Prostaglandin E2 acts at two distinct pathways of T lymphocyte activation: inhibition of interleukin 2 production and down-regulation of transferrin receptor expression

The mechanism by which prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) inhibits human T lymphocyte activation and proliferation was studied. We analyzed the effect of physiologic concentrations of PGE2 on interleukin 2 (IL 2) production, expression of IL 2 receptor (Tac antigen), and expression of the transferrin receptor after in vitro activation with phytohemagglutinin. PGE2 inhibited T lymphocyte proliferation by 80 to 90% of control values. This was associated with a similar degree of inhibition of IL 2 production while the expression of IL 2 receptor was not affected. This was in marked contrast to the expression of the transferrin receptor, which was inhibited 65% after 72 hr of in vitro activation. The addition of exogenous, purified IL 2 reconstituted lymphocyte proliferation to 50% of control values, but had no effect on transferrin receptor expression. Because PGE2 is known to increase the intracellular concentration of 3',5' cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), we investigated the effect of another adenylate cyclase activator, i.e., isoproterenol, as well as the effect of extracellular administration of the cAMP derivative dibutyryl cAMP (dBcAMP) on IL 2 production, Tac antigen expression, and transferrin receptor expression. It was demonstrated that isoproterenol, as well as dBcAMP, inhibited transferrin receptor expression on PHA-activated T lymphocytes to the same extent as PGE2, and exogenous IL 2 could not counteract the down-regulation of the receptor expression. In contrast, neither isoproterenol nor dBcAMP had any significant effect on IL 2 receptor expression. Prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), which has been reported to elevate intracellular cyclic GMP levels, had no effect on lymphocyte activation and proliferation, and did not counteract the PGE2-induced depression in IL 2 production. In contrast to its effect on peripheral blood lymphocytes, PGE2 had no effect on transferrin receptor expression or cell proliferation by IL 2-dependent T cell clones and IL 2-independent T cell lines. These studies demonstrate that PGE2 exerts its inhibitory effects on T cell activation and proliferation via two distinct pathways: inhibition of IL 2 production and inhibition of transferrin receptor expression. The transferrin receptor inhibition is mediated via the cAMP pathway and is IL 2-independent.     

Inhibition of ornithine decarboxylase and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase activities of S49 lymphoma cells by agents increasing cyclic AMP

We have examined the regulation of two key enzymes that control polyamine biosynthesis-L-ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (SAMDC) - by agents increasing cAMP in S49 lymphoma cells. Incubation of wild type S49 cells with beta-adrenergic agonists (terbutaline or isoproterenol) inhibited ODC and SAMDC activities rapidly (less than 2 hr). more quickly than these agents arrested the cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. The beta-adrenergic antagonist propranolol blocked inhibition of ODC activity produced by isoproterenol, but only if added simultaneously or less than 4 hr after the agonist. Incubation of wild type S49 cells with cholera toxin or PGE1 also inhibited ODC activity. Decreases in ODC activity produced by beta-adrenergic agonists, cholera toxin, PGE1 or dibutyryl cAMP were all enhanced by the phosphodiesterase inhibitor Ro 20-1724. Results of studies of ODC and SAMDC activity in S49 variants having lesions in the pathway of cAMP generation and action were as follows: kin- cells (which lack cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity) showed no inhibition of ODC by any agent; AC- cells (which have absent nucleotide coupling units in their adenylate cyclase system) only demonstrated inhibition in response to dibutyryl cAMP; UNC cells (which have deficient coupling of hormone receptors and adenylate cyclase) only demonstrated inhibition in response to dibutyryl cAMP and cholera toxin, and beta-depleted cells (which have a decreased number of beta-adrenergic receptors) responded as did wild type cells except for absent response to isoproterenol. We conclude that inhibition of ODC and SAMDC activity in S49 cells is an early response to agents that increase cAMP and that this action occurs via the "classical" pathways of activation of adenylate cyclase and protein kinase. These results in S49 cells contrast with evidence in other systems in which cAMP has been suggested to enhance polyamine biosynthesis, perhaps through alternative mechanisms.     

Contractile role of M2 and M3 muscarinic receptors in gastrointestinal smooth muscle

Muscarinic agonists elicit contraction through M3 receptors in most isolated preparations of gastrointestinal smooth muscle, and not surprisingly, several investigators have identified M3 receptors in smooth muscle using biochemical, immunological and molecular biological methods. However, these studies have also shown that the M2 receptor outnumbers the M3 by a factor of about four in most instances. In smooth muscle, M3 receptors mediate phosphoinositide hydrolysis and Ca2+ mobilization, whereas M2 receptors mediate an inhibition of cAMP accumulation. The inhibitory effect of the M2 receptor on cAMP levels suggests an indirect role for this receptor; namely, an inhibition of the relaxant action of cAMP-stimulating agents. Such a function has been rigorously demonstrated in an experimental paradigm where gastrointestinal smooth muscle is first incubated with 4-DAMP mustard to inactivate M3 receptors during a Treatment Phase, and subsequently, the contractile activity of muscarinic agonists is characterized during a Test Phase in the presence of histamine and a relaxant agent. When present together, histamine and the relaxant agent (e.g., isoproterenol or forskolin) have no net contractile effect because their actions oppose one another. However, under these conditions, muscarinic agonists elicit a highly potent contractile response through the M2 receptor, presumably by inhibiting the relaxant action of isoproterenol or forskolin on histamine-induced contractions. This contractile response is pertussis toxin-sensitive, unlike the standard contractile response to muscarinic agonists, which is pertussis toxin-insensitive. When measured under standard conditions (i.e., in the absence of histamine and without 4-DAMP mustard-treatment), the contractile response to muscarinic agonists is moderately sensitive to pertussis toxin if isoproterenol or forskolin is present. Also, pertussis toxin-treatment enhances the relaxant action of isoproterenol in the field-stimulated guinea pig ileum. These results demonstrate that endogenous acetylcholine can activate M2 receptors to inhibit the relaxant effects of beta-adrenoceptor activation on M3 receptor-mediated contractions. An operational model for the interaction between M2 and M3 receptors shows that competitive antagonism of the interactive response resembles an M3 profile under most conditions, making it difficult to detect the contribution of the M2 receptor.     

Histamine H2 receptor activity during the differentiation of the human monocytic-like cell line U-937. Comparison with prostaglandins and isoproterenol

Histamine H2 receptor activity (cAMP generation) has been characterized in U-937 cells before and after retinoic acid-induced differentiation into monocyte-/macrophage-like cells. The differentiation is associated with a decreased capacity of U-937 monocytes to generate cAMP under basal conditions or after cell surface receptor stimulation by histamine, isoproterenol and PGE1. In contrast, the potencies of the hormones are unchanged during monocytic maturation (EC50 values = 3.2-4.6 X 10(-6) M histamine, 4.6-7 X 10(-9) M isoproterenol, 2-4.6 X 10(-6) M PGE1). The data support the view that histamine and cAMP-inducing agents may control the proliferation and differentiation of normal and leukemic cells committed to monocytic maturation in man. They also raise the possibility that normal human monocytes also possess functional H2 receptors and that histamine may be implicated in the regulation of monocyte/macrophage functions.     

A transplantable rat Leydig cell tumor--3. Isoproterenol and prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) responsive adenylyl cyclase (AC). Regulatory effects of nucleotides and magnesium

The activity of the membrane bound adenylyl cyclase (AC), the effects of nucleotides, Mg2+-cations and its responsiveness to isoproterenol and prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) were examined in a transplantable rat Leydig cell tumor (H-540). Both isoproterenol and PGE1 caused activation of the AC in Leydig cell tumors. The degree of activation by PGE1 (4-5-fold) was approximately twice that of isoproterenol (2-3-fold). The addition of both AC agonists simultaneously was not additive indicating that they activate AC of the same cell. Increasing concentrations of ATP (0.025-2.0 X 10 mM) caused a concentration dependent increase in both the basal and hormone stimulated AC activity, and the activation by isoproterenol and PGE1 (relative response) revealed a slight but significant increase with increasing ATP concentrations. Lineweaver-Burke analysis of these data indicated an apparent Km for ATP (Mg X ATP) of 0.16 mM. Free magnesium did not influence the apparent Km of the AC for ATP. Increasing concentrations of free Mg2+ (0.24-13.2 mM) also caused a concentration dependent increasing activation of AC activity up to a concentration of approx 6 mM in excess of Mg2+-binding ingredients. Higher concentrations of free Mg2+ (13.1 mM) caused a small but significant decrease in both basal and agonist stimulated AC activity. In contrast to other reports, activation by isoproterenol and PGE1 was in general not influenced by the concentration of Mg2+. Both GTP and GMP-P(NH)P stimulated basal and hormone stimulated AC activity (Kact 1 microM), but with different kinetics. In the presence of GTP, AC activity was almost constant for 90 min. In the presence of GMP-P(NH)P, AC activity was much higher, but constant AC activity occurred after a certain lag time (7-10 min), which was reduced by PGE1 and isoproterenol. In conclusion, cAMP production in Leydig cell tumors is stimulated by both PGE1 and isoproterenol. The AC activity and activation by these agonists are regulated by Mg2+ and nucleotides in a slightly different manner from most other cells. The association between AC activation and stimulation of steroid production by Leydig cell tumors remains to be investigated.     

Heterologous desensitization of adenylate cyclase with prostaglandin E1 alters sensitivity to inhibitory as well as stimulatory agonists

Adenylate cyclase in cultured human fibroblasts is activated by prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) or beta-adrenergic agonists, e.g., isoproterenol, and inhibited by muscarinic agonists. Incubation with PGE1 reduced adenylate cyclase responsiveness to both PGE1 and isoproterenol; this so-called heterologous desensitization is believed to result from impaired function of the stimulatory guanyl nucleotide-binding protein of the cyclase complex. The effect of heterologous desensitization by PGE1 on inhibition of adenylate cyclase by the muscarinic agonist oxotremorine was examined. Muscarinic inhibition of basal and isoproterenol-stimulated cAMP accumulation was attenuated following exposure to PGE1; the concentration of oxotremorine required for half-maximal inhibition of cAMP accumulation was increased. In both intact cells and membrane preparations the number of binding sites for [3H]scopolamine, a muscarinic antagonist, was unaltered by desensitization. Following exposure to PGE1, receptor affinity for oxotremorine, assessed by competition with [3H] scopolamine, and the guanyl nucleotide sensitivity of agonist binding were reduced. The amount of inhibitory guanyl nucleotide-binding regulatory protein available for [32P]ADP-ribosylation by pertussis toxin was unaltered by desensitization. Thus, heterologous desensitization of adenylate cyclase with the stimulatory agonist PGE1 alters sensitivity to inhibitory as well as stimulatory ligands.     

Studies of cAMP metabolism in cultured hepatoma cells: presence of functional adenylate cyclase despite low cAMP content and lack of hormonal responsiveness.

The ability of isoproterenol, glucagon, PGE1 and cholera toxin to stimulate the synthesis of cAMP and protein kinase activity in line of liver cells (BRL) and a line of rat hepatoma cells (H35) has been determined. The concentration of cAMP in BRL cells (approximately 10 pmoles/mg protein) is in the range reported for other cultured cell lines but H35 cells contain extraordinarily low amounts of this cyclic nucleotide (approximately 0.05 pmoles/mg protein). Isoproterenol and PGE1 caused an increase in cAMP content, and protein kinase activation in BRL cells, although glucagon was ineffective. H35 cells, in contrast, were completely insensitive to all hormonal agonists. Despite this fact, cholera toxin was able to produce a marked increase in cAMP content, adenylate cyclase activity and protein kinase activation in H35 cells. binding studies with [125 I]-iodohydroxybenzylpindolol, a specific beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist, revealed that each H35 cell possesses fewer than 10 beta-adrenergic receptors whereas BRL cells contain 2-5,000 receptors per cell. The low level of cAMP in H35 cells appears to result from a combination of totally unstimulated adenylate cyclase and apparently elevated phosphodiesterase activities.     

Beta-adrenergic-receptor-mediated suppression of interleukin 2 receptors in human lymphocytes

Adrenergic receptor agonists are known to attenuate the proliferative response of human lymphocytes after activation; however, their mechanism of action is unknown. Since expression of interleukin 2 (IL-2) receptors is a prerequisite for proliferation, the effect of beta-adrenergic receptor agonists on lymphocyte IL-2 receptors was studied on both mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes and IL-2-dependent T lymphocyte cell lines. In both cell types the beta-adrenergic receptor agonist isoproterenol blocked the expression of IL-2 receptors, as determined with the IL-2 receptor anti-TAC antibody. To determine the effect of beta-adrenergic agonists on expression of the high affinity IL-2 receptors, [125I]IL-2 binding studies were performed at concentrations selective for high affinity sites. No significant effect of beta-adrenergic agonists on high affinity IL-2 receptor sites could be detected. The data demonstrate that beta-adrenergic receptor agonists down-regulate IL-2 receptors primarily affecting low affinity sites.     

The role of cyclic AMP in modulating cytotoxic T lymphocytes. II. Sequential changes during culture in responsiveness of cytotoxic lymphocytes to cyclic AMP-active agents

Agents that increase cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels inhibited the activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) obtained from spleens of mice immunized with allogeneic cells. Cultured CTL, however, were desensitized to cAMP-active agents, in that the capacity of these agents to inhibit the activity of cultured CTL was markedly reduced. The capacity to inhibit CTL activity was reduced more rapidly for some agents than for others; the percent inhibition by histamine and PGE2 was reduced after 4 hr and was reduced more than 20% after 24 hr, whereas the percent inhibition by dibutyryl cAMP, theophylline, and cholera enterotoxin was reduced less than 6% after 24 hr, and was reduced significantly only after 48 hr. Culture in the presence of antigen accelerated desensitization to the latter three agents. CTL populations were also tested for their capacity to increase cAMP levels in response to agonists. The capacity of histamine to increase cAMP levels of the CTL was lost within 4 hr (i.e., as rapidly as its capacity to inhibit CTL activity) and was never restored, whereas the capacity of PGE2 to increase cAMP levels persisted throughout culture. These results suggest that culture induces multiple alterations in cAMP metabolism of CTL. These alterations, which result in dissociation of CTL activity from cAMP-mediated regulatory steps, may include loss of histamine receptors and/or histamine receptor-adenylate cyclase coupling, and also loss of one or more biochemical reactions that link elevated cAMP levels to inhibition of lysis.     

Prostaglandin E2-dependent induction of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor secretion by cloned murine helper T cells

PG are known to inhibit T cell proliferation, at least in part by suppressing IL-2 production, but effects of PG on the production of other lymphokines have not been well studied. We have found that PGE2 and PGE1, but not PGF2 alpha, inhibit both proliferation and production of granulocyte-macrophage (GM)-CSF by murine TH clones stimulated with Ag or anti-CD3 antibody. Thus, signals generated via the Ag receptor:CD3 complex were inhibited by PGE. Most interesting, however, was the finding that PGE2 and PGE1 could act synergistically with IL-2 for the induction of GM-CSF in some TH1 clones. Dependence on PGE2 for this response was not found in all clones, as some TH1 cells could produce GM-CSF after IL-2 alone, and some cells did not produce GM-CSF even in the presence of PGE2 and IL-2. These observations indicate that there is a subset of TH1 cells receptive to a stimulating activity of PGE2 in the presence of IL-2. PGE2 is known to elevate cAMP levels in T cells. Therefore, we tested whether other agents known to increase cAMP, such as forskolin and cholera toxin, could act in conjunction with IL-2 to induce GM-CSF secretion. As was found with PGE2, these compounds also induced GM-CSF activity in the presence of IL-2, suggesting a critical role for cAMP in this process. Overall these data indicate that the requirements for activation of GM-CSF secretion vary among individual T cells. Most importantly they provide the first evidence that E-series PG are positive signals for lymphokine induction in certain T cells, whereas simultaneously acting as negative signals limiting proliferation. This result also suggests that treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs that decrease PGE2 concentrations may inhibit lymphokine secretion normally stimulated by this pathway.     

Chemoattractant-elicited alterations of cAMP levels in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes require a Ca2+-dependent mechanism which is independent of transmembrane activation of adenylate cyclase

The affinity of the chemoattractant receptor for N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMet-Leu-Phe) on human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) is regulated by guanine nucleotides, and chemoattractants stimulate increased intracellular cAMP levels in PMNs. Our data, however, indicate that this receptor does not activate membrane-bound adenylate cyclase via direct nucleotide regulatory protein (N) coupling but instead raises cAMP levels indirectly via a mechanism which appears to require Ca2+ mobilization. This conclusion is based on the following data: 1) prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) activated and alpha 2-adrenergic treatment inhibited adenylate cyclase activation in PMN plasma membranes; fMet-Leu-Phe, however, neither activated nor inhibited adenylate cyclase in these membranes; 2) depletion of extracellular Ca2+ had no effect on isoproterenol and PGE1 elicited cAMP responses in intact PMNs while peak fMet-Leu-Phe and A23187-induced responses were reduced by approximately 50 and 80%, respectively; 3) 8-(N,N-diethylamino)-octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate, a purported Ca2+ antagonist, caused almost complete inhibition of fMet-Leu-Phe and ionophore-induced cAMP responses in intact cells but had no effect on PGE1 and isoproterenol; 4) alpha 2-adrenergic agonists inhibited PGE1 but not chemoattractant- or A23187-elicited cAMP responses in intact PMNs; and 5) pretreatment of cells with a phosphodiesterase inhibitor (isobutylmethylxanthine) greatly potentiated the PGE1 and isoproterenol cAMP responses but nearly abolished the peak fMet-Leu-Phe response. Thus, chemoattractants appear to utilize a novel mechanism to raise cAMP levels which appear to require Ca2+ mobilization and could be mediated in part through a transient inhibition of phosphodiesterases. We suggest that stimulation of PMN functions by chemoattractants may utilize an N-coupled process to generate a Ca2+ signal which could in turn raise intracellular cAMP levels indirectly and thereby provide negative regulation.     

The role of agonists that activate adenylate cyclase in the control of cAMP metabolism and enzyme release by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

An inverse relationship between cAMP content and effector function is ascribed generally to immune and inflammatory cells. Previous reports imply, however, that human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) are less responsive than other inflammatory cells to adenylate cyclase (AC) agonists. We therefore examined the effects of isoproterenol, prostaglandin E1 (PGE1), adenosine, and histamine on the adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) content of PMN and on particle-stimulated lysosomal enzyme release. For comparison, the effect of AC agonists on the cAMP content of human peripheral lymphocytes was evaluated in parallel. Although potent stimuli for cAMP accumulation in lymphocytes, the AC agonists produced only marginal increases in the cAMP content of PMN; this difference in responsiveness was independent of agonist concentration or length of incubation. Inhibition of lysosomal enzyme release by the AC agonists was likewise marginal (< 20%). The addition of theophylline with isoproterenol produced additive inhibition without significant cAMP increases. Hydrocortisone, which caused a small increase in the cAMP content, markedly potentiated the effects of AC agonists on the cAMP level in PMN; the synergistic increases in cAMP were accompanied by additive effects on lysosomal enzyme release. It is concluded that human lymphocytes and PMN exhibit differential sensitivity to AC agonists and that this difference may provide a basis for the selective modulation of individual PMN- or lymphocyte-mediated events.     

Adaptive increase in adenylyl cyclase activity in NG108-15 and S49 cells induced by chronic treatment with inhibitory drugs is not due to a decrease in cyclic AMP concentrations.

NG108-15 neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid cells and S49 lymphoma cells exhibit an enhancement in adenylyl cyclase activity after chronic treatment with receptor agonists that acutely inhibit the enzyme. Using agonists that activate five distinct inhibitory receptors in NG108-15 cells, we have found that there is a correlation between the extent of acute inhibition of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1)-stimulated cAMP accumulation and efficacy for induction of enhanced PGE1 stimulation of cAMP accumulation after chronic treatment and withdrawal. Chronic treatment with dideoxyadenosine, which acutely inhibits adenylyl cyclase activity by a mechanism independent or cell surface receptors or pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins, did not induce enhanced PGE1 stimulation of cAMP accumulation in NG108-15 cells or forskolin stimulation of cAMP accumulation in S49 cells. While control basal cAMP concentrations were acutely decreased by carbachol in NG108-15 cells and by somatostatin in S49 cells, when the cAMP concentrations were maintained above the control basal values with a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, chronic treatment with these inhibitory drugs nonetheless resulted in enhanced cAMP responses in both NG108-15 and S49 cells. These results provide evidence that the initial decrement in cAMP concentrations caused by inhibitory drug is not the requisite signal for inducing the subsequent sensitization of adenylyl cyclase in NG108-15 and S49 cells but that activation of a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein is involved in the development of this important adaptation.     

The effects of autacoids on cloned murine lymphoid cells: modulation of IL 2 secretion and the activity of natural suppressor cells

The pharmacologic effects of histamine and isoproterenol (autacoids) were studied on clones of murine T helper (TH) and natural suppressor (NS) cells. The data are consistent with receptors for the autacoids being nonrandomly distributed on phenotypically and functionally distinct clones. The effects of histamine on IL 2 secretion by TH cells could be either inhibitory or stimulatory, depending on the conditions of incubation with the autacoid. When TH cells were pretreated with histamine, their secretion of IL 2 was augmented; conversely, if histamine was added to the TH cells in the presence of antigen, IL 2 secretion was inhibited. The suppressor function of NS cells was enhanced by preincubation with histamine (10(-4) M) for 4 hr before the washed NS cells were added to responder and stimulator cells in mixed lymphocyte cultures. Two H1 receptor antagonists, mepyramine (10(-6) M) and pyrobutamine (10(-7) M), each competitively blocked the histamine activation of the NS cells, but an H2 receptor antagonist cimetidine (10(-5) M) did not alter the suppressor-enhancing function of histamine. Activation of NS cells did not occur if histamine was added with responder, stimulator, and co-cultured cells in MLR. The effects of each autacoid were additive in cytolytic T cells alone. The adenylate cyclase pools that can be stimulated by isoproterenol and histamine in cytolytic T cells may be independent of each other, but further work will be needed to prove this point.     

Hormonal activation of adenylate cyclase in macrophage membranes is regulated by guanine nucleotides

Many macrophage functions such as chemotaxis, phagocytosis, enzyme secretion, and cytotoxicity are influenced by intracellular cyclic nucleotide levels, but the regulatory mechanisms involved are poorly defined. We have developed methods that allowed us to study the activation of AC in isolated guinea pig (g.p.) macrophage membranes. AC in these membrane preparations could be stimulated approximately twofold by guanine nucleotides. We could not obtain any hormonal activation of membrane-bound AC in the absence of guanine nucleotides. In the presence of GTP, however, the hormones isoproterenol and PGE1 elicited an additional threefold rise in AC activity, which subsided after approximately 15 min. As little as 10(-8) M concentrations of these two hormones induced significant elevations of AC activity. Replacement of GTP by its nonhydrolyzable analogue Gpp(NH)p resulted in a persistent hormone-independent activation of AC, and addition of hormones enhanced this level of activation. Thus, GTP-ase activity is present in macrophage membrane preparations and serves to regulate AC activation. Hormonal stimulation of AC was receptor mediated, because the effect of the beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol, but not PGE1, was inhibited by the beta-adrenergic blocker propranolol. In addition, the potency series of PG corresponded to that observed for stimulation of cAMP production in intact g.p. macrophages, i.e., PGE1 = PGE2 greater than PGA1 greater than PGF2 alpha. AC activation by PG in the membrane preparation was inhibited by an alpha-adrenergic agonist, thus demonstrating one means for down regulating cAMP production in g.p. macrophages. Our studies also showed that certain hormones (e.g., beta-adrenergic agonists, PG) can exert their effect on cAMP production by stimulation of membrane-bound AC, whereas other agents such as lectins or arachidonic acid require additional intracellular components to elevate cAMP levels in macrophages. The mechanism of activation of AC by hormones in g.p. macrophage membranes appears to fit the model of a ternary complex, the components of which include the hormone receptor, AC, and guanine nucleotide regulatory protein, which transmits the signal from the receptor to AC.     

Expression of genes for metabolism of cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate in somatic cells. beta-Adrenergic and PGE1 receptors in parental and hybrid cells.

Using the ligands [125I]iodohydroxybenzylpindolol and [3H]prostaglandin E1 ([3H]PGE1), we have studied the relationship of receptors for beta-adrenergic agents and for PGE1 to adenylate cyclase in membranes of parental, hybrid, and variant mammalian cell lines. Fusion of parental clones responsive to beta-adrenergic agonists (beta+) with unresponsive clones (beta-) produced hybrid clones with a greatly diminished beta-adrenergic response; beta+ X beta leads to beta-. Binding studies with [125I]iodohydroxybenzylpindolol showed a decreased concentration of beta receptors in six such hybrid clones. Thus, paucity of beta-adrenergic receptors is probably a sufficient, albeit not necessarily complete, explanation for the decreased beta-adrenergic responsiveness of the hybrid clones. When a clone with beta receptor but without apparent adenylate cyclase activity (HC-1) was hybridized with a beta- clone that has adenylate cyclase (B82), a responsive hybrid clone was obtained. In nine cell hybrids produced by the fusion of clones responsive (PGE1+) and unresponsive (PGE1-) to PGE1, high affinity binding sites for [3H]PGE1 were expressed in the same manner as was PGE1-sensitive adenylate cyclase: PGE1+ X PGE1 leads to PGE1+. The chemical specificities and affinities of the parental receptors and responsive adenylate cyclases were faithfully reproduced in the hybrid clones. Activation by PGE1 was proportional to the occupation of the high affinity receptors. In a wild type lymphoma clone (24.3.2), the concentration dependences for binding of [3H]PGE1 and for activation of adenyalte cyclase by PGE1 were identical. In a variant lymphoma clone (94.15.1) lacking adenylate cyclase activity, no high affinity receptors for PGE1 were detected, whereas beta-adrenergic receptors have been demonstrated in this variant clone (Insel, P.A., Maguire, M.E., Gilman, A.G., Coffino, P., Bourne, H., and Melmon, K. (1976) Mol. Pharmacol. 12, 1062-1069). Hybrid cells formed by the fusion of 94.15.1 with cell line RAG (PGE1-) responded to PGE1. Clone 94.15.1 may have receptors for PGE1 of reduced affinity or in low concentration. Alternatively, RAG and 94.15.1 may have complementary genetic defects such that the RAG X 94.15.1 hybrid cells express a hormonally responsive receptor-adenylate cyclase system.     

Functional role of M2 muscarinic receptors in the guinea pig ileum

Muscarinic agonists elicit contraction in the standard guinea pig ileum bioassay through activation of M3 muscarinic receptors that are also linked to phosphoinositide hydrolysis. Surprisingly, the most abundant muscarinic receptor in the ileum is the M2 which causes a specific inhibition of cyclic AMP accumulation elicited by the beta-adrenergic receptor. After most of the M3 receptors are inactivated, the ileum still retains high sensitivity to muscarinic agonists provided that the contractile responses are measured in the presence of histamine and forskolin, which together, have no effect on contraction. Under these conditions, the potencies of antagonists for blocking the contractile response are consistent with those expected for an M2 response. Moreover, the muscarinic contractile response measured in the presence of histamine and forskolin after inactivation of M3 receptors is pertussis toxin sensitive. In contrast, muscarinic contractions in the standard bioassay are pertussis toxin insensitive. These results demonstrate that the M2 muscarinic receptor can cause an indirect contraction of the guinea pig ileum by preventing the relaxing effect of agents that increase cAMP.