Multiple subtypes of endothelin receptors in porcine tissues: characterization by ligand binding, affinity labeling and regional distribution.

To clarify the existence and the distribution of endothelin (ET) receptor subtypes, we have examined the pharmacological properties and the molecular weight (Mr) of 125I-ET-1 and 125I-ET-3 binding sites in various tissues of pigs. ET-1 and ET-2 showed almost identical potencies in displacing the bound 125I-ET-1 in all the tissues examined. ET-3, sarafotoxin S6b (SRT-b) and sarafotoxin S6c (SRT-c) displaced the 125I-ET-1 with the same sensitivity as ET-1 (IC50 = 0.1-1.4 nM) in brain, kidney, liver and adrenal, whereas the three peptides showed very weak competition (IC50 = 40-500 nM) against 125I-ET-1 binding in cardiac atria, aorta, lung, stomach and uterus. The computer analyses of the binding data suggested the presence of high (Kd1 = 0.04-0.29 nM) and low (Kd2 = 60-190 nM) affinity binding sites for ET-3 and SRT-b in lung and stomach. 125I-ET-3 bound to the high affinity sites in lung and stomach was displaced by ET/SRT isopeptides almost equipotently. Two proteins with Mr of 47,000 and 35,000 were affinity-labeled with 125I-ET-1 in cerebellum, while a protein with Mr of 123,000, in addition to the two proteins, was predominantly labeled in lung. The above findings indicated that two distinct subclasses of ET receptors, namely, ET-1-specific and ET/SRT family-common receptors were distributed in various proportions in mammalian tissues, and suggested that their molecular forms are also different.     

Endothelin receptors in human and guinea-pig gallbladder muscle

We measured contraction of muscle strips caused by endothelin (ET) isopeptides and binding of (125)I-ET-1 to muscle cell membranes prepared from human and guinea-pig gallbladders. Visualization of (125)I-ET-1 binding sites in tissue was performed by autoradiography. Results in human were similar to those in guinea-pig. ET-1 caused tetrodotoxin and atropine-insensitive contraction. The relative potencies for ET isopeptides to cause contraction were ET-1=ET-2>ET-3. ET-1 caused contraction was only slightly inhibited by BQ-123 (potent ET(A) receptor antagonist) and not by BQ-788 (potent ET(B) receptor antagonist). It was inhibited by the combination of both. Autoradiography localized (125)I-ET-1 binding to the smooth muscle layer. Binding of (125)I-ET-1 to muscle cell membranes was saturable and specific. Analysis of dose-inhibition curves demonstrated the presence of two classes of receptors. One class (ET(A) receptor) had a high affinity for ET-1 and ET-2 but a low affinity for ET-3, and the other (ET(B) receptor) a high affinity for ET-1, ET-2 and ET-3. These results demonstrate that similar to guinea-pig, human gallbladder possesses both ET(A) and ET(B) receptors cooperating to mediate muscle contraction.     

Solubilization and identification of human placental endothelin receptor

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) receptor was identified on the membranes from human placenta and 66% of original binding activity in the membranes was solubilized with 0.75% (w/v) CHAPS. Binding studies of the solubilized membranes using 125I-ET-1 indicated the presence of a single class of high-affinity binding sites with an apparent Kd of 760 pM and a Bmax of 1.8 pmol/mg of protein. The binding was inhibited by addition of unlabeled ET-1 and ET-3 in dose dependent manner. The Ki values of solubilized membranes were 84 pM for ET-1 and 250 pM for ET-3, whereas particulate membranes had weaker affinities (Ki = 410 pM for ET-1, 2500 pM for ET-3). Calcium channel blockers such as nicardipine, verapamil and diltiazem did not affect the binding of 125I-ET-1. Affinity labeling of the particulate and solubilized membranes with CHAPS revealed a specific binding protein with a Mr of 32,000.     

Endothelin ET(A) but not ET(B) receptors mediate contraction of common bile duct

Endothelin (ET) causes contraction of the gallbladder. To investigate effects of ET in the common bile duct, we measured contraction of longitudinal muscle strips from guinea pig common bile ducts induced by ET-related peptides and binding of 125I-ET-1 to cell membranes prepared from the common bile duct. Visualization of 125I-ET-1 binding sites in tissue was performed by autoradiography. ET-1 caused tetrodotoxin and atropine-insensitive contraction. In terms of maximal tension of contraction, ET-1, ET-2 and ET-3 were equal in efficacy. However, sarafotoxin S6c, a selective ET(B) receptor agonist, caused only a negligible contraction. The relative potencies for ET isopeptides to cause contraction were ET-1=ET-2>ET-3. The ET-1-induced contraction was inhibited by BQ-123, an ET(A)-receptor-selective antagonist, but not by BQ-788, an ET(B)-receptor-selective antagonist. In addition, the combination of both antagonists, BQ-123 and BQ-788, inhibited ET-1 induced contraction but did not potentiate the inhibition caused by BQ-123 alone. These indicate that ET(A) but not ET(B) receptors mediate the contraction. Autoradiography localized 125I-ET-1 binding to the smooth muscle layer. Binding of 125I-ET-1 to the smooth muscle cell membranes was saturable and specific. Analysis of dose-inhibition curves indicated the presence of ET(A) and ET(B) receptors. These results demonstrate that ET causes contraction of longitudinal muscle of the common bile duct. Different from the gallbladder, which possesses both ET(A) and ET(B) receptors cooperating to mediate muscle contraction, the common bile duct possesses two classes of ET receptors, but only the ET(A) receptor mediates the contraction.     

Endothelin ET(A) and ET(B) receptors in postnatal intestine

We aimed to characterize endothelin (ET) receptors in the swine intestinal vasculature and to determine ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) effects on these receptors. Saturation and competitive binding assays were performed on mesenteric artery protein membranes from 1- and 40-day-old animals, both control and those subjected to 1 h of partial ischemia followed by 6 h of reperfusion in vivo. Scatchard analysis of saturation binding with (125)I-labeled ET-1 in membranes from endothelium-denuded (E(-)) vessels revealed that the maximum number of binding sites was greater in younger animals. Competitive (125)I-ET-1 binding was significant for a one-site model with ET-1, ET-3, and sarafotoxin S6c (S6c) in membranes from endothelium-intact (E(+)) and E(-) vessels in both age groups. The maximum number of ET-1 binding sites was significantly greater in younger animals. In the presence of the ET(A) receptor antagonist BQ-123, competitive (125)I-ET-1 binding was significant for a one-site model with ET-1 and S6c in membranes from E(+) vessels in both age groups. The maximum number of ET-1 binding sites was significantly greater in younger animals. After I/R, the maximum number of ET-1 binding sites was unchanged. In the presence of BQ-123, specific binding by ET-1 and S6c was eliminated in both age groups after I/R. These results suggest that both ET receptor populations are expressed to a greater degree in younger animals and I/R significantly affects the ET(B) receptor.     

Endothelin causes contraction of human esophageal muscularis mucosae through interaction with both ETA and ETB receptors

Endothelin (ET) causes contraction of the muscularis mucosae in the guinea pig esophagus, but its role in the human esophagus remains unknown. To investigate effects of ET in the human esophagus, we measured contraction of isolated human esophageal muscularis mucosae strips caused by ET related peptides and binding of 125I-ET-1 to cell membranes prepared from the human esophageal muscularis mucosae. Autoradiography demonstrated specific binding of 125I-ET-1 to the muscularis mucosae and muscularis propria (muscularis externa) of the human esophagus. ET-1 caused tetrodotoxin and atropine-insensitive contraction of muscularis mucosae strips. In terms of the maximal tension of contraction, ET-1 and ET-2 were equal in efficacy. The relative potencies for ET related peptides to cause contraction were ET-1=ET-2>ET-3>sarafotoxin S6c (SX6c), an ETB receptor agonist. ET-1 caused contraction was mildly inhibited by BQ-123, an ETA receptor antagonist, and not by BQ-788, an ETB receptor antagonist. It was moderately inhibited by the combination of both antagonists, indicating synergistic inhibition. Furthermore, desensitization to SX6c with SX6c pretreatment failed to abolish the contractile response to ET-1, which was completely inhibited by BQ-123. These indicate the involvement of both ETA and ETB receptors in the contraction. Binding of 125I-ET-1 to cell membranes of the muscularis mucosae was saturable and specific. Analysis of dose-inhibition curves demonstrated the presence of ETA and ETB receptors. This study demonstrates that, the muscularis mucosae of the human esophagus, similar to that of the guinea pig esophagus, possesses both ETA and ETB receptors mediating muscle contraction.     

Purification of an endothelin receptor from human placenta

We have identified an endothelin (ET) binding protein on the membranes of human placenta and purified it to homogeneity. It is a polypeptide with an apparent Mol. Wt. of 40,000 and is a major protein to be labeled by cross-linking with either 125I-ET-1, -2, or -3. Binding studies with Scatchard analysis indicated the presence of a single class, high-affinity binding site with Kds of 57 pM, 480 pM and 40 nM for 125I-labeled ET-1, ET-2 and ET-3, respectively. These results suggest that the 40K protein is a major ET receptor in placenta and, most likely, can bind differentially to ET-1, ET-2 and ET-3.     

Two classes of endothelin receptors mediating contraction in esophageal muscularis mucosae

Endothelin (ET) causes contraction of the esophageal muscularis mucosae. To characterize the ET receptor subtypes involved in contraction, we measured contraction of isolated muscularis mucosae strips caused by ET-related peptides and binding of (125)I-ET-1 to cell membranes prepared from the guinea pig esophageal muscularis mucosae. Autoradiography demonstrated (125)I-ET-1 binding to the muscularis mucosae and muscularis propria. ET-1 caused tetrodotoxin and atropine-insensitive contraction of esophageal muscularis mucosae strips. The relative potencies for ET isopeptides to cause contraction were ET-1=ET-2>ET-3. FR-139317, an ET(A) receptor antagonist, or BQ-788, an ET(B) receptor antagonist, alone did not alter responses to ET-1. However, the combination of both antagonists almost abolished the ET-1-induced contraction, indicating synergistic inhibition. Desensitization to sarafotoxin S6c, an ET(B) receptor agonist, failed to abolish the response to ET-1, which was completely inhibited by FR-139317. These indicate the involvement of both ET(A) and ET(B) receptors in the contraction. Binding of (125)I-ET-1 to cell membranes of the muscularis mucosae was saturable and specific. Analysis of dose-inhibition curves demonstrated the presence of ET(A) and ET(B) receptors.This study demonstrates that the esophageal muscularis mucosae possesses both ET(A) and ET(B) receptors mediating muscle contraction. There is cooperation between these two subtypes of ET receptors in the esophagus mediating muscle contraction.     

A rabbit antiserum raised against the hexapeptide endothelin(16-21) shows different binding affinities for endothelin-1, -2 and -3.

A antiserum raised against the C-terminal hexapeptide ET16-21 common to ET-1, -2 and -3 was produced and characterized with respect to its binding properties for ET-1, -2, -3, ET16-21, the C-terminal octapeptide ET14-21, its derivative Phe21-ET14-21 and human big-ET-1. The antibody reacted with the peptides with decreasing binding affinities in the order: ET-1 greater than ET-2 greater than or equal to ET16-21 = ET 14-21 much greater than Phe21-ET14-21. It showed no crossreactivity with human big-ET-1. Similar results were obtained using [125I]ET-1, -2 or -3 as tracer. Substitution of Trp21 by Phe decreased the binding affinity of ET14-21 about 10 fold. Thus, the immunologically recognized sequence of the peptides is C-terminal and Trp21 seems to be important for high binding affinities. The significant differences in binding affinity observed for ET-1, -2, -3 and ET16-21 are consistent with an interaction of the C-terminal part of the endothelins with the bicyclic N-terminal part.     

Endothelin-induced intracellular Ca2+ mobilization through its specific receptors in murine peritoneal macrophages.

We studied the presence of specific binding sites for endothelin (ET) and the effect of ET on cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in murine thioglycolate-activated peritoneal macrophages. Scatchard analysis for binding experiments using [125I]ET-1 or [125I]ET-3 revealed the existence of a single class of binding sites. The binding parameters (Kd and Bmax) for [125I]ET-1 were almost identical to those for [125I]ET-3. In addition, unlabeled 3 ET isopeptides (ET-1, ET-2 and ET-3) inhibited the specific binding of both ET-1 and ET-3 with similar inhibitory potencies. All 3 ET isopeptides caused an increase in [Ca2+]i in the same dose-dependent manner (0.01-100 nM). These results demonstrate the existence of an ET receptor with the same affinity for all isoforms that mediates the ET-induced intracellular Ca2+ mobilization in murine peritoneal macrophages.     

Purification of vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor from porcine liver by a newly designed one-step affinity chromatography

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) receptors were solubilized from porcine liver membrane using the zwitterionic detergent 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonic acid. The solubilized VIP receptor has been purified approximately 50,000-fold to apparent homogeneity by a one-step affinity chromatography using a newly designed VIP-polyacrylamide resin. The purified receptor bound 125I-VIP with a Kd of 22.3 +/- 0.7 nM and retained its peptide specificity toward VIP-related peptides. The specific activity of the purified receptor (16,400 pmol/mg of protein) was very close to the theoretical value (18,900 pmol/mg of protein) calculated assuming one binding site/protein. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of purified receptor revealed a single band with an Mr of 53,000 after either silver staining or radioiodination. Affinity labeling of the purified receptor with 125I-VIP using dithiobis(succinimidyl propionate) gave a single radioactive band, the labeling of which was completely inhibited by an excess of unlabeled VIP. In conclusion, an Mr 53,000 protein containing the VIP-binding site was purified to homogeneity by a one-step affinity chromatography using immobilized VIP.     

Isolation of anti-endothelin receptor monoclonal antibodies for use in receptor characterization

Monoclonal antibodies reactive with endothelin (ET) receptors have been prepared by immunization of mice with rat lung membranes. Of four clones isolated, three clones preferentially recognized 32,000-dalton ET receptor and the other has a higher affinity for the 45,000-dalton receptor. The binding of 125I-ET-1 to detergent-solubilized ET receptors which were adsorbed to the antibodies was displaced by increasing concentrations of unlabeled ET isopeptides. These results demonstrate that the four clones specific for the receptor have the potential to be a useful tool in the characterization of ET receptors.     

Neuropeptide Y receptor in bovine hippocampus is a Y2 receptor.

[125I]NPY bound to a single class of saturable binding sites on bovine hippocampus membranes with a KD of 0.1 mM and Bmax of 165 fmol/mg of protein. The rank order of potency of NPY fragments and other structurally related peptides to inhibit [125I]NPY binding was: PYY greater than or equal to NPY much greater than BPP greater than or equal to APP and NPY greater than NPY-(13-36) greater than NPY-(18-36) greater than or equal to NPY-(20-36) much greater than NPY-(26-36) greater than NPY-(free acid). The identity of the NPY binding site was investigated by affinity labeling. Gel electrophoresis followed by autoradiography revealed a band with a mol mass of 50 kDa. Unlabeled NPY or PYY, but not BPP, HPP and APP, inhibited labeling of [125I]NPY to the 50 kDa protein band. Moreover, labeling was inhibited by NPY greater than NPY-(18-36) greater than or equal to NPY-(13-36) greater than or equal to NPY-(20-36) greater than NPY-(26-36) greater than NPY-(free acid). The binding of [125I]NPY and the intensity of the cross-linked band were reduced in parallel by increasing concentrations of unlabeled NPY (IC50 = 0.7 nM and 0.6 mM, respectively). These studies demonstrate that bovine hippocampal membranes contain a 50 kDa [125I]NPY binding site that has the ligand specificity characteristic of the Y2 receptor subtype.     

Endothelin Receptors on Cultured Fetal Rat Diencephalic Glia

The recently described family of proteins, the endothelins, are produced in neurons and bind to extravascular sites in the CNS. To characterize these receptors, we carried out studies on cultures of fetal rat diencephalic glia. Scatchard analysis of saturation binding studies was done for astrocytes (greater than 95% glial fibrillary acidic protein positive). For endothelin 3 (ET-3) and ET-1, respectively, a single receptor class of KD 0.41 +/- 0.05 and 0.62 +/- 0.04 nM and a receptor density of 42 +/- 0.8 and 58 +/- 1.1 fmol/mg of glial protein was found. Bound and cross-linked 125I-ET-3 or ET-1 showed a single predominant receptor band at Mr 52,000 on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; a minor band at 50,000 was also seen. At concentrations equal to the receptor KD, the major brain form of ET, ET-3, stimulated a nearly 200% increase in the incorporation of tritiated thymidine into glia. ET-3 and ET-1 significantly impaired the ability of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) to generate cyclic GMP, and isoproterenol to generate cyclic AMP. The ability of ET to inhibit ANP-induced cyclic GMP generation was reversed by cycloheximide and actinomycin-D, whereas the inhibition of isoproterenol-induced cyclic AMP generation was partially and significantly blocked by inhibitors of calcium influx, protein kinase C action, or G protein activation, as well. Astrocytes from this part of the brain are a potential target cell for endothelin, assuming these findings are present in vivo. This neuropeptide may serve as a growth stimulator for astrocytes and modulator of the actions of catecholamines or ANP on glia by inhibiting second messenger generation.     

Characterization of cholecystokinin receptors in toad retina

The binding characteristics, structure, and pharmacologic properties of a cholecystokinin binding protein in toad retinal membranes have been studied. In competition binding studies using 125I-CCK-8, toad retinal membranes exhibited a high affinity binding site having a Ki50 of 1.5 nM using CCK-8 as competitive ligand. The relative potencies of CCK-related peptides in inhibiting radioligand binding were caerulein greater than gastrin II approximately equal to CCK-8 approximately equal to CCK-33 greater than CCK-8-DS approximately equal to gastrin I. L-364,718, a potent inhibitor of peripheral CCK receptors, was ineffective at competition binding at concentrations up to 1 microM; dibutyryl cyclic GMP was modestly effective at competing (KD approximately 10 mM). Covalent binding of 125I-CCK-33 to toad retinal membranes using chemical cross-linkers or UV irradiation resulted in the labeling of a major Mr 62,000 protein and the intermittent labeling of minor components of Mr 105,000 and Mr 40,000 as determined by SDS-PAGE and autoradiography. The binding of 125I-CCK-33 to retinal membranes and the concomitant labeling of the Mr 62,000 component was specifically inhibited by CCK-8 (KD approximately 1.5 nM). Reduction of membranes with DTT abolished specific binding of 125I-CCK. SDS-PAGE analysis of affinity cross-linked membranes under non-reducing conditions revealed that the Mr 62,000 protein migrated with an apparently lower molecular weight. These results suggest that the Mr 62,000 CCK binding protein in the toad retina contains an intramolecular disulfide bond(s). The Mr 62,000 protein was retained on a wheat germ agglutinin-agarose column and eluted with N-acetyl D-glucosamine, suggesting the glycoprotein nature of this protein. Digestion of the Mr 62,000 protein with neuraminidase together with O-glycanase resulted in a discrete product of Mr approximately 60,000. These results indicate that the Mr 62,000 protein is a glycoprotein with O-linked oligosaccharide chains. Taken together, these data indicate that the CCK receptor in toad retina has a distinct structure compared to that described in rat pancreas or brain. It will be important to establish whether this difference is reflected in differences in signal transduction mechanisms.     

Interaction of synthetic sarafotoxin with rat vascular endothelin receptors

The effects of synthetic analogs of sarafotoxin (STX) S6b, a snake venom peptide with a high sequence homology to the endothelium-derived vasoconstrictor endothelin (ET), on ET receptor binding activity and cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration [( Ca2+]i) were studied in cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells. Binding studies revealed that [Cys1-15, Cys3-11] STX competed with 125I-ET for the binding to its vascular receptors with lower affinity than that of ET, but was far more effective than [Cys1-11, Cys3-15]STX in inhibiting the binding. [Cys1-15, Cys3-11]STX had a less potent effect on increasing [Ca2+]i than ET, whereas [Cys1-11, Cys3-15]STX was inactive. These data suggest that there may exist heterogenous subpopulations of the vascular ET/STX receptors, and that the proper double cyclic structure of STX is essential for interacting with its putative receptors to induce the [Ca2+]i response.     

A reversible radioligand specific for the ETB receptor: [125I]Tyr13-Suc-[Glu9,Ala11,15]-endothelin-1(8- 21), [125I]IRL 1620.

Suc-[Glu9,Ala11,15]-endothelin(ET)-1(8-21), IRL 1620, is a linear ET-analog specific for the ET-isopeptide-nonselective ETB receptor. The radio-iodinated analog, [125I]IRL 1620, showed a single class of saturable binding to the ETB receptors in porcine lung membranes with a Kd of 18 pM and a Bmax of 930 fmol/mg protein, which are almost comparable to the values obtained with [125I]ET-3 (6 pM and 900 fmol/mg protein). In competitive binding assays with [125I]IRL 1620, unlabeled ET-1, ET-3, IRL 1620 and [monoiodo-Tyr13]-IRL 1620 showed almost identical displacement curves with Ki of 8 to 16 pM. However, [125I]IRL 1620 was dissociated from the binding sites by addition of an excess amount (100 nM) of any of these unlabeled peptides, each with the same t1/2 of 100 min. This was in marked contrast to [125I]ET-3 which was hardly dissociated from the binding sites.     

Identification of the insulin receptor in undifferentiated and differentiated NB-15 mouse neuroblastoma cells by affinity labeling

Plasma membranes prepared from clonal NB-15 mouse neuroblastoma cells were sequentially incubated with 125I-labeled insulin (10 nM) and the bifunctional cross-linking agent disuccinimidyl suberate. This treatment resulted in the cross-linking of 125I-labeled insulin to a polypeptide that gave an apparent Mr of 135 000 on a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresed in the presence of 10% beta-mercaptoethanol. Affinity labeling of this polypeptide was inhibited by the presence of 5 microM unlabeled insulin, but not by 1 microM unlabeled nerve growth factor. Using the same affinity labeling technique, 125I-labeled nerve growth factor (1 nM) did not label any polypeptide appreciably in the plasma membranes of NB-15 cells but labeled an Mr 145 000 and an Mr 115 000 species in PC-12 rat pheochromocytoma cells. The number of insulin binding sites per cell in the intact differentiated NB-15 mouse neuroblastoma cells was approx. 6-fold greater than that in the undifferentiated NB-15 mouse neuroblastoma cells as measured by specific binding assay, suggesting an increase of the number of insulin receptors in NB-15 mouse neuroblastoma cells during differentiation.