Rapid desensitization of substance P- but not carbachol-induced increases in inositol trisphosphate and intracellular Ca++ in rat parotid acinar cells

The effects of supramaximal concentrations of substance P and the cholinergic agonist carbachol on the accumulation of inositol trisphosphate and the elevation of the intracellular free calcium concentration were compared in rat parotid acinar cells. Substance P was fully as effective as carbachol at initial times, but there was a rapid loss of the substance P responses while the effects of carbachol were well maintained. The loss of the substance P responses represented desensitization rather than degradation of the peptide since further additions of substance P were without effect. Desensitization to substance P did not involve long-term loss of substance P receptors as it was fully reversible in less than twenty minutes, the minimum time to extensively wash previously desensitized cells.     

Effects of Substance P on Carbachol-Stimulated 45Ca2+ Uptake into Cultured Adrenal Chromaffin Cells

Substance P is known to modulate acetylcholine-induced catecholamine release from adrenal chromaffin cells. To investigate the mechanisms involved in this modulation, the present study examined the effects of substance P on net 45Ca2+ fluxes in cultures of bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. Two effects of substance P were observed: (1) Substance P inhibited carbachol-induced 45Ca2+ uptake and 45Ca2+ efflux and (2) substance P protected against desensitization of carbachol-induced 45Ca2+ uptake and 45Ca2+ efflux. Thus substance P modulates two other cholinergic responses, 45Ca2+ uptake and 45Ca2+ efflux, in a manner similar to its modulation of catecholamine release. The results also indicate that substance P's inhibition of net carbachol-induced 45Ca2+ uptake is due to inhibition of 45Ca2+ uptake rather than enhancement of 45Ca2+ efflux. Substance P almost completely inhibited carbachol-induced 45Ca2+ uptake in both Na+-containing and Na+-free media, suggesting that substance P can inhibit the uptake of 45Ca2+ induced by carbachol regardless of whether 45Ca2+ is taken up through voltage-sensitive or acetylcholine receptor-linked channels. However, substance P produced only a small inhibition of K+-induced 45Ca2+ uptake, indicating that substance P does not interact directly with voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels. In addition, substance P's inhibition of carbachol-induced 45Ca2+ uptake was noncompetitive with respect to Ca2+, were unable to overcome substance P's inhibition of [3H]-norepinephrine ( [3H]NE) release. It is concluded that substance P does not interact directly with Ca2+ channels in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells.     

Effects of substance P on the long-term regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase activity and catecholamine levels in cultured adrenal chromaffin cells

Acetylcholine, released from splanchnic nerve terminals innervating adrenal chromaffin cells, is known to increase synthesis of adrenal tyrosine hydroxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme in catecholamine synthesis. The neuropeptide substance P is also present in the splanchnic nerve innervating the adrenal medulla, and this study examined whether substance P has any long-term effects on tyrosine hydroxylase activity and catecholamine levels in cultures of adult bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. When cultures were incubated for 3 days with substance P and carbachol, a cholinergic agonist, substance P (10(-6) M, and greater) completely inhibited the increase in tyrosine hydroxylase activity normally induced by carbachol. Long-term stimulation with carbachol also depleted endogenous catecholamines from the cells and substance P prevented this carbachol-induced depletion of catecholamine content. Substance P by itself, in the absence of carbachol, had only a slight effect on tyrosine hydroxylase activity. 8-Bromoadenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate, an analogue of adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate, also increases tyrosine hydroxylase activity in chromaffin cells; however, substance P had no effect on the increase in tyrosine hydroxylase activity induced by this analogue. These results indicate that substance P's effects are relatively specific for the carbachol-induced increased in tyrosine hydroxylase activity and that the primary site of action of substance P is not a site common to the mechanism of tyrosine hydroxylase induction by carbachol and 8-bromoadenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Substance P Protects Against Desensitization of the Nicotinic Response in Isolated Adrenal Chromaffin Cells

Substance P, a peptide endogenous to the splanchnic nerve, is known to inhibit the acetylcholine-and nicotine-induced release of catecholamines from isolated adrenal chromaffin cells. In the present study the effect of substance P on desensitization of catecholamine release from these cells was examined. Substance P (10(-5) M) completely protected against desensitization of catecholamine release produced by acetylcholine at 37 degrees C or 23 degrees C and by nicotine at 23 degrees C; substance P also afforded appreciable protection against nicotine-induced desensitization at 37 degrees C. The peptide had no effect on K+-induced desensitization of catecholamine release. Like substance P, d-tubocurarine also prevented nicotinic desensitization. Substance P prevented both of two components of nicotinic desensitization, i.e. the Ca2+-dependent component and the Ca2+-independent, depletion-independent component of desensitization. Substance P had little effect on subsequent catecholamine uptake, indicating that substance P's protection against desensitization is a result of facilitation of catecholamine release rather than inhibition of catecholamine reuptake. Nicotine-induced catecholamine release and nicotinic desensitization of catecholamine release were Na+-independent, although substance P's inhibition of nicotine-induced catecholamine release was reduced by extracellular Na+. These in vitro studies suggest a similar role for substance P in vivo: substance P's protection against nicotinic desensitization may ensure a maintained output of adrenal catecholamines during stress, when the splanchnic nerve releases large amounts of acetylcholine.     

Effects of Substance P on the Binding of Agonists to the Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor of Torpedo Electroplaque

Abstract: Abstract: The effect of the neuropeptide substance P on the binding of the cholinergic ligands to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor of Torpedo electroplaque membranes was examined at a physiological concentration of NaCl (150 m M ). Substance P had no effect on the initial rate of ¹²⁵I-α-bungarotoxin binding at concentrations of <100 μ M . The peptide did not bind to the high-affinity local anesthetic site but allosterically modulated [³H]phencyclidine binding, positively in the absence of agonist and negatively in the presence of agonist. Substance P increased the apparent affinity of the cholinergic agonists carbamylcholine and acetylcholine at equilibrium. The effect of substance P on the equilibrium binding of [³H]acetylcholine was examined directly, and the peptide appeared to increase the affinity of the binding of the second molecule of agonist, with no effect on the binding of the first. This indicates that substance P can affect the cooperative interactions between agonist binding sites. Substance P appeared to increase the rate of carbamylcholine-induced desensitization; however, the data are also consistent with an allosteric mechanism that does not involve the desensitized state. To attempt to differentiate between these mechanisms, the rates of recovery were determined after exposure to peptide and/or agonist. The kinetics of recovery are consistent with stabilization of the desensitized state by substance P if the peptide remains bound long enough to allow rapid recovery to the low-affinity state. However, an allosteric modulation of agonist binding that does not involve the desensitized state cannot be ruled out.     

Substance P Enhances Desensitization of the Nicotinic Response in Bovine Chromaffin Cells but Enhances Secretion upon Removal

A fundamental process in neurosecretion is desensitization, or a declining response to a stimulus. The response of chromaffin cells to continuous nicotinic stimulation, secretion of catecholamines, desensitizes within a few minutes. The neuropeptide substance P (SP) has been reported to prevent desensitization in culture dish experiments and to enhance desensitization in patch clamp studies. In the present study, these contradictory responses have been demonstrated and the apparent contradictions resolved. We have measured catecholamine secretion by on-line electrochemical detection in a constant-pressure flow system. Isolated chromaffin cells cultured on quartz plates were stimulated with the nicotinic agonist 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium (DMPP) in the presence and absence of SP. SP inhibited secretion and increase the rate of desensitization compared with stimulation by DMPP alone. However, when the cells were stimulated a second time with DMPP alone immediately after 5-min stimulation with SP + DMPP, the rate of desensitization was markedly lower than the control. Removal of SP after a desensitizing stimulation with SP + DMPP caused a slow secondary release of catecholamine in response to the continued stimulation with DMPP. The kinetic analysis of the secretory response shows that the primary response to SP is enhanced desensitization, but that upon removal of SP the response to DMPP desensitizes less rapidly. We suggest that SP protects some receptors from nicotinic desensitization while holding them in an inactive state, and that upon removal of SP these receptors can slowly respond to DMPP.     

Desensitization and internalization of metabotropic glutamate receptor 1a following activation of heterologous Gq/11-coupled receptors

In this study we characterized the heterologous desensitization and internalization of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (mGluR1) splice variants mGluR1a and mGluR1b following activation of endogenous G(q/11)-coupled receptors in HEK293 cells. Agonist activation of M1 muscarinic acetylcholine or P2Y1 purinergic receptors triggered the PKC- and CaMKII-dependent internalization of mGluR1a. In co-immunoprecipitation studies, both glutamate and carbachol increased the association of GRK2 with mGluR1a. Co-addition of the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor GF109203X and the Ca(2+) calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII) inhibitor KN-93 blocked the ability of glutamate and carbachol to increase the association of GRK2 with mGluR1a. Glutamate also increased the association of GRK2 with mGluR1b, whereas carbachol did not. However, unlike mGluR1a, glutamate-stimulated association of GRK2 with mGluR1b was not reduced by PKC/CaMKII inhibition. Pretreatment of cells expressing mGluR1a or mGluR1b with carbachol rapidly desensitized subsequent glutamate-stimulated inositol phosphate accumulation. The carbachol-induced heterologous desensitization and internalization of mGluR1a was blocked by LY367385, an mGluR1a antagonist with inverse agonist activity. Furthermore, LY367385 blocked the ability of carbachol to increase the association of GRK2 with mGluR1a. On the other hand, LY367385 had no effect on the carbachol-induced desensitization and internalization of the nonconstitutively active mGluR1b splice variant. These results demonstrate that the internalization of mGluR1a, triggered homologously by glutamate or heterologously by carbachol, is PKC/CaMKII-, GRK2-, arrestin-, and clathrin-dependent and that PKC/CaMKII activation appears to be necessary for GRK2 to associate with mGluR1a. Furthermore, the heterologous desensitization of mGluR1a is dependent upon the splice variant being in an active conformation.     

Agonist-induced desensitization of cholinergically stimulated phosphoinositide breakdown is independent of endogenously activated protein kinase C in HT-29 human colon carcinoma cells.

Activation of M3 muscarinic receptors in HT-29 cells by carbachol rapidly increases polyphosphoinositide breakdown. Pretreatment of these cells with carbachol (0.1 mM) for 5 h completely inhibits the subsequent ability of carbachol to increase [3H]inositol monophosphate ([3H]InsP) accumulation, paralleled by a total loss of muscarinic binding sites. In contrast, protein kinase C (PK-C)-mediated desensitization by incubation with phorbol esters [PMA (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate)], leading to a time- and dose-dependent inhibition of cholinergically stimulated InsP release (95% inhibition after 4 h with 0.1 microM-PMA), is accompanied by only a 40% decrease in muscarinic receptor binding, which suggests an additional mechanism of negative-feedback control. Neither carbachol nor PMA pretreatment had any effect on receptor affinity. Incubation with carbachol for 15 min caused a small increase of membrane-associated PK-C activity (15% increase, P less than 0.05) as compared with the potency of phorbol esters (PMA) (3-4-fold increase, P less than 0.01). Long-term incubation (4-24 h) with PMA resulted in a complete down-regulation of cytosolic and particulate PK-C activity. Stimulation of InsP release by NaF (20 mM) was not affected after a pretreatment with phorbol esters or carbachol, demonstrating an intact function of G-protein and phospholipase-C (PL-C) at the effector side. Determination of PL-C activity in a liposomal system with [3H]PtdInsP2 as substrate, showed no change in PL-C activity after carbachol (13 h) and short-term PMA (2.5 h) pretreatment, whereas long-term preincubation with phorbol esters (13 h) caused a small but significant decrease in PL-C activity (19%, P less than 0.05). Our results indicate that agonist-induced desensitization of phosphoinositide turnover occurs predominantly at the receptor level, with a rapid loss of muscarinic receptors. Exogenous activation of PK-C by phorbol esters seems to dissociate the interaction between receptor and G-protein/PL-C, without major effects on total cellular PL-C activity.     

Desensitization and recovery at the frog neuromuscular junction

The time course of carbachol-induced desensitization onset and recovery of sensitivity after desenitization have been compared at the frog neuromuscular junction. The activation-desensitization sequence was determined from input conductance measurements using potassium-depolarized muscle preparations. Both desensitization onset and recovery from desensitization could be adequately described by single time constant expressions, with tauonset being considerably shorter than taurecovery. In nine experiments, tauonset was 13+/-1.3 s and taurecovery was 424+/-51 s with 1 mM carbachol. Elevating the external calcium or carbachol concentration accelerated desensitization onset without changing the recovery of sensitivity after equilibrium desensitization. Desensitization onset was accelerated by a prior activation-desensitization sequence to an extent determined by the recovery interval that followed the initial carbachol application. The time course of return of tauonset was closely parallel to, but slower than the time course of recovery of sensitivity. These results are consistent with a cyclic model in which intracellular calcium is a factor controlling the rate of development of desensitization.     

Homologous Desensitization of Muscarinic Cholinergic, Histaminergic, Adrenergic, and Serotonergic Receptors Coupled to Phospholipase C in Cerebellar Granule Cells

Cultured cerebellar granule cells express phospholipase C-coupled muscarinic cholinergic, histaminergic, alpha 1-adrenergic, and serotonergic receptors. In an attempt to study desensitization of these neurotransmitter receptors, cells were prestimulated with saturating concentrations of carbachol, histamine, norepinephrine, or serotonin during the labeling of cells with myo-[3H]inositol and then rechallenged with various receptor agonists for their ability to elicit accumulation of [3H]inositol monophosphate in the presence of lithium. Prestimulation with each of these receptor agonists was found to cause a time-dependent desensitization to subsequent stimulation with the desensitizing agonist. Thus, prestimulation for 0.5, 4, and 18 h decreased carbachol response to 87 +/- 4, 52 +/- 2, and 40 +/- 1% of the control, respectively; histamine response to 37 +/- 2, 24 +/- 2, and 18 +/- 2%, respectively; norepinephrine response to 55 +/- 5, 14 +/- 1, and 10 +/- 1%, respectively; and serotonin response to 36 +/- 1, 18 +/- 1, and 9 +/- 2%, respectively. In all cases, the responses mediated by receptors which were not prestimulated remained virtually unchanged, thus indicating homologous desensitization. Dose-response studies indicate that the desensitization was associated with a major reduction in the maximal extent of agonist-induced responses. The basal accumulation was markedly enhanced following 0.5- and 4-h prestimulation, but returned to near normal after 18-h pretreatment. Biologically active phorbol ester, 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, rapidly attenuated basal phospholipase C activity, as well as the responses mediated by carbachol, histamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, suggesting that activation and translocation of protein kinase C might play a role in the desensitization of phospholipase C-coupled receptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Agonist Regulation of Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptors in Rat Spinal Cord

Abstract: In vitro studies with cultured cells originating from nervous tissue have shown that chronic exposure to muscarinic agonists results in a loss of muscarinic receptors. To determine whether this type of regulation of muscarinic receptor number also occurs in vivo , we infused carbachol into the spinal cords of rats. A single carbachol injection into the lumbar spinal cord caused a significant increase in the nociceptive threshold. This effect of carbachol diminished to control levels after 12 h of repeated agonist injections every 4 h and was blocked by atropine. The desensitization to the antinociceptive effects of carbachol was associated with a loss of muscarinic receptors as determined by the binding of the muscarinic antagonist [³H]quinuclidinyl benzilate. After a 24-h exposure to carbachol given every 4 h, there was about a 60% loss of binding sites. The loss of muscarinic receptors was also blocked by atropine and was reversible. These results represent direct evidence that a muscarinic agonist can regulate receptor number in the central nervous system and suggest that this loss of receptors is associated with a desensitization to the antinociceptive effects of carbachol injected into the spinal cord.     

Role of brain angiotensin AT1 receptor in the carbachol-induced natriuresis and expression of nNOS in the locus coeruleus and proximal convoluted tubule

Central administration of losartan effectively blocked the increase of blood pressure and drinking response induced by angiotensin II (Ang II) or carbachol. However, the relationship between angiotensin AT(1) receptors and the natriuresis induced by brain cholinergic stimuli is still not clear. The purpose of the study is to reveal the role of brain angiotensin AT(1) receptor in the carbachol-induced natriuresis and expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the locus coeruleus (LC) and proximal convoluted tubule (PCT). Our results indicated that 40 min after intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of carbachol (0.5 microg), urinary sodium excretion was significantly increased to 0.548+/-0.049 micromol x min(-1) x 100 g(-1). Immunohistochemistry showed that carbachol induced an increase of neuronal nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity (nNOS-IR) in the LC and renal proximal tubular cells. After pretreatment with losartan (20 microg), carbachol-induced urinary sodium excretion was reduced to 0.249+/-0.067 micromol x min(-1) x 100 g(-1). The same was true for carbachol-induced increase of nNOS-IR in the LC and PCT. The present data suggest that ICV cholinergic stimulation could induce a natriuresis and upregulate the activity of nNOS in the LC and PCT. The blockade of AT(1) receptors might downregulate the effects induced by carbachol in the LC and PCT. Consequently, we provide a new evidence that brain angiotensinergic pathway and NO-dependent neural pathway contribute to the natriuresis following brain cholinergic stimulation and thus play an important role in the regulation of fluid homeostasis. Furthermore, the final effect of nitric oxide on proximal tubular sodium reabsorption participated in the natriuresis induced by brain cholinergic stimulation.     

Effect of G Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 2 on the Sensitivity of M4 Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptors to Agonist-Induced Internalization and Desensitization in NG108-15 Cells

NG108-15 cells express predominantly the M4 subtype of the muscarinic receptor for acetylcholine. Stimulation of these receptors by the agonist carbachol causes an inhibition of cellular adenylyl cyclase and a consequent fall in the intracellular cyclic AMP concentration. Pretreatment of the cells with carbachol caused both internalization and desensitization of the M4 receptor. Overexpression of G protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK) 2 caused an increase in the rate constant for receptor endocytosis (from 0.06 to 0.18 min(-1)) and a decrease in the EC50 for carbachol stimulation of internalization (from 15 to 3 microM). Overexpression of a dominant negative form of GRK2 had more modest effects, reducing the rate constant for endocytosis (from 0.11 to 0.07 min(-1)) and increasing the EC50 for carbachol stimulation of internalization (from 8 to 17 microM). Neither GRK2 nor dominant negative GRK2 overexpression had any effect on the rate constant for receptor recycling following agonist removal. The time course and extent of receptor desensitization in control cells were identical to the corresponding values for receptor internalization, and the rate and extent of desensitization were again increased by GRK2 overexpression. Exposure of the cells to hyperosmolar sucrose (0.6 M) almost completely blocked agonist-induced receptor internalization in both control and GRK2-overexpressing cells. Sucrose treatment also blocked agonist-induced desensitization. We conclude that the internalization and desensitization of the M4 muscarinic receptor in NG108-15 cells can be modulated in response to changes in GRK2 activity and also that internalization plays a key role in desensitization.     

An analogue of substance P with broad receptor antagonist activity

[DPro4,DTrp7,9,10]Substance P-4-11 functions as a substance P receptor antagonist in several different systems. Because some analogues of substance P can function as receptor antagonists for bombesin as well as substance P, we tested [DPro4,DTrp7,9,10]substance P-4-11 for its ability to modify the interaction of various pancreatic secretagogues with their receptors in dispersed acini from guinea pig pancreas. [DPro4,DTrp7,9,19]Substance P-4-11 did not stimulate amylase secretion and did not alter the stimulation of amylase secretion caused by secretin, vasoactive intestinal peptide, calcitonin gene-related peptide or carbachol, but did inhibit the stimulation of amylase secretion caused by substance P, bombesin or cholecystokinin. With substance P, bombesin and cholecystokinin, [DPro4,DTrp7,9,10]substance P-4-11 caused a parallel rightward shift in the dose-response curve for stimulation of amylase secretion with no change in the maximal response. Schild plots of these results gave straight lines with slopes that were not significantly different from unity. [DPro4,DTrp7,9,10]Substance P-4-11 inhibited binding of 125I-labeled substance P, 125I-[Tyr4]bombesin and 125I-cholecystokinin octapeptide over the same range of concentrations as that in which it inhibited biologic activity of each of these peptides. Half-maximal inhibition of binding of 125I-substance P occurred with 4 microM, of 125I-[Tyr4]bombesin with 17 microM and of 125I-cholecystokinin octapeptide with 5 microM. With each radiolabeled peptide the value of Ki for inhibition of binding by [DPro4,DTrp7,9,10]substance P-4-11 was not significantly different from the corresponding value of Ki calculated from the appropriate Schild plot. The present results indicate that [DPro4,DTrp7,9,10]substance P-4-11 is a competitive antagonist at receptors for substance P, for bombesin and for cholecystokinin. Thus, these receptors must share a common peptide recognition mechanism even though they interact with agonists that have no obvious structural similarity.     

Similar Rates of Phosphatidylinositol Hydrolysis Following Activation of Wild-Type and Truncated Rat Neurokinin-1 Receptors

Abstract: The substance P (neurokinin-1) receptor belongs to the family of seven putative transmembrane domain receptors that are coupled via G proteins to phospholipase C activation. Homologous desensitization of substance P-stimulated responses has been described in various systems. The rat neurokinin-1 receptor and a truncated mutant lacking the carboxyl-terminal region were expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells to examine the mechanisms of substance P-induced desensitization. Wild-type and truncated receptor-bearing cells were indistinguishable in agonist binding affinity and EC₅₀ of substance P-induced accumulation of ³H-inositol phosphates. Substance P-induced responses continued for 30–45 min in cells expressing wild-type and truncated receptors as well as in rat LRM-55 and human U373 cells, which express endogenous neurokinin-1 receptors. In transfected cells expressing the wild-type receptor, CP-96,345 added 15 min after substance P blocked further responses, demonstrating the continuing presence of responsive receptors. The rates of accumulation of ³H-inositol phosphates were four times greater in the initial 15 s of stimulation than for the next 20 min for both wild-type and truncated receptor types. This decrease in rate of substance P-stimulated phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis is therefore not dependent on the carboxyl-terminal region of the rat neurokinin-1 receptor, which contains 26 serine and threonine residues. These results are discussed in relation to current ideas regarding neurokinin-1 receptor desensitization.     

The effects of substance P and carbachol on inositol tris- and tetrakisphosphate formation and cytosolic free calcium in rat parotid acinar cells. A correlation between inositol phosphate levels and calcium entry

Both substance P and carbachol produced increases in inositol tris- and tetrakisphosphate and increased cytosolic free [Ca2+] in dispersed parotid acinar cells loaded with fura-2. The increase in [Ca2+]i in response to each agonist was due to a combination of mobilization of internal Ca2+ and entry of extracellular Ca2+. Kinetic studies of the initial response to substance P, and measurement of peak [Ca2+]i, demonstrated that the initial rapid rise in [Ca2+]i was due to both internal release and entry of Ca2+. Substance P could evoke a greater initial increase in [Ca2+]i and inositol trisphosphate than could carbachol. However, after 1 min in the presence of external Ca2+, the maintained [Ca2+]i level in response to substance P was considerably smaller than that seen with carbachol, an effect apparently due to homologous desensitization of the substance P receptor. The two agonists each produced a similar 4-5-fold increase in inositol tetrakisphosphate levels within 30 s; this level was maintained in the presence of carbachol, but decreased with substance P. Similarly, the level of inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate decreased after prolonged incubation with substance P. Thus, the maintained level of [Ca2+]i, and by deduction Ca2+ entry, correlated with the levels of inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate and inositol tetrakisphosphate; a result consistent with a possible role for these inositol phosphates in the control of receptor-mediated Ca2+ channels.     

Endocytosis and recycling of muscarinic receptors

Agonist stimulation causes the endocytosis of many G protein-coupled receptors, including muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. In this study we have investigated the agonist-triggered trafficking of the M3 muscarinic receptor expressed in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. We have compared the ability of a series of agonists to generate the second messenger Ins(1,4,5)P3 with their ability to stimulate receptor endocytosis. We show that there is a good correlation between the intrinsic activity of the agonists and their ability to increase the rate constant for receptor endocytosis. Furthermore, on the basis of our results, we predict that even very weak partial agonists should under some circumstances be able to cause substantial receptor internalization. Receptor endocytosis occurs too slowly to account for the rapid desensitization of the Ca2+ response to carbachol. Instead, receptor endocytosis and recycling appear to play an important role in resensitization. After an initial agonist challenge, the response to carbachol is fully recovered when only about half of the receptors have been recycled to the cell surface, suggesting that there is a receptor reserve of about 50%. Removal of this reserve by receptor alkylation significantly reduces the extent of resensitization. Resensitization is also reduced by inhibitors of either endocytosis alone (concanavalin A) or of endocytosis and recycling (nigericin). Finally, the protein phosphatase inhibitor calyculin A also reduces resensitization, possibly by blocking the dephosphorylation of the receptors in an endosomal compartment.     

Low affinity purinergic receptor modulates the response of rat submandibular glands to carbachol and substance P

The effect of extracellular ATP on the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) in rat submandibular glands was tested. The dose-response curve for ATP was biphasic with a first increase in the 1–30 μM concentration range and a further increase at concentrations higher than 100 μM. Among ATP analogs, only benzoyl-ATP stimulated the low affinity component. ATPτS blocked this response. All the other analogs tested reproduced the high-affinity low capacity response. Magnesium and Coomassie blue selectively blocked the low affinity component. High concentrations of ATP blocked the increase of the intracellular calcium concentration [Ca²⁺]_i in response to 100 μM carbachol. By itself, substance P (100 pM-1 μM) increased the [Ca²⁺]_i. One mM ATP potentiated the response to concentrations of substance P higher than 10 nM. This potentiation was reversed by extracellular magnesium. Carbachol 100 μM and substance P (100 pM-1 μM) increased the release of inositol trisphosphate (IP₃) from polyphosphoinositides (polyPI). Activation of the low affinity ATP receptors did not activate the polyPI-specific phospholipase C but inhibited its activation by 100 μM carbachol (−50%) and by 100 nM substance P (−60% at 1 nM substance P and −40% at 100 nM substance P). Substance P induced a strong homologous desensitization: a preincubation with 1 nM substance P nearly completely abolished the response to 1 μM substance P. When the cells were exposed to ATP before the second addition of substance P, the purinergic agonist partially restored the response to the tachykinin without totally reversing the desensitization. It is concluded that two types of purinergic receptors coexist in rat submandibular glands; a high-affinity, low capacity receptor which remains pharmacologically and functionally undefined and a low affinity site, high capacity receptor of the P_2Z type coupled to a non-selective cation channel. The occupancy of these low affinity sites blocks the increase of the [Ca²⁺]_i in response to a muscarinic agonist and the activation of polyPI-specific phospholipase C by carbachol and substance P. It potentiates the effect of high concentrations of substance P on the [Ca²⁺]_i. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Mechanism of Agonist-Induced Down-Regulation and Subsequent Recovery of Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptors in a Clonal Neuroblastoma X Glioma Hybrid Cell Line

The mechanisms of carbachol-induced muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) down-regulation, and recovery following carbachol withdrawal, were studied in the neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid NG108-15 cell line by specific ligand binding assays. N-[3H]Methylscopolamine ([3H]NMS) and [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate ([3H]QNB) were used as the ligands for the cell surface and total cellular mAChRs, respectively. Exposure of cells to 1 mM carbachol for 16 h decreased the specific binding of [3H]NMS and [3H]QNB by approximately 80%. Bacitracin (1-4 mg/ml) and methylamine (1-15 mM), inhibitors of transglutaminase and of endocytosis, prevented agonist-induced loss of surface mAChRs. Pretreatment of cells with the antimicrotubular agents nocodazole (0.1-10 microM) and colchicine (1-10 microM) prevented carbachol-induced loss of [3H]QNB binding, but not that of [3H]NMS binding. These results indicate that agonist-induced mAChR down-regulation occurs by endocytosis, followed by microtubular transport of receptors to their intracellular degradation sites. When carbachol was withdrawn from the culture medium following treatment of cells for 16 h, receptors recovered and were incorporated to the surface membrane. This recovery process was antagonized by monovalent ionophores monensin (0.1 microM) and nigericin (40 nM), which interfere with Golgi complex function. Receptor recovery was also prevented by the antimicrotubular agent nocodazole. Thus, recovery of receptors appears to be mediated via Golgi complex and microtubular transport to the surface membrane.     

Human substance P receptor undergoes agonist-dependent phosphorylation by G protein-coupled receptor kinase 5 in vitro

G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) phosphorylate agonist-occupied G protein-coupled receptors, leading to receptor desensitization. Seven GRKs, designated GRK1 through 7, have been characterized. GRK5 is negatively regulated by protein kinase C. We investigated whether human substance P receptor (hSPR) is a substrate of GRK5. We report that membrane-bound hSPR is phosphorylated by purified GRK5, and that both the rate and extent of phosphorylation increase dramatically in the presence of substance P. The phosphorylation has a high stoichiometry (20+/-4 mol phosphate/mol hSPR) and a low K(m) (1.7+/-0.1 nM). These data provide the first evidence that hSPR is a substrate of GRK5.