Down-regulation and recycling of high affinity cholecystokinin receptors on pancreatic acinar cells

First incubating dispersed acini from rat pancreas with monensin, a cation ionophore that can inhibit recycling of receptors, inhibited binding of 125I-cholecystokinin 8 (125I-CCK-8) measured during a second incubation by as much as 50%. A maximal effect of monensin required 90 min of first incubation. Detectable inhibition of binding of 125I-CCK-8 occurred with 300 nM monensin, and inhibition increased progressively with concentrations of monensin up to 25 microM. Pancreatic acini possess two classes of receptors that bind 125I-CCK-8. One class has a high affinity (Kd = 461 pM) and a low capacity for CCK (512 fmol/mg DNA); the other class has a low affinity (Kd = 47 nM) and a high capacity for CCK (18 pmol/mg DNA). First incubating acini with monensin caused an 84% decrease in the number of high affinity CCK receptors with no change in the number of low affinity CCK receptors or the values of Kd for either class of receptors indicating that there is recycling of high affinity CCK receptors but not low affinity CCK receptors. First incubating acini with monensin did not alter CCK-stimulated amylase secretion indicating that in contrast to previous conclusions, occupation of low affinity CCK receptors mediates CCK-stimulated enzyme secretion. Moreover, the biphasic dose-response curve for CCK-stimulated enzyme secretion from monensin-treated acini suggests that pancreatic acini also possess a third, previously unrecognized class of very low affinity CCK receptors.     

Somatostatin receptors on rat pancreatic acinar cells. Pharmacological and structural characterization and demonstration of down-regulation in streptozotocin diabetes

The binding of somatostatin-14 (S-14) to rat pancreatic acinar cell membranes was characterized using [125I-Tyr11]S-14 as the radioligand. Maximum binding was observed at pH 7.4 and was Ca2+-dependent. Such Ca2+ dependence of S-14 receptor binding was not observed in other tissues. Scatchard analysis of the competitive inhibition by S-14 of [125I-Tyr11]S-14 binding revealed a single class of high affinity sites (Kd = 0.5 +/- 0.07 nM) with a binding capacity (Bmax) of 266 +/- 22 fmol/mg of protein. [D-Trp8]S-14 and structural analogs with halogenated Trp moiety exhibited 2-32-fold greater binding affinity than S-14, [D-F5-Trp8]S-14 being the most potent. [Tyr11]S-14 was equipotent with S-14. The affinity of somatostatin-28 for binding to these receptors was 50% of that of S-14. Cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) inhibited the binding of [125I-Tyr11]S-14, but its inhibition curve was not parallel to that of S-14. In the presence of 1 nM CCK-8, the Bmax of S-14 receptors was reduced to 150 +/- 17 fmol/mg of protein. Dibutyryl cyclic GMP, a CCK receptor antagonist, partially reversed the inhibitory action of CCK-8, suggesting that CCK receptors mediate the inhibition of S-14 receptor binding. GDP, GTP, and guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate inhibit S-14 receptor binding in this tissue. The inhibition was shown to be due to decrease in binding capacity and not due to change in affinity. Specifically bound [125I-Tyr11]S-14 cross-linked to the S-14 receptors was found associated with three proteins of approximate Mr = 200,000, 80,000, and 70,000 which could be detected under both reducing and nonreducing conditions. Finally, pancreatic acinar cell S-14 receptors were shown to be down-regulated by persistent hypersomatostatinemia 1 week after streptozotocin-induced diabetes characterized by decreased Bmax (105 +/- 13 fmol/mg of protein) without any change in affinity. We conclude that pancreatic acinar cell membrane S-14 receptors require Ca2+ for maximal binding and thus differ from S-14 receptors in other tissues, S-14 receptors in this tissue also exhibit selective ligand specificities, these receptors are regulated by CCK-8 and guanine nucleotides, three receptor proteins of apparent Mr = 200,000, 80,000, and 70,000 specifically bind S-14, and (v) these receptors are regulated by S-14 in vivo as evidenced by decreased binding in streptozotocin diabetic rats characterized by hypersomatostatinemia.     

Vasoactive intestinal peptide receptors on AR42J rat pancreatic acinar cells.

VIP receptors on AR42J rat pancreatic cells were analyzed by competition binding, affinity labeling and by N-glycanase digestion analyses. These studies revealed the presence of specific, high affinity (Kd approximately 1 nM) VIP receptors with a mass of 67 kDa or 59 kDa under reducing or non-reducing conditions, respectively. N-glycanase digestion of affinity labeled membranes generated a core receptor protein of approximately 44 kDa and evidence for at least two N-linked glycans on the mature receptor. The receptor lacked O-linked oligosaccharides but contained terminal sialic acid residues on its N-linked glycan(s) based on digestions with O-glycanase and neuraminidase. The similarity of the AR42J VIP receptor to the recently cloned cDNA for human VIP receptors makes this cell line an attractive model for further analysis of VIP receptor signal transduction events.     

Regulation of phosphatidate synthesis by secretagogues in parotid acinar cells.

The metabolism of phosphatidate in rat parotid acinar cells was investigated, particularly with regard to the actions of agonists known to act by mobilizing Ca2+. When cells were incubated in medium containing 10 microM-[32P]Pi, phosphatidate was rapidly labelled, approaching an apparent steady-state with a half-time of approx. 20 min. Methacholine provoked a more than doubling of phosphatidate radioactivity, which was reversed by the muscarinic antagonist atropine. These results suggest that phosphatidate labels to near steady-state rapidly and that in cells prelabelled for 60 min the increase in radioactivity induced by agonists probably reflects net synthesis rather than an increase in specific radioactivity. Phosphatidate synthesis in response to methacholine was rapid and occurred, within the resolution of a few seconds, with no measurable latency. Adrenaline and substance P also stimulated phosphatidate synthesis but both agonists were less efficacious than methacholine. A Ca2+ ionophore, ionomycin, did not provoke phosphatidate synthesis. By using a protocol that eliminates the receptor-regulated Ca2+ pool, it was demonstrated that methacholine-induced phosphatidate formation does not come about as a consequence of Ca2+ influx nor of Ca2+ release. These results indicate that the phosphatidate synthesis response has characteristics compatible with its previously suggested role as a primary mediator of membrane Ca2+-gating.     

Dexamethasone effects on somatostatin receptors in pancreatic acinar AR4-2J cells

The effects of glucocorticoids on somatostatin binding and cAMP response in the rat pancreatic acinar carcinoma AR4-2J cell line were examined. Dexamethasone treatment reduced the number of somatostatin receptors 2.5 fold without any change in receptor affinity. In addition, dexamethasone increased the sensitivity of the cells to somatostatin-inhibited cAMP formation and restored the biphasic pattern of cAMP response to somatostatin previously observed in normal pancreatic acinar cells. Such effect may be associated with the glucocorticoid-promoted cellular pancreatic differentiation of AR4-2J cells.     

Effects of secretagogues and bile acids on mitochondrial membrane potential of pancreatic acinar cells: comparison of different modes of evaluating DeltaPsim

In this study, we investigated the effects of secretagogues and bile acids on the mitochondrial membrane potential of pancreatic acinar cells. We measured the mitochondrial membrane potential using the tetramethylrhodamine-based probes tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester and tetramethylrhodamine methyl ester. At low levels of loading, these indicators appeared to have a low sensitivity to the uncoupler carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, and no response was observed to even high doses of cholecystokinin. When loaded at high concentrations, tetramethylrhodamine methyl ester and tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester undergo quenching and can be dequenched by mitochondrial depolarization. We found the dequench mode to be 2 orders of magnitude more sensitive than the low concentration mode. Using the dequench mode, we resolved mitochondrial depolarizations produced by supramaximal and by physiological concentrations of cholecystokinin. Other calcium-releasing agonists, acetylcholine, JMV-180, and bombesin, also produced mitochondrial depolarization. Secretin, which employs the cAMP pathway, had no effect on the mitochondrial potential; dibutyryl cAMP was also ineffective. The cholecystokinin-induced mitochondrial depolarizations were abolished by buffering cytosolic calcium. A non-agonist-dependent calcium elevation induced by thapsigargin depolarized the mitochondria. These experiments suggest that a cytosolic calcium concentration rise is sufficient for mitochondrial depolarization and that the depolarizing effect of cholecystokinin is mediated by a cytosolic calcium rise. Bile acids are considered possible triggers of acute pancreatitis. The bile acids taurolithocholic acid 3-sulfate, taurodeoxycholic acid, and taurochenodeoxycholic acid, at low submillimolar concentrations, induced mitochondrial depolarization, resolved by the dequench mode. Our experiments demonstrate that physiological concentrations of secretagogues and pathologically relevant concentrations of bile acids trigger mitochondrial depolarization in pancreatic acinar cells.     

Glucocorticoids increase cholecystokinin receptors and amylase secretion in pancreatic acinar AR42J cells

We recently reported in AR42J pancreatic acinar cells that glucocorticoids increased the synthesis, cell content, and mRNA levels for amylase (Logsdon, C.D., Moessner, A., Williams, J.A., and Goldfine, I.D. (1985) J. Cell Biol. 100, 1200-1208). In addition, in these cells glucocorticoids increased the volume density of secretory granules and rough endoplasmic reticulum. In the present study we investigate the effects of glucocorticoids on the receptor binding and biological effects of cholecystokinin (CCK) on AR42J cells. Treatment with 10 nM dexamethasone for 48 h increased the specific binding of 125I-CCK. This increase in binding was time-dependent, with maximal effects occurring after 48 h, and dose-dependent, with a one-half maximal effect elicited by 1 nM dexamethasone. Other steroid analogs were also effective and their potencies paralleled their relative effectiveness as glucocorticoids. Analyses of competitive binding experiments conducted at 4 degrees C to minimize hormone internalization and degradation revealed the presence of a single class of CCK binding sites with a Kd of approximately 6 nM and indicated that dexamethasone treatment nearly tripled the number of CCK receptors/cell with little change in receptor affinity. Treatment with 10 nM dexamethasone increased both basal amylase secretion and the amylase released in response to CCK stimulation. In addition, dexamethasone increased the sensitivity of the cells to CCK. The glucocorticoid decreased the concentration of CCK required for one half-maximal stimulation of amylase secretion from 35 +/- 6 to 8 +/- 1 pM. These data indicate, therefore, that glucocorticoids induce an increase in the number of CCK receptors in AR42J cells, and this increase leads to enhanced sensitivity to CCK.     

Identification and characterization of insulin receptors on foetal-mouse brain-cortical cells.

The occurrence of insulin receptors was investigated in freshly dissociated brain-cortical cells from mouse embryos. By analogy with classical insulin-binding cell types, binding of 125I-insulin to foetal brain-cortical cells was time- and pH-dependent, only partially reversible, and competed for by unlabelled insulin and closely related peptides. Desalanine-desasparagine-insulin, pig proinsulin, hagfish insulin and turkey insulin were respectively 2%, 4%, 2% and 200% as potent as bovine insulin in inhibiting 125I-insulin binding to brain-cortical cells, which corresponds to their relative biological potencies in classical insulin-target cells; no competition was observed with glucagon and nerve growth factor, even at high concentrations. Scatchard analysis of competitive-binding data resulted in curvilinear plots with a high-affinity binding of Ka = 3.6 X 10(8) M-1. Insulin binding to foetal brain-cortical cells differed, however, in two distinct aspects from that to classical insulin-binding cell types. Firstly, dilution of 125I-insulin-bound cells in the presence of unlabelled insulin did not accelerate dissociation of the labelled hormone. Secondly, exposure of brain-cortical cells to insulin before the binding assay enhanced insulin binding, suggesting up-regulation of insulin receptors in response to insulin. In conclusion, foetal-mouse brain-cortical cells bear specific binding sites for insulin. Their insulin receptor shows a marked specificity and affinity for insulin, but differs in at least two properties from most classical insulin receptors. These differences in hormone-receptor interaction could reflect structural differences between insulin receptors on embryonic and differentiated cells.     

Bombesin-induced cytosolic Ca2+ spiking in pancreatic acinar cells depends on cyclic ADP-ribose and ryanodine receptors

Different hormones and neurotransmitters, using Ca2+ as their intracellular messenger, can generate specific cytosolic Ca2+ signals in different parts of a cell. In mouse pancreatic acinar cells, cytosolic Ca2+ oscillations are triggered by activation of acetylcholine (ACh), cholecystokinin (CCK) and bombesin receptors. Low concentrations of these three agonists all induce local Ca(2+)spikes, but in the case of bombesin and CCK these spikes can also trigger global Ca2+ signals. Here we monitor cytosolic Ca2+ oscillations induced by low (2-5 pM) concentrations of bombesin and show that, like ACh- and CCK-induced oscillations, the bombesin-elicited responses are inhibited by ryanodine(50 microM). We then demonstrate that, like CCK- but unlike ACh-induced oscillations, the responses to bombesin are abolished by intracellular infusion of the cyclic ADP ribose (cADPr) antagonist 8-NH2-cADPr (20 microM). We conclude that in mouse pancreatic acinar cells, bombesin, CCK and ACh all produce local Ca2+ spikes by recruiting common oscillator units composed of ryanodine and inositol trisphosphate receptors. However, bombesin and CCK also recruit cADPr receptors, which may account for the global Ca2+ signals that can be evoked by these two agonists. Our new results indicate that each Ca2+ -mobilizing agonist, acting on mouse pancreatic acinar cells, recruits a unique combination of intracellular Ca2+ channels.     

Identification of a novel aquaporin, AQP12, expressed in pancreatic acinar cells

Members of the aquaporin (AQP) water channel family are widely distributed in various tissues and contribute to the water permeability of epithelial and endothelial cells. Currently 11 members of the AQP family (AQP0-10) have been reported in mammals. Here we report the identification of AQP12, which we found by performing a BLAST program search. Northern blot analysis revealed that AQP12 was specifically expressed in the pancreas. Further analysis by in situ hybridization and RT-PCR studies showed that AQP12 was selectively localized in the acinar cells of the pancreas. To analyze the cellular localization and function of AQP12, we expressed AQP12 in Xenopus oocytes and cultured mammalian cells. Immunocytochemistry revealed that AQP12 was not targeted to the plasma membrane. The selective localization of AQP12 in pancreatic acinar cells and possibly in the intracellular organelles suggests a role of AQP12 in digestive enzyme secretion such as maturation and exocytosis of secretory granules.     

Acetylcholine and cholecystokinin receptors functionally couple by different G-proteins to phospholipase C in pancreatic acinar cells

We have studied the involvement of GTP-binding proteins in the stimulation of phospholipase C from rat pancreatic acinar cells. Pretreatment of permeabilized cells with activated cholera toxin inhibited both cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK-OP) and GTPγS but not carbachol (CCh)-induced production of inositol trisphosphate. Pertussis toxin had no effect. Neither vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, a stimulator of adenylyl cyclase, nor the cAMP-analogue, 8-bromo cAMP, mimicked the inhibitory effect of cholera toxin on agonist-induced phospholipase C activation. This indicates that inhibition by cholera toxin could not be attributed to a direct interaction of cholera toxin activated G_s with phospholipase C or to an elevation of cAMP. In isolated rat pancreatic plasma membranes cholera toxin ADP-ribosylated a 40 kDa protein, which was inhibited by CCK-OP but not by CCh. We conclude from these data that both CCK- and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors functionally couple to phospholipase C by two different GTP-binding proteins.     

Calcium-magnesium interactions in pancreatic acinar cells.

Although the role of calcium (Ca2+) in the signal transduction and pathobiology of the exocrine pancreas is firmly established, the role of magnesium (Mg2+) remains unclear. We have characterized the intracellular distribution of Mg2+ in response to hormone stimulation in isolated mouse pancreatic acinar cells and studied the role of Mg2+ in modulating Ca2+ signaling using microspectrofluorometry and digital imaging of Ca2+- or Mg2+-sensitive fluorescent dyes as well as Mg2+-sensitive intracellular microelectrodes. Our results indicate that an increase in intracellular Mg2+ concentrations reduced the cholecystokinin (CCK) -induced Ca2+ oscillations by inhibiting the capacitive Ca2+ influx. An intracellular Ca2+ mobilization, on the other hand, was paralleled by a decrease in [Mg2+]i, which was reversible upon hormone withdrawal independent of the electrochemical gradients for Mg2+, Ca2+, Na+, and K+, and not caused by Mg2+ efflux from acinar cells. In an attempt to characterize possible Mg2+ stores that would explain the reversible, hormone-induced intracellular Mg2+ movements, we ruled out mitochondria or ATP as potential Mg2+ buffers and found that the CCK-induced [Mg2+]i decrease was initiated at the basolateral part of the acinar cells, where most of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is located, and progressed from there toward the apical pole of the acinar cells in an antiparallel fashion to Ca2+ waves. These experiments represent the first characterization of intracellular Mg2+ movements in the exocrine pancreas, provide evidence for possible Mg2+ stores in the ER, and indicate that the spatial and temporal distribution of intracellular Mg concentrations profoundly affects acinar cell Ca2+ signaling.     

Effects of pancreatic acinar cell surface antibodies and complement on isolated rat acinar cells in vitro

Surface directed pancreatic acinar cell antibodies raised by immunization of rabbits with suspensions of viable isolated rat acinar cells were utilized to study immune cytolytic processes as a model of in vitro pancreatic injury. The antibodies produced were bound to rat pancreatic acinar cell surface determinants and significantly damaged freshly separated acinar cells by immune cytolytic mechanisms. Addition of complement accelerated the cytolytic effects on the target cells in a dose-dependent manner. The decline of acinar cells was dependent only on the presence of the immune cytolytic potential and not on the number of already damaged cells. Morphologic changes in the cells induced by the agents applied were revealed by both transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The presented experimental model seems a valuable tool for further investigations at the cellular level into the contribution of primarily occurring acinar cell injury in triggering the subsequent pathophysiological mechanisms initiating autodigestion of the pancreatic gland in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis. Dedicated to Professor P. Heinrich on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Effects of pancreatic acinar cell surface antibodies and complement on isolated rat acinar cells in vitro

Surface directed pancreatic acinar cell antibodies raised by immunization of rabbits with suspensions of viable isolated rat acinar cells were utilized to study immune cytolytic processes as a model of in vitro pancreatic injury. The antibodies produced were bound to rat pancreatic acinar cell surface determinants and significantly damaged freshly separated acinar cells by immune cytolytic mechanisms. Addition of complement accelerated the cytolytic effects on the target cells in a dose-dependent manner. The decline of acinar cells was dependent only on the presence of the immune cytolytic potential and not on the number of already damaged cells. Morphologic changes in the cells induced by the agents applied were revealed by both transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The presented experimental model seems a valuable tool for further investigations at the cellular level into the contribution of primarily occurring acinar cell injury in triggering the subsequent pathophysiological mechanisms initiating autodigestion of the pancreatic gland in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis.     

Effect of proteolytic cleavage on functional properties of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in rat pancreatic and parotid acinar cells.

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in isolated rat pancreatic acinar cells have an apparent Mr of 88 000, which could be decreased to 46 000 by papain, as deduced by covalent binding of the specific alkylating agent [3H]propylbenzilylcholine mustard. Muscarinic receptors on papain-treated acinar cells retained the antagonist-binding site and both high- and low-affinity binding sites for the cholinergic agonist carbachol. Similar results were observed in studies with rat parotid acinar cells, although the receptors in both control and papain-treated cells were each 10 000-15 000 Da smaller than in pancreas. Additionally, muscarinic receptors in papain-treated pancreatic acinar cells retained the ability to mediate carbachol stimulation of digestive-enzyme secretion. These results demonstrate that the characteristic binding properties of muscarinic receptors for both agonists and antagonists as well as their ability to translate agonist occupancy into a physiological response are not altered by proteolytic cleavage.