasic lowering of fluorescence, corresponding to the loss of quinacrine contained in exocytosed granules. Quinacrine was further used in combination with the fluorescent calcium probe fura-2, in order to monitor simultaneously exocytosis and variations in the cytosolic free calcium concentration, [Ca(2+)](i). With an appropriate selection of the excitation wavelengths, in dual excitation microfluorimetry experiments, it was possible to distinguish between fluorescence changes due to altered [Ca(2+)](i) versus quinacrine exocytosis. Transient elevations of [Ca(2+)](i) were provoked in individual pituitary cells by enhancing calcium influx through voltage gated channels. In part of the cells an initial increase in [Ca(2+)](i) coincided with stimulated quinacrine release. The approach was also applied to cells of the neuroblastoma line NCB20, where stimulation with bradykinin caused a transient rise in [Ca(2+)](i), concomitantly with enhanced exocytosis. No increase in exocytosis was ever detected without an elevation of [Ca(2+)](i), suggesting that in both cellular systems, an increase in [Ca(2+)](i), is absolutely necessary, but not sufficient to induce secretion.

High-affinity bradykinin receptor-catalyzed G protein activation in rat myometrium

Binding of the labelled GTP analog, guanosine-5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate ([35S]GTP[S] to G proteins was studied in rat myometrial membranes in the presence of GDP (1 microM). Binding was stimulated by bradykinin at subnanomolar concentrations. while oxotremorine increased binding of [35S]GTP[S] to myometrial membranes at micromolar concentrations. The bradykinin-induced stimulation was antagonized by the receptor antagonist, [D-Arg-(Hyp3, Thi5,8, D-Phe7)]bradykinin. Addition of NaCl (150 nM) decreased control binding and abolished the stimulatory effect of bradykinin. On the other hand, addition of CaCl2 (5 mM) had no effect on control binding but also prevented the bradykinin-induced increased in [35S]GTP[S] binding. Saturation experiments revealed that activation of the bradykinin receptor leads to about a three-fold increase in the apparent GTP[S] binding affinity of about 30% of the total GTP[S] binding sites measured in these membranes. The results provide evidence for a high-affinity bradykinin receptor in rat myometrial membranes which interacts with and activates G proteins. This receptor action, which appears to be under the control of both sodium and calcium ions, is catalytic and leads to a large signal amplification, in that one agonist-liganded bradykinin receptor can apparently activate up to 100 G proteins.

Role of calcium in regulation of phosphoinositide signaling pathway

Using primary neuronal cultures we have examined the role of extracellular Ca2+ in a receptor-regulated phosphoinositide turnover. We report that receptor (glutamic acid and acetylcholine)-activated phosphoinositide turnover requires the presence of extracellular Ca2+ (EC50 = 21.1 microM). The requirement for Ca2+ appears to be at an intracellular level and is highly selective for Ca2+. We also found that several inorganic and organic Ca2+ channel blockers, including La3+ and verapamil, inhibit phosphoinositide turnover. However, the pharmacological profile of these agents in this regard was distinct from their actions at the voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels. To explain the above requirement for extracellular Ca2+ in agonist-stimulated phosphoinositide turnover and its sensitivity to Ca(2+)-channel blockers, we propose a hypothetical model suggesting that Ca2+, following IP-3-mediated mobilization, exerts a facilitatory action on the activity of receptor-phospholipase C complex. We further propose that in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ or in the presence of certain Ca(2+)-channel blockers, refilling of calciosomes is ineffectual or inhibited, causing its depletion and subsequent inactivation of agonist-stimulated phosphoinositide turnover.

Characterization of platelet-activating factor-induced elevation of cytosolic free-calcium level in neurohybrid NCB-20 cells

The effect of platelet-activating factor on the intracellular cytosolic level of free calcium ([Ca2+]i) was studied in neurohybrid NCB-20 cells. In fura-2-loaded NCB-20 cells, platelet-activating factor induced an immediate and concentration-dependent increase in [Ca2+]i with a maximum increase of 334 +/- 27 nM above a basal value of 147 +/- 6 nM (n = 40). Platelet-activating factor-induced [Ca2+]i mobilization was inhibited by the platelet-activating factor antagonists BN 50739, WEB 2086, SRI 63-441 and BN 52021 in a dose-dependent manner with IC50 values of 12, 38, 897 and 45000 nM, respectively. The calcium-channel blockers nifedipine (10 microM) and diltiazem (10 microM) had no effect on the platelet-activating factor-induced increase in [Ca2+]i; however, extracellular Ca(2+)-depletion caused a 63.6 +/- 4.7% reduction of platelet-activating factor-induced increase in [Ca2+]i (n = 5, P less than 0.001). The remaining 36% contributed from intracellular sources was completely inhibited by 10 microM of 8-(N,N-diethylamine)octyl 3,4,5-trimethoxytenzoate hydrochloride (TMB-8). NCB-20 cells exhibited homologous desensitization to sequential addition of platelet-activating factor, but no heterologous desensitization between platelet-activating factor and bradykinin or ATP was observed. These data suggest that activation of the neuronal platelet-activating factor receptor results in an increase in [Ca2+]i primarily via a receptor-operated rather than a voltage-dependent calcium-channel and to a lesser extent from intracellular Ca2+ release. Our findings may contribute to an understanding of the mechanism of platelet-activating factor actions on neuronal cells.

Receptor-linked early events induced by vasoactive intestinal contractor (VIC) on neuroblastoma and vascular smooth-muscle cells

Vasoactive intestinal contractor (VIC) caused a series of biochemical events, including the temporal biphasic accumulation of 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG), transient formation of Ins(1,4,5)P3, and increase in intracellular free Ca2+ [( Ca2+]i) in neuroblastoma NG108-15 cells. In these cellular responses, VIC was found to be much more potent in NG108-15 cells than in cultured rat vascular smooth-muscle cells. The single cell [Ca2+]i assay revealed that in the presence of nifedipine (1 microM) or EGTA (1 mM), the peak [Ca2+]i declined more rapidly to the resting level in VIC-stimulated NG108-15 cells, indicating that the receptor-mediated intracellular Ca2+ mobilization is followed by Ca2+ influx through the nifedipine-sensitive Ca2+ channel. Pretreatment with pertussis toxin only partially decreased Ins(1,4,5)P3 generation as well as the [Ca2+]i transient induced by VIC, whereas these events induced by endothelin-1 were not affected by the toxin, suggesting involvement of distinct GTP-binding proteins. The VIC-induced transient Ins(1,4,5)P3 formation coincident with the first early peak of DAG formation suggested that PtdIns(4,5)P2 is a principal source of the first DAG increase. Labelling studies with [3H]myristate, [14C]palmitate and [3H]choline indicated that in neuroblastoma cells phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) was hydrolysed by a phospholipase C to cause the second sustained DAG increase. Down-regulation of protein kinase C (PKC) by prolonged pretreatment with phorbol ester markedly prevented the VIC-induced delayed DAG accumulation. Furthermore, chelation of intracellular CA2+ completely abolished the second sustained phase of DAG production. These findings suggest that PtdCho hydrolysis is responsible for the sustained production of DAG and is dependent on both Ca2+ and PKC.

Effect of endothelins on cytosolic free calcium concentration in neuroblastoma NG108-15 and NCB-20 cells

The effects of endothelin(ET)-1, ET-2, ET-3 and Big ET on intracellular level of Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) were studied in neuroblastoma NG108-15 and NCB-20 cells. All ETs, except Big ET, induced an increase in [CA2+]i in NG108-15 cells in a dose-dependent manner, with EC50: 6.7, 11.2 and 71 nM, respectively. However, none of the ET increased [Ca2+]i in NCB-20 cells. Calcium channel blockers diltiazem or nicardipine had no effect on ET-induced increase in [CA2+]i, but extracellular Ca2(+)-depletion significantly reduced the response of NG108-15 cells to ETs. NG108-15 cells exhibited a homologous desensitization to sequential addition of ETs, but no heterologous desensitization among ET, bradykinin and PAF was observed. These data suggest that ET-induced receptor activation results in increased intracellular Ca2+ via a non voltage calcium channel mechanism and intracellular Ca2+ release.

Regulation by batrachotoxin, veratridine, and monensin of basal and carbachol-induced phosphoinositide hydrolysis in neurohybrid NCB-20 cells

Batrachotoxin (BTX), veratridine and monensin induced a time- and dose-dependent increase of [3H]-inositol monophosphate (3H-IP1) accumulation in the presence of lithium in prelabeled neurohybrid NCB-20 cells. A decrease of NaCl concentration to less than 30 mM markedly increased basal 3H-IP1 accumulation; however, the percentage of stimulation induced by these three agents remained unchanged even in the complete absence of sodium. The stimulation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis induced by these agents was detected in the absence of lithium but was largely prevented in the calcium-free medium. Tetradotoxin (TTX) blocked effects of BTX and veratridine (IC50 approximately 20nM), but not that stimulated by monensin. Thus, calcium-dependent activation of phospholipase C by these agents did not involve the entry of sodium or lithium. BTX and monensin also induced greater than additive effects on carbachol-induced 3H-IP1 accumulation. These effects were also TTX-sensitive and involved an increase in the Vmax and a decrease in the EC50 for carbachol. Veratridine provoked strikingly different effects on carbachol-dependent phosphoinositide turnover, depending on the passage number of the cells.

Further evidence against the coupling of dopamine receptors to phosphoinositide hydrolysis in rat striatum

The effects of D1 and D2 dopamine receptor agonists on phosphoinositide hydrolysis were studied by measuring the accumulation of radioactive inositol phosphates in slices of rat corpus striatum prelabelled with [3H]inositol. All assays were performed in the presence of lithium. Neither the D1 receptor agonist SKF 38393 nor the D2 receptor agonist quinpirole, alone or in combination, had an effect on basal accumulation of inositol phosphates. The muscarinic receptor agonist carbachol produced a robust increase in the accumulation of inositol monophosphate and a smaller increase in the accumulation of inositol bisphosphate. These effects were not altered by the presence of quinpirole. Additionally, quinpirole also had no effect when assays were conducted in the presence of the muscarinic receptor antagonist scopolamine, the glutamic acid receptor antagonist kynurenic acid, and the antioxidant glutathione. These results are discussed in relation to recent contradictory reports and lend support to the position that D2 dopamine receptors are not coupled to phosphoinositide hydrolysis in rat striatum.

Receptor stimulated formation of inositol phosphates in cultures of bovine adrenal medullary cells: the effects of bradykinin, bombesin and neurotensin

The ability of a number of drugs and neuropeptides to stimulate phosphoinositide metabolism in cultured bovine adrenal medullary cells has been assessed. Low concentrations (10 nM) of angiotensin II, bradykinin, histamine, arginine-vasopressin, and bombesin, and high (10 microM) concentrations of oxytocin, prostaglandins E1, and E2, beta-endorphin, and neurotensin stimulated significant accumulation of [3H]inositol phosphates in adrenal medullary cells preloaded with [3H)]inositol. Bradykinin stimulated a significant response at concentration as low as 10pM, with an EC50 of approximately 0.5 nM. The response was markedly inhibited by the bradykinin B2 antagonist [Thi5,8,D-Phe7] bradykinin but not the B1 antagonist [Des-Arg9,Leu8] bradykinin. Higher concentrations of bombesin and neurotensin were required to elicit a response (10 nM and 10 microM respectively). The bombesin response was sensitive to inhibition by the bombesin antagonist [D-Arg1,D-Pro2,D-Trp7,9Leu11]-substance P. In contrast, the neurotensin response was not reduced by the NT1 antagonist [D-Trp11]-neurotensin. These results indicate there are a number of agents that can stimulate phosphatidylinositide hydrolysis in the adrenal medullary cells by acting on different classes of receptors. Such a range of diverse agonists that stimulate inositol phosphate formation will facilitate further analysis of the phosphatidylinositide breakdown in chromaffin cell function.

A high-affinity bradykinin receptor in membranes from rat myometrium is coupled to pertussis toxin-sensitive G-proteins of the Gi family

In rat myometrial membranes, two 3H-Bradykinin binding sites with KD values of 16 pM and 1.0 nM were identified. Employed at pM concentrations, bradykinin stimulated high affinity GTPases. This effect was abolished by the bradykinin antagonist, [D-Arg(Hyp3-Thi5,8, D-Phe7)]bradykinin (10 microM), and by treatment of membranes with pertussis toxin. Myometrial membranes contained two pertussis toxin substrates of 40 and 41 kDa, which corresponded immunologically to alpha-subunits of Gi-type G-proteins. The faster migrating substrate was tentatively identified as Gi2 alpha-subunit. The electrophoretic mobility of the slower migrating Gi alpha-subunit was very similar to that of the Gi3 alpha-subunit. Go alpha-subunits were not detected. Thus, in uterine smooth muscle, G-proteins of the Gi-family (Gi2, Gi3) couple high-affinity bradykinin receptors to their effector enzymes.

Stimulation of mono- and diacylglycerol lipase activities by bradykinin in neural cultures

Neural cultures of fetal mouse spinal cord, mouse neuroblastoma (N1E-115) and mixed primary glial cell cultures from neonatal rat brain display measurable activities of mono- and diacylglycerol lipases. Treatment of fetal mouse spinal cord cultures with bradykinin (10 nM) for 1-4 min resulted in a marked increase in specific activities of mono- and diacylglycerol lipases. This is the first direct demonstration that bradykinin can act through the lipase pathway. The increase in activities of lipases was dose and time dependent. The bradykinin response was blocked by [Thi5,8, D-Phe7]bradykinin, a bradykinin B-2 receptor antagonist, indicating that the bradykinin induced stimulation of lipase activities involves bradykinin receptors.

Effects of bradykinin, GTP gamma S, R59022 and N-ethylmaleimide on inositol phosphate production in NG108-15 cells

Accumulation of inositol phosphates in NG108-15 neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid cells, pre-labeled for 24h to equilibrium, was stimulated by bradykinin, guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) and the diacylglycerol kinase inhibitor R59022. Only the stimulation by bradykinin was inhibited by the bradykinin receptor antagonist [D-Arg0, Hyp3, Phe7, Thi5,8] bradykinin. Neither bradykinin nor R059022 increased the labeling of the inositol phospholipids. The sulfhydryl-alkylating reagent N-ethylmaleimide at 100 microM essentially abolished the stimulation caused by all three agents, possibly by preventing the binding of GTP to a guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory protein of as yet unknown size.

Purification of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C from NG108-15 cells

The phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C from the membrane of NG108-15 cells has been purified to homogeneity by using DEAE Bio-Gel A agarose, hydroxyapatite, and heparin agarose chromatography. The purified phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C has been purified 422-fold and its molecular weight has been estimated to be 28,000. We have obtained a final specific activity of 3.8 mumols of phosphatidylinositol hydrolyzed/min/mg of protein. The purified enzyme is specific to phosphatidylinositol. The purified enzyme has an apparent pH optimum of 7.0. Calcium ions are required for its activity.

Bradykinin-induced translocation of protein kinases C in neuroblastoma NCB-20 cell: dependence on 1,2-diacylglycerol content and free calcium

Bradykinin (BK)-induced production of 1,2-diacylglycerol (1,2-DG) and translocation of protein kinases C (PKCs) were examined in neuroblastoma-derived hybrid NCB-20 cells. Mass analysis of 1,2-DG exhibited a biphasic increase by 1 microM BK stimulation: the first transient phase and the second broad sustained phase. Among three subspecies of PKC expressed in these cells, types II and III were observed to translocate from cytosol to membrane in response to BK as well as PBt2 by Western blotting analysis. Type II translocated more rapidly and distinctly than type III. However, after treatment with quin 2/AM, the second phase of 1,2-DG formation completely disappeared and PKCs translocation by BK or PBt2 was completely abolished. BK-induced IP3 (1,4,5) formation was temporally consistent with the first transient phase of 1,2-DG formation. These findings suggest that PKCs translocation by BK stimulation is caused by 1,2-DG produced not only via phosphoinositide metabolism, but via other phospholipid breakdown which is Ca2+-dependent.

Bradykinin receptors: characterization, distribution and mechanisms of signal transduction

Bradykinin is a peptide consisting of nine amino acids. It is a member of the kinin family, a class of molecules sometimes considered to be locally acting hormones. Bradykinin acts through cell surface receptors to elicit a series of biological responses, many of which have been well characterized at the whole organ or body level. However, little is known about the bradykinin receptor itself or its mechanisms of signal transduction, its function and its tissue distribution. Increasing evidence suggests that bradykinin is a member of a group of locally produced peptides which may act in a paracrine fashion as microenvironmental modulators of cell proliferation. Evidence for this derives from studies of the interaction between bradykinin and its receptor, receptor-effector coupling systems and in vitro studies of the biological effects of bradykinin. These areas, together with questions concerning the nature and number of different types of bradykinin receptors, form the main bulk of current interest in bradykinin research and are the subject of this review. The ability of bradykinin to synergize with other growth regulating ligands will also be considered.

Bradykinin effects on phospholipid metabolism and its relation to arachidonic acid turnover in neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid cells (NG 108-15)

In neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid cells (NG 108-15) labelled with [32P]-trisodium phosphate, [3H]-inositol and [14C]-arachidonic acid, bradykinin stimulated the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) while it had no effect on the release of [14C]-arachidonic acid (AA). The effect on PIP2 was time- and dose-dependent with a maximal effect on [3H]-inositol- and [32P]-labelled cells after 10-30 s of stimulation with 10(-6) M bradykinin. However, the hydrolysis of [14C]-AA labelled PIP2 was delayed compared to the effect on [3H]- and [14C]-PIP2 and was not detectable until after 60 s of stimulation. Bradykinin stimulation resulted in an increased formation of [3H]-inositol phosphates (IP) and [32P]- and [14C]-phosphatidic acid (PA) but the time course for PA formation did not follow the time-course for PIP2 hydrolysis. A reduced labelling of [32P]- and [14C]-phosphatidylcholine was also found in stimulated cells suggesting that PA may derive from other sources than PIP2. In conclusion, our results indicate that bradykinin activates phospholipase C, but not phospholipase A2, in NG 108-15 cells.