Effect of 5''-(N-Ethylcarboxamido)adenosine on Adenosine Transport in Cultured Chromaffin Cells

Extracellular adenosine is transported into chromaffin cells by a high-affinity transport system. The action of adenosine receptor ligands was studied in this cellular model. 5'-(N-Ethylcarboxamido)adenosine (NECA), an agonist of A2 receptors, activated adenosine transport. Km values for adenosine were 4.6 +/- 1.0 (n = 5) and 10.2 +/- 3.0 microM (n = 5) for controls and 100 nM NECA, respectively. The Vmax values were 66.7 +/- 23.5 and 170.2 +/- 30 pmol/10(6) cells/min for controls and 100 nM NECA, respectively. The A1 agonist N6-cyclohexyladenosine, the A1 antagonist 8-cyclopentyl-1, 3-dipropylxanthine, and the A1-A2 antagonist 1,3-dipropyl-8-(4-[(2-aminoethyl)amino]-carbonylmethyloxyphenyl)- xanthine did not significantly modify the adenosine transport in this system. Binding studies done with [3H]dipyridamole, a nucleoside transporter ligand, did not show changes in either the number or affinity of transporter sites after NECA treatment. This ligand can enter cells and quantifies the total number of transporters. The binding studies with [3H]-nitrobenzylthioinosine, which quantifies the plasma membrane transporters, showed a Bmax of 19,200 +/- 800 and 23,200 +/- 700 transporters/cell for controls and 100 nM NECA, respectively. No changes in the KD were obtained. The effects of NECA were not mediated through adenylate cyclase activation, because its action was not imitated by forskolin.     

Modulation of A2A adenosine receptor(s) by K+(ATP) channels in bovine brain striatal membranes

The modulation of adenosine receptor with K+(ATP) channel blocker, glibenclamide, was investigated using the radiolabeled A2A-receptor selective agonist [3H]CGS 21680. Radioligand binding studies in bovine brain striatal membranes (BBM) indicated that unlabeled CGS 21680 displaced the bound [3H]CGS 21680 in a concentration-dependent manner with a maximum displacement being approximately 65% at 10(-4) M. In the presence of 10(-5) M glibenclamide, unlabeled CGS 21680 increased the displacement of bound [3H]CGS 21860 by approximately 28% at 10(-4) M. [3H]CGS 21680 bound to BBM in a saturable manner to a single binding site (Kd = 10.6+/-1.71 nM; Bmax = 221.4+/-6.43 fmol/mg of protein). In contrast, [3H]CGS 21680 showed saturable binding to two sites in the presence of 10(-5) M glibenclamide; (Kd = 1.3+/-0.22 nM; Bmax = 74.3+/-2.14 fmol/mg protein; and Kd = 8.9+/-0.64 nM; Bmax = 243.2+/-5.71 fmol/mg protein), indicating modulation of adenosine A2A receptors by glibenclamide. These studies suggest that the K+(ATP) channel blocker, glibenclamide, modulated the adenosine A2A receptor in such a manner that [3H]CGS 21680 alone recognizes a single affinity adenosine receptor, but that the interactions between K+(ATP) channels and adenosine receptors.     

2-substituted pi system derivatives of adenosine that are coronary vasodilators acting via the A2A adenosine receptor

Compound 20 (CVT-3146--a 2-[(N-1-(4-N-methylcarboxamidopyrazolyl)] adenosine derivative) and compound 31 (CVT-3033--a 2-[(4-(1-N-pentylpyrazolyl)] adenosine derivative), were found to be short acting functionally selective coronary vasodilators (CV t0.5 = 5.2 +/- 0.2 and 3.4 +/- 0.5 min, respectively--rat isolated heart 50% reversal time) with good potency (EC50S = 6.4 +/- 1.2 nM and 67.9 +/- 16.7 nM, respectively), but they possess low affinity for the ADO A2A receptor (Ki = 1122 +/- 323 nM and 2138 +/- 952 nM, respectively; pig striatum).     

Inability of insulin and insulinlike growth factor-1 to stimulate sugar or amino acid transport and thymidine incorporation in cultured myeloma cells.

NS-1 mouse plasmacytoma cells were examined for their insulin and insulinlike growth factor-1 (IGF-1) binding characteristics and ability to produce peptide-dependent cellular effects. At concentrations of labelled insulin (i.e., 1.7 x 10(-10) M) or IGF-1 (i.e., 1.5 x 10(-10) M), NS-1 cells specifically bind 0.2 +/- 0.06 fmol insulin per 10(6) cells (n = 7), where little, if any, IGF-1 specific binding was observed (0.02 +/- 0.01 fmol/10(6) cells) (n = 3). Additionally, the data indicate that the total number of insulin binding sites per cell was 3200 +/- 390 (n = 3). Insulin was employed at various concentrations (6.7-667 nM) and failed to stimulate either sugar or amino acid transport. Insulin at low concentrations (i.e., 6.7 or 67 nM) did not stimulate DNA synthesis, yet a small but significant increase was observed at a concentration of 667 nM insulin. IGF-1 did not stimulate DNA synthesis at all concentrations employed (1.4-143 nM). In summary, there exists a small but significant number of insulin receptors, little insulin-stimulated DNA synthesis, and no apparent insulin stimulation of sugar or amino acid transport. Also, since there is no significant IGF-1 binding and no IGF-1 stimulation of DNA synthesis, these findings indicate that this cell line might be a good candidate for the study of insulin receptor function as a transfection recipient of insulin receptor genes.     

Agonist-induced internalization and recycling of the human A(3) adenosine receptors: role in receptor desensitization and resensitization

A(3) adenosine receptors have been proposed to play an important role in the pathophysiology of cerebral ischemia with a regimen-dependent nature of the therapeutic effects probably related to receptor desensitization and down-regulation. Here we studied the agonist-induced internalization of human A(3) adenosine receptors in transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells, and then we evaluated the relationship between internalization and signal desensitization and resensitization. Binding of N(6)-(4-amino-3-[(125)I]iodobenzyl)adenosine-5'-N-methyluronamide to membranes from Chinese hamster ovary cells stably transfected with the human A(3) adenosine receptor showed a profile typical of these receptors in other cell lines (K:(D) = 1.3+/-0.08 nM; B(max) = 400+/-28 fmol/mg of proteins). The iodinated agonist, bound at 4 degrees C to whole transfected cells, was internalized by increasing the temperature to 37 degrees C with a rate constant of 0.04+/-0.034 min(-1). Agonist-induced internalization of A(3) adenosine receptors was directly demonstrated by immunogold electron microscopy, which revealed the localization of these receptors in plasma membranes and intracellular vesicles. Moreover, short-term exposure of these cells to the agonist caused rapid desensitization as tested in adenylyl cyclase assays. Subsequent removal of the agonist led to restoration of the receptor function and recycling of the receptors to the cell surface. The rate constant of receptor recycling was 0.02+/-0.0017 min(-1). Blockade of internalization and recycling demonstrated that internalization did not affect signal desensitization, whereas recycling of internalized receptors was implicated in the signal resensitization.     

Molecular identification and structural requirement of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) receptors in the human colon adenocarcinoma cell line, HT-29.

The human colon adenocarcinoma cell line HT-29 in culture exhibits a cyclic AMP production system highly sensitive to vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), making HT-29 cells a unique cultured cell system for studying the mechanism of VIP action [Laburthe, Rousset, Boissard, Chevalier, Zweibaum & Rosselin (1978) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 75, 2772-2775]. The quantitative characteristics of VIP receptors in HT-29 cells and their structural requirement and molecular size were studied. 125I-labeled VIP bound in a time-dependent manner to HT-29 cell homogenates. At equilibrium (60 min incubation at 30 degrees C), unlabelled VIP in the 0.01-10 nM concentration range competed with 125I-VIP for binding to cell homogenates. Scatchard analysis of binding data gave a straight line, indicating that VIP bound to a single population of sites with a KD of 0.12 +/- 0.02 nM and a capacity of 120 +/- 9 fmol/mg of protein. The structural requirement of these receptors was studied with peptides structurally related to VIP, either natural or synthetic. Several peptides inhibited 125I-VIP binding to HT-29 cell homogenates with the following order of potency, which is typical of the human VIP receptor: VIP (IC50 = 0.1 nM) greater than VIP-(2-28)-peptide (IC50 = 13 nM) greater than human growth hormone releasing factor (IC50 = 56 nM) greater than peptide histidine isoleucine amide (IC50 = 80 nM) greater than secretin (IC50 greater than 10 000 nM). To characterize the molecular component(s) of the VIP receptor in HT-29 cells, 125I-VIP was covalently bound to cell homogenates by using the cross-linker dithiobis(succinimidyl propionate). Sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel autoradiographic studies of affinity-labelled cell homogenates revealed two major bands, corresponding to 125I-VIP-protein complexes of Mr 66 000 and 16 000. The labelling of the Mr-66 000 component was specific, since it was abolished by native VIP, whereas that of the Mr-16 000 component was not. Densitometric scanning of autoradiographs indicated that the labelling of the Mr-66 000 complex was inhibited by low VIP concentrations in the 0.1-10 nM range (IC50 = 0.6 nM), but was unaffected by 1 microM-glucagon or octapeptide of cholecystokinin. It was also decreased by VIP-(2-28)-peptide with a potency 1% that of VIP. Assuming that one molecule of 125I-VIP bound per molecule of protein, one protein of Mr 63 000 was identified as a component of the VIP receptor in HT-29 cells.     

Adenosine modulation of D-[3H]aspartate release in cultured retina cells exposed to oxidative stress

In this study we evaluated the role of adenosine receptor activation on the K+-evoked D-[3H]aspartate release in cultured chick retina cells exposed to oxidant conditions. Oxidative stress, induced by ascorbate (3.5 mM)/Fe2+ (100 microM), increased by about fourfold the release of D-[3H]aspartate, evoked by KCl 35 mM in the presence and in the absence of Ca2+. The agonist of A1 adenosine receptors, N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA; 10 nM), inhibited the K+-evoked D-[3H]aspartate release in control in oxidized cells. The antagonist of A1 adenosine receptor, 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine (DPCPX; 50 nM), potentiated the release of D-[3H]aspartate in oxidized cells, and reverted the effect observed in the presence of CPA 10 nM. However, in oxidized cells, when DPCPX was tested together with CPA 100 nM the total release of D-[3H]aspartate increased from 5.1 +/- 0.4% to 11.4 +/- 1.0%, this increase being reverted by 3,7-dimethyl-1-propargylxanthine (DMPX; 100 nM), an antagonist of A2A adenosine receptors. In cells of both experimental conditions, the K+-evoked release of D-[3H]aspartate was potentiated by the selective agonist of A2A adenosine receptors, 2-[4-(2-carboxyethyl)phenethylamino]-5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosin e (CGS 21680; 10 nM), whereas the antagonist of these receptors, DMPX (100 nM), inhibited the release of D-[3H]aspartate in oxidized cells, but not in control cells. Adenosine deaminase (ADA; 1 U/ml), which is able to remove adenosine from the synaptic space, reduced the K+-evoked D-[3H]aspartate release, from 5.1 +/- 0.4% to 3.1 +/- 0.3% in oxidized cells, and had no significant effect in control cells. The extracellular accumulation of endogenous adenosine, upon K+-depolarization, was higher in oxidized cells than in control cells, and was reduced by the inhibitors of adenosine transporter (NBTI) and of ecto-5'-nucleotidase (AOPCP). This suggests that adenosine accumulation resulted from the outflow of adenosine mediated by the transporter, and from extracellular degradation of adenine nucleotide. Our data show that both inhibitory A1 and excitatory A2A adenosine receptors are present in cultured retina cells, and that the K+-evoked D-[3H]aspartate release is modulated by the balance between inhibitory and excitatory responses. Under oxidative stress conditions, the extracellular accumulation of endogenous adenosine seems to reach levels enough to potentiate the release of D-[3H]aspartate by the tonic activation of A2A adenosine receptors.     

Different roles of adenosine A1, A2A and A3 receptors in controlling kainate-induced toxicity in cortical cultured neurons

Adenosine is a neuromodulator that can control brain damage through activation of A(1), A(2A) and A(3) receptors, which are located in both neurons and other brain cells. We took advantage of cultured neurons to investigate the role of neuronal adenosine receptors in the control of neurotoxicity caused by kainate and cyclothiazide. Both A(1), A(2A) and A(3) receptors were immunocytochemically identified in cortical neurons. Activation of A(1) receptors with 100 nM CPA did not modify the extent of neuronal death whereas the A(1) receptor antagonist, DPCPX (50 nM), attenuated neurotoxicity by 28 +/- 5%, and effect similar to that resulting from the removal of endogenous adenosine with 2U/ml of adenosine deaminase (27 +/- 3% attenuation of neurotoxicity). In the presence of adenosine deaminase, DPCPX had no further effect and CPA now exacerbated neurotoxicity by 42 +/- 4%. Activation of A(2A) receptor with 30 nM CGS21680 attenuated neurotoxicity by 40 +/- 8%, an effect prevented by the A(2A) receptor antagonists, SCH58261 (50 nM) or ZM241385 (50 nM), which by themselves were devoid of effect. Finally, neither A(3) receptor activation with Cl-IB-MECA (100-500 nM) nor blockade with MRS1191 (5 microM) modified neurotoxicity. These results show that A(1) receptor activation enhances and A(2A) receptor activation attenuates neurotoxicity in cultured cortical neurons, indicating that these two neuronal adenosine receptors directly control neurodegeneration. Interestingly, the control by adenosine of neurotoxicity in cultured neurons is similar to that observed in vivo in newborn animals and is the opposite of what is observed in adult brain preparations where A(1) receptor activation and A(2A) receptor blockade are neuroprotective.     

Endogenous EP4 prostaglandin receptors coupled positively to adenylyl cyclase in Chinese hamster ovary cells: pharmacological characterization

The purpose of these studies was to investigate the pharmacology of E-series and selected prostaglandins of other classes on adenylyl cyclase activity in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing an endogenous prostanoid receptor and to compare these responses with those from immortalized human non-pigmented ciliary epithelial (NPE) cells containing the EP2 receptor. 11-deoxy-PGE2 was the most potent of the 16 prostanoid agonists tested for stimulating cAMP formation with a potency (EC50) value of 26 +/- 6 nM in the CHO cells. The endogenous ligand, PGE2, exhibited potencies of 40 +/- 7 nM (n = 24) in the CHO cells and 67 +/- 9 nM (n = 46) in the NPE cells. The EP2 receptor agonist, butaprost, produced an EC50 value of 212 +/- 58 nM (n = 4) in the NPE cells while being inactive (EC50 > 10,000 nM, n = 6) in the CHO cells. The EP4 receptor selective antagonists, AH22921 and AH23848B, at a concentration of 30 microM, caused a 2.2 +/- 0.5 (n = 4) and 8.2 +/- 2.7 (n = 4) fold rightward shift in the PGE2 concentration-response curves in the CHO cells, yielding apparent pKb values of 4.6 +/- 0.6 and 5.3 +/- 0.2 (n = 4), respectively. AH22921 and AH23848B were non-competitive antagonists at the CHO cell EP4 receptor, but did not shift the PGE2 concentration-response curves in the NPE cells containing the EP2 receptor. These studies have characterized the functional prostaglandin receptors in CHO cells pharmacologically and shown them to be consistent with the EP4 subtype.     

Histamine type I (H1) receptor radioligand binding studies on normal T cell subsets, B cells, and monocytes

We have documented a single, specific binding site for [3H]pyrilamine on normal human T helper, T suppressor, B cells, and monocytes. The binding of the radioligand to its receptor is reversible with cold H1 antagonist, saturates at 40 to 60 nM, and binding equilibrium is achieved in 2 to 4 min. Using a computer program (Ligand), we calculated the dissociation constants, binding capacities, and numbers of receptors per cell for each of the different cell types. Monocytes were found to have the highest affinity (mean KD +/- SD; 3.8 +/- 4.8 nM) for [3H]pyrilamine, followed by T helper cells (KD = 5.0 +/- 6.6 nM), B cells (KD = 14.2 +/- 2.0 nM), and T suppressor cells (KD = 44.6 +/- 49.4 nM). T suppressor cells were found to express the higher number of H1 receptors per cell (35,697 +/- 15,468), followed by B cells (10,732 +/- 9060), T helper cells (6838 +/- 8167), and monocytes (5589 +/- 2266). The kinetics of binding for this radioligand was carried out in resting and mitogen-stimulated T cells over a 48-hr period. We found that the binding affinity for [3H]pyrilamine increased over the 48-hr period, whereas the number of receptors per T cell was essentially unchanged. In contrast, T cells stimulated with Con A or PHA were shown to have a greater than fourfold increase in the number of receptors per cell, whereas the binding affinity for [3H]pyrilamine decreased over the 48-hr period. Preincubation of T cells with unlabeled histamine before carrying out the radioligand binding assay resulted in a decrease in the binding affinity of the receptors to [3H]pyrilamine, but the number of receptors per cell did not change significantly. Although the function of H1 receptors on T cells, B cells, and monocytes has not been completely defined, this receptor has the potential of playing an important role in modulating the immune response.     

Age-related changes in A(1)-adenosine receptor-mediated bradycardia

The impact of age on functional sensitivity to A(1)-adenosine receptor activation was studied in Langendorff-perfused hearts from young (1-2 mo) and old (12-18 mo) male Wistar rats. Adenosine mediated bradycardia in young and old hearts, with sensitivity enhanced approximately 10-fold in old [negative logarithm of EC(50) (pEC(50)) = 4.56 +/- 0.11] versus young hearts (pEC(50) = 3.70 +/- 0. 09). Alternatively, the nonmetabolized A(1) agonists N(6)-cyclohexyladenosine and (R)-N(6)-phenylisopropyladenosine were equipotent in young (pEC(50) = 7.43 +/- 0.12 and 6.61 +/- 0.19, respectively) and old hearts (pEC(50) = 7.07 +/- 0.10 and 6.80 +/- 0. 11, respectively), suggesting a role for uptake and/or catabolism in age-related changes in adenosine sensitivity. In support of this suggestion, [(3)H]-adenosine uptake was approximately twofold greater in young than in old hearts (from 3-100 microM adenosine). However, although inhibition of adenosine deaminase and adenosine transport with 10 microM erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine hydrochloride and 10 microM S-(4-nitrobenzyl)-6-thioinosine increased adenosine sensitivity three- to fourfold, it failed to abolish the sensitivity difference in old (pEC(50) = 4.95 +/- 0.08) versus young (pEC(50) = 4.29 +/- 0.13) hearts. Data indicate that 1) age increases functional A(1) receptor sensitivity to adenosine without altering the sensitivity of the A(1) receptor itself, and 2) age impairs adenosine transport and/or catabolism, but this does not explain differing functional sensitivity to adenosine. This increased functional sensitivity to adenosine may have physiological significance in the older heart.     

Adenosine transport in bovine chromaffin cells in culture

Bovine adrenal chromaffin cells in culture have a high capacity and affinity for adenosine uptake with Vmax = 14 +/- 2.4 pmol/10(6) cells/min (133 pmol/mg of protein/min) and Km = 1 +/- 0.2 microM. Transport studies, at short time periods, in recently isolated chromaffin cells have Vmax = 15 pmol/10(6) cells/min and Km = 1.1 microM in ATP-depleted cells. Endogenous levels of the various purine nucleosides and bases were determined by high pressure liquid chromatography, with adenosine (3 +/- 1 nmol/10(6) cells), inosine (5.3 +/- 1.2 nmol/10(6) cells), and hypoxanthine (2.1 +/- 0.8 nmol/10(6) cells) being the purine metabolites found in the highest concentration. Taking into account the intracellular water, endogenous levels of 2.1, 3.8, and 1.5 mM, respectively, were obtained. Radioactively labeled adenosine inside the cell underwent enzymatic transformations, producing inosine, hypoxanthine, xanthine, and nucleotides, with their appearance and distribution being a function of the incubation time. When nicotine was used as a secretagogue, the adenosine transformed into the nucleotide pool was released, reaching 18 +/- 8% of the total adenosine found in the nucleotides. Dipyridamole, extensively used clinically, was a strong inhibitor for the adenosine uptake into these cells, with Ki = 5 +/- 0.5 nM and noncompetitive kinetically.     

Cultured vascular smooth muscle cells from porcine coronary artery possess A1 and A2 adenosine receptor activity

This study tested the hypothesis that an A1 adenosine receptor capable of inhibiting adenylate cyclase activity is present in porcine coronary vascular smooth muscle cells. In the absence of blockade of the A2 adenosine receptor, the A1 adenosine receptor agonists phenylisopropyladenosine (PIA) and cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) (10(-9) M) failed to inhibit Gpp(NH)p stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. However, after blockade of the A2 adenosine receptor with 30 nM CGS 15943A, cyclopentyladenosine (10(-9) M) inhibited Gpp(NH)p stimulated adenylate cyclase activity by 27 +/- 3% (4.3 +/- 0.7, Mean +/- SEM; pmoles/min/mg vs 5.9 +/- 0.8, P less than .05). The data demonstrate that both A1 and A2 adenosine receptors are present in coronary vascular smooth muscle. The results indicate that adenosine may mediate both vasodilation and vasoconstriction in the coronary circulation via A2 and A1 adenosine receptors, respectively.     

Measles virus modulates human T-cell somatostatin receptors and their coupling to adenylyl cyclase.

The possible role of immunomodulatory peptide somatostatin (SRIF) in measles virus (MV)-induced immunopathology was addressed by analysis of SRIF receptors and their coupling to adenylyl cyclase in mitogen-stimulated Jurkat T cells and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). SRIF-specific receptors were assayed in semipurified membrane preparations by using SRIF14 containing iodinated tyrosine at the first position in the amino acid chain ([125I]Tyr1) as a radioligand. A determination of receptor number by saturation of radioligand binding at equilibrium showed that in Jurkat cells, MV infection led to a dramatic decrease in the total receptor number. The virus-associated disappearance of one (Ki2 = 12 +/- 4 nM [mean +/- standard error of the mean [SEM]]; n = 4) of two somatostatin binding sites identified in control Jurkat cells (Ki1 = 78 +/- 3 pM and Ki2 = 12 +/- 4 nM [mean +/- SEM]; n = 4) was also observed. Almost identical results were obtained for phytohemagglutinin-activated human PBMC. In the absence of MV infection, two somatostatin binding sites were present (Ki1 = 111 +/- 31 pM and Ki2 = 17 +/- 2 nM [mean +/- SEM]; n = 2), whereas in MV-infected cells, only the high-affinity (Ki1 = 48 +/- 15 pM [mean +/- SEM]; n = 2) binding site remained. In addition, MV infection reinforced the inhibitory effects of SRIF on adenylyl cyclase activity, since maximal inhibition at 1 microM peptide was 11% +/- 4% in control cells versus 25% +/- 3% (P < 0.05) in infected Jurkat cells. Moreover, MV infection severely impaired the capacity of adenylyl cyclase to be activated directly (by forskolin) or indirectly (via Gs protein-coupled vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor). An assessment of [methyl-3H]thymidine incorporation showed that SRIF increased proliferative responses to mitogens only in control cells, not in MV-infected cells. Altogether, our data emphasize that MV-associated alteration of SRIF transduction appears to be related to the loss of SRIF-dependent increase of mitogen-induced proliferation.     

Activity and phosphorylation state of glucose transporters in plasma membranes from insulin-, isoproterenol-, and phorbol ester-treated rat adipose cells

The counterregulatory action of catecholamines on insulin-stimulated glucose transport and its relation to glucose transporter phosphorylation were studied in isolated rat adipose cells. Plasma membranes exhibiting reduced glucose transport activity were prepared as described previously (Joost, H. G., Weber, T. M., Cushman, S. W., and Simpson, I. A. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 10033-10036) from cells treated with insulin, and subsequently with isoproterenol and adenosine deaminase. In these membranes, transporter affinity for cytochalasin B binding was significantly reduced (KD = 133.5 +/- 14 versus 89.8 +/- 11 nM, means +/- S.E.) with no change in number of sites or immunoreactivity of the transporter on Western blots. Reconstituted plasma membrane transport was significantly lower with isoproterenol treatment (0.50 +/- 0.12 versus 0.97 +/- 0.27 nmol/mg protein/10 s). In contrast, transport activity reconstituted from corresponding intracellular transporters (from low density microsomes) was unchanged (5.4 +/- 2.2 versus 6.9 +/- 1.2 nmol/mg protein/10 s). Thus, the intrinsic activity change of the transporter produced by catecholamines appears to reflect a structural modification that is confined to the plasma membrane and not recycled into the intracellular compartment. In cells equilibrated with [32P]phosphate, neither insulin nor isoproterenol induced [32P]phosphate incorporation into the glucose transporter immunoprecipitated from plasma membranes. Conversely, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate stimulated significant incorporation of [32P]phosphate into the glucose transporter in insulin-stimulated cells without any change in plasma membrane transport activity or transporter concentration. Thus, the phosphorylation state of the glucose transporter does not seem to be involved in either signaling transporter translocation or triggering changes in transporter intrinsic activity.     

Solubilized Rat Brain Adenosine Receptors Have Two High-Affinity Binding Sites for l, 3-Dipropyl-8-Cyclopentylxanthine

The specific binding of L-N6-[3H]phenylisopropyladenosine (L-[3H]PIA) to solubilized receptors from rat brain membranes was studied. The interaction of these receptors with relatively low concentrations of L-[3H]PIA (0.5-12.0 nM) in the presence of Mg2+ showed the existence of two binding sites for this agonist, with respective dissociation constant (KD) values of 0.24 and 3.56 nM and respective receptor number (Bmax) values of 0.28 +/- 0.03 and 0.66 +/- 0.05 pmol/mg of protein. In the presence of GTP, the binding of L-[3H]PIA also showed two sites with KD values of 24.7 and 811.5 nM and Bmax values of 0.27 +/- 0.09 and 0.93 +/- 0.28 pmol/mg of protein for the first and the second binding site, respectively. Inhibition of specific L-[3H]PIA binding by 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine (DPCPX) (0.1-300 nM) performed with the same preparations revealed two DPCPX binding sites with Ki values of 0.29 and 13.5 nM, respectively. [3H]DPCPX saturation binding experiments also showed two binding sites with respective KD values of 0.81 and 10.7 nM and respective Bmax values of 0.19 +/- 0.02 and 0.74 +/- 0.06 pmol/mg of protein. The results suggest that solubilized membranes from rat brain possess two adenosine receptor subtypes: one of high affinity with characteristics of the A1 subtype and another with lower affinity with characteristics of the A3 subtype of adenosine receptor.     

Synthesis and preliminary biological evaluation of [3H]-MRE 3008-F20: the first high affinity radioligand antagonist for the human A3 adenosine receptors

The synthesis and the preliminary biological evaluation of the first high affinity radioligand antagonist for the human A3 adenosine receptor, named [3H]-MRE 3008-F20 are reported. [3H]-MRE 3008-20 bound human A3 receptors expressed in CHO cells with K(D) and Bmax value of 0.82 +/- 0.08 nM and 297 +/- 28 fmol/mg of protein, respectively. [3H]-MRE 3008-F20 represents a useful tool for a further characterization of A3 adenosine receptor subtype.     

Demonstration of a functional receptor for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide on Molt 4b T lymphoblasts

Viable human T lymphoblasts derived from the "Molt 4b" cell line have been shown to possess functional plasma membrane receptors for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). Specific binding of 125I-VIP to these lymphoblasts is rapid, reversible and linearly dependent on the number of cells present. Analysis of binding at 17 degrees C reveals a single class of high affinity binding sites over the concentration range of 10(-7) to 10(-11) M VIP (KD = 7.3 +/- 1.3 nM). The Bmax of 0.24 +/- 0.07 nM extrapolates to 15 000 +/- 4000 sites/cell. The binding of 125I-VIP to T lymphoblasts is highly specific; secretin and glucagon, peptides of similar molecular weight which show sequence homology with VIP, are unable to competitively inhibit binding of 125I-VIP to Molt 4b lymphoblasts. VIP activates adenylate cyclase in membrane preparations from Molt 4b lymphoblasts and increases cAMP in intact cells. Half maximal activation in both membrane preparations and intact cells occurs at 5 nM VIP. This demonstration of a functional receptor for VIP suggests that the Molt 4b lymphoblastic cell line may be a useful model system in which to study neuropeptide modulation of T lymphocyte function.