Interaction of amiloride and its analogues with adenosine A1 receptors in calf brain

Small molecule allosteric modulation of the adenosine A1 receptor

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent the target for approximately a third of FDA-approved small molecule drugs. The adenosine A₁ receptor (A₁R), one of four adenosine GPCR subtypes, has important (patho)physiological roles in humans. A₁R has well-established roles in the regulation of the cardiovascular and nervous systems, where it has been identified as a potential therapeutic target for a number of conditions, including cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury, cognition, epilepsy, and neuropathic pain. A₁R small molecule drugs, typically orthosteric ligands, have undergone clinical trials. To date, none have progressed into the clinic, predominantly due to dose-limiting unwanted effects. The development of A₁R allosteric modulators that target a topographically distinct binding site represent a promising approach to overcome current limitations. Pharmacological parameters of allosteric ligands, including affinity, efficacy and cooperativity, can be optimized to regulate A₁R activity with high subtype, spatial and temporal selectivity. This review aims to offer insights into the A₁R as a potential therapeutic target and highlight recent advances in the structural understanding of A₁R allosteric modulation.

Allosteric modulation of G protein-coupled receptors by amiloride and its derivatives. Perspectives for drug discovery?

The function of G protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs) can be modulated by compounds that bind to other sites than the endogenous orthosteric binding site, so‐called allosteric sites. Structure elucidation of a number of GPCRs has revealed the presence of a sodium ion bound in a conserved allosteric site. The small molecule amiloride and analogs thereof have been proposed to bind in this same sodium ion site. Hence, this review seeks to summarize and reflect on the current knowledge of allosteric effects by amiloride and its analogs on GPCRs. Amiloride is known to modulate adenosine, adrenergic, dopamine, chemokine, muscarinic, serotonin, gonadotropin‐releasing hormone, GABA_B, and taste receptors. Amiloride analogs with lipophilic substituents tend to be more potent modulators than amiloride itself. Adenosine, α‐adrenergic and dopamine receptors are most strongly modulated by amiloride analogs. In addition, for a few GPCRs, more than one binding site for amiloride has been postulated. Interestingly, the nature of the allosteric effect of amiloride and derivatives varies considerably between GPCRs, with both negative and positive allosteric modulation occurring. Since the sodium ion binding site is strongly conserved among class A GPCRs it is to be expected that amiloride also binds to class A GPCRs not evaluated yet. Investigating this typical amiloride‐GPCR interaction further may yield general insight in the allosteric mechanisms of GPCR ligand binding and function, and possibly provide new opportunities for drug discovery.

Spinal antinociceptive action of amiloride and its interaction with tizanidine in the rat formalin test

BACKGROUND

Amiloride has been reported to produce a wide variety of actions, thereby affecting several ionic channels and a multitude of receptors and enzymes. Intrathecal α2-adrenergic receptor agonists produce pronounced analgesia, and amiloride modulates α2-adrenergic receptor agonist binding and function, acting via the allosteric site on the α2A-adrenergic receptor.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the antinociceptive interaction of intrathecal amiloride and the α2-adrenoceptor agonist tizanidine using a rat formalin test.

METHODS

Sprague-Dawley rats were chronically implanted with lumbar intrathecal catheters and were tested for paw flinching using formalin injection. Biphasic painful behaviour was recorded. Amiloride, tizanidine or an amiloride-tizanidine mixture was administered 10 min before formalin injection. To characterize any interactions, isobolographic analysis was performed. The effects of a pretreatment using intrathecally administered yohimbine was also tested.

RESULTS

Intrathecally administered amiloride (12.5 μg to 100 μg) and tizanidine (0.5 μg to 5 μg), given separately, produced a significant dose-related suppression of the biphasic responses in the formalin test. Isobolographic analysis revealed that the combination of intrathecal amiloride and tizanidine synergistically reduced phase I and II activities. Intrathecally administered yohimbine antagonized or attenuated the antinociceptive effect of amiloride, tizanidine and the amiloride-tizanidine mixture. Intrathecally administered amiloride synergistically interacts with tizanidine to reduce the nociceptive response in the formalin test, most likely by activating α2-adrenoceptors in the spinal cord.

CONCLUSIONS

Although intrathecal tizanidine produced pronounced analgesia, antinociceptive doses of intrathecal tizanidine also produced several side effects, including bradycardia and sedation. Amiloride produced antinociceptive action against the thermal nociceptive test without side effects in rats.

Allosteric modulation of adenosine receptors

Allosteric ligands for G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) may alter receptor conformations induced by an orthosteric ligand. These modulators can thus fine-tune classical pharmacological responses. In this review we will describe efforts to synthesize and characterize allosteric modulators for one particular GPCR subfamily, the adenosine receptors. There are four subtypes of these receptors: A(1), A(2A), A(2B) and A(3). Allosteric enhancers for the adenosine A(1) receptor may have anti-arrythmic and anti-lipolytic activity. They may also act as analgesics and neuroprotective agents. A(3) allosteric enhancers are thought to be beneficial in ischemic conditions or as antitumor agents. We will summarize recent developments regarding the medicinal chemistry of such compounds. Most data have been and are published about the adenosine A(1) and A(3) receptor, whereas limited or no information is available for the A(2A) and A(2B) receptor, respectively. Receptor mutation studies are also discussed, as they may shed light on the localization of the allosteric binding sites. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: "Adenosine Receptors".

Gi protein coupling to adenosine A1-A2A receptor heteromers in human brain caudate nucleus

Pharmacological characterization of adenosine A(1) and A(2A) receptors in human brain caudate nucleus membranes led to non-cooperative binding of radiolabelled ligands. In human caudate nucleus but not in cortex, the agonist binding to A(1) receptors was modulated by the agonist binding to A(2A) receptors indicating a functional negative cross-talk. Accordingly, the A(1) receptor-activation-mediated G(i)-dependent guanosine 5'-o-(3-[(35)S]thio-triphosphate) binding was modulated by agonist binding to A(2A) receptors. A(2A) receptors occupation led to a decrease in the potency of A(1) receptor agonists. These results indicate that A(1) but not A(2A) receptors activation, likely occurring at low adenosine concentrations, engages a G(i)-mediated signaling; however, when both receptors are occupied by adenosine, there is an A(2A) receptor-mediated impairment of G(i)-operated transducing units. These findings are relevant to get insight into the complex relationships derived from co-expression of multiple neurotransmitter/neuromodulator receptors subtypes that individually are coupled to different G proteins. A further finding was the demonstration that the A(2A) receptor agonist, CGS 21680, at high concentrations able to significantly bind to the A(1) receptor, behaved as a partial agonist of the later receptor. This fact might be taken into account when characterizing CGS 21680 actions in human cells expressing A(1) receptors when the compound is used at micromolar concentrations.

Inhibitory effects of amiloride on the current mediated by native GABA(A) receptors in cultured neurons of rat inferior colliculus

1. The diuretic amiloride is known to modulate the activity of several types of ion channels and membrane receptors in addition to its inhibitory effects on many ion transport systems. However, the effects of amiloride on some important ion channels and receptors, such as GABA(A) receptors, in the central nervous system have not been characterized. 2. In the present study, we investigated the functional action of amiloride on native GABA(A) receptors in cultured neurons of rat inferior colliculus using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings. 3. Amiloride reversibly inhibited the amplitude of the GABA-induced current (I(GABA)) in a concentration-dependent manner (IC(50) 454 +/- 24 micromol/L) under conditions of voltage-clamp with a holding potential at -60 mV. The inhibition depended on drug application mode and was independent of membrane potential. Amiloride did not change the reversal potential of I(GABA). Moreover, amiloride induced a parallel right-ward shift in the concentration-response curve for I(GABA) without altering the maximal value and Hill coefficient. 4. The present study shows that amiloride competitively inhibits the current mediated by native GABA(A) receptors in the brain region, probably via a direct action on GABA-binding sites on the receptor. The findings suggest that the functional actions of amiloride on GABA(A) receptors may result in possible side-effects on the central nervous system in the case of direct application of this drug into the cerebrospinal fluid for treatment of diseases such as brain tumours.

Allosteric modulation of adenosine receptors

Allosteric modulators for adenosine receptors may have potential therapeutic advantage over orthosteric ligands. Allosteric enhancers at the adenosine A₁ receptor have been linked to antiarrhythmic and antilipolytic activity. They may also have therapeutic potential as analgesics and neuroprotective agents. A₃ allosteric enhancers are postulated to be useful against ischemic conditions or as antitumor agents. In this review, we address recent developments regarding the medicinal chemistry of such compounds. Most efforts have been and are directed toward adenosine A₁ and A₃ receptors, whereas limited or no information is available for A_2A and A_2B receptors. We also discuss some findings, mostly receptor mutation studies, regarding localization of the allosteric binding sites on the receptors.

Amiloride attenuates glycine-induced currents in cultured neurons of rat inferior colliculus

Amiloride, a potassium sparing diuretic, is well known to interact with many ion transport systems and modulate the activity of several membrane receptors. However, relatively little information is available as to how amiloride affects membrane receptors of neurons in the brain areas. In the present study, we investigated the effects of amiloride on glycine-induced currents (I(Gly)) in cultured neurons of rat inferior colliculus with whole-cell patch-clamp recordings. Amiloride itself did not activate any current across the neuronal membrane but it reversibly inhibited the amplitude of the I(Gly) in a reversible and concentration-dependent manner, with an IC(50) of 487.4+/-25.3microM (n=5). Amiloride shifted the concentration-response relationship to the right without changing Hill coefficient and without changing the maximum response of the I(Gly). The pre-perfusion of amiloride produced an inhibitory effect on the I(Gly). In addition, amiloride was shown with a voltage ramp protocol to significantly reduce the conductance induced by glycine but not to change the reversal potential of the I(Gly). These results demonstrate that amiloride competitively inhibits the I(Gly) in rat inferior colliculus neurons by decreasing the affinity of glycine to its receptor. Our finding suggests that attention should be paid to the possible side effects of amiloride used as a drug on brain functions in the case of a defective blood-brain barrier and in the case of direct application of this drug into the cerebrospinal fluid for treatment of brain tumors.

Sex differences in the effects of amiloride on formalin test nociception in mice

Amiloride is a nonspecific blocker of acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) that have been recently implicated in the mediation of mechanical and chemical/inflammatory nociception. Preliminary data using a transgenic model are suggestive of sex differences in the role of ASICs. We report here that systemic administration of amiloride (10-70 mg/kg ip) produces a robust, dose-dependent blockade of late/tonic phase nociceptive behavior on the mouse formalin test (5%; 20 microl) in female but not male mice, completely abolishing the known sex difference in formalin test response. Adult gonadectomy produced a "switching" of sex differences in amiloride efficacy, with castrated males displaying an amiloride blockade and ovariectomized females rendered less sensitive to amiloride. Gonadectomized mice could be switched back to their intact status using chronic estrogen benzoate or testosterone propionate replacement via osmotic minipump (6 microg/day or 250 microg/day, respectively). It is unclear whether this striking sex difference is due to sex-specific involvement of ASICs in pain processing, but the present data represent one of the first demonstrations of pain-related sex differences with no obvious opioid involvement.

Effects of blockers of Ca2+ channels and other ion channels on in vitro excystment of Paragonimus ohirai metacercariae induced by sodium cholate

The inhibitory effects of various ion channel blockers were examined on in vitro excystment of Paragonimus ohirai metacercariae induced by a bile salt, sodium cholate. At a concentration of 10 microM, bepridil, a non-selective Ca(2+) channel blocker, completely inhibited in vitro excystment, whereas TEA, lidocaine, and R(+)-IAA-94, channel blockers against K(+), Na(+) and Cl(-) ions, respectively, benzamil, an Na(+)/H(+) and Na(+)/Ca(2+) ion exchanger blocker, and R(+)-DIOA, a [K(+), Cl(-)] cotransporter inhibitor, did not. Considering the previous result that Ca(2+) ionophores are also efficient inducing factors for in vitro excystment of P. ohirai metacercariae and the present result, bile salts appear to induce the excystment of P. ohirai metacercariae through evoking the Ca(2+) channels of target cells within the metacercarial juveniles.

Amiloride inhibition of glycinergic miniature IPSCs in mechanically dissociated rat spinal neurons

The effect of amiloride on glycinergic transmission in mechanically dissociated rat spinal dorsal horn neurons was examined with the use of whole-cell patch-clamp recording. Amiloride reversibly reduced both the frequency and amplitude of spontaneous glycinergic miniature IPSCs (mIPSCs) and its inhibitory effect on glycinergic mIPSCs persisted in either Ca2+-free or Na+-free external solutions while it disappeared in K+-free external solution. Analysis of the relationship between mIPSCs amplitude and frequency at various holding potentials shows that amiloride inhibition of glycinergic mIPSC frequency could result indirectly from its inhibition of amplitude.

Inhibition of glycine response by amiloride in rat spinal neurons

The modulatory effect of amiloride on glycine-activated current (I(Gly)) was investigated in acutely dissociated rat spinal dorsal horn neurons using the whole-cell patch clamp technique. Amiloride inhibited I(Gly) reversibly in a concentration-dependent manner. It shifted the concentration-response relationship to the right without altering the maximum response and Hill coefficient of the I(Gly). Amiloride did not change the ion selectivity of glycine receptor either. In addition, Na(+) - or Ca(2+) -free extracellular solutions and intracellular application of amiloride did not alter the amiloride inhibition of I(Gly). These results indicate that amiloride directly inhibited the glycine receptor response by decreasing the affinity of glycine to its receptor.

Amiloride inhibition of gamma-aminobutyric acid(A) receptors depends upon the alpha subunit subtype

gamma-Aminobutyric acid(A) (GABA(A)) receptors (GABARs) are responsible for most fast inhibitory neurotransmission in the mammalian brain. The GABARs contain several allosteric modulatory sites, many of which are useful clinically. The activity of most of these modulators depends upon the subunit composition of the receptor. The diuretic amiloride was previously reported to inhibit GABARs in frog sensory neurons. We measured its effects on recombinant GABARs to determine its mechanism of action at mammalian receptors and to examine the effect of subunit composition. Amiloride acted primarily as a competitive antagonist, reducing the sensitivity of the receptor to GABA without affecting the maximal current amplitude. Receptors containing an alpha6 subunit were about 10-fold more sensitive to amiloride than those containing other alpha subunits. In contrast, the identity of the beta or gamma subtype had little effect on amiloride sensitivity. Although several other modulators have specific effects at alpha6-containing receptors, amiloride is the first inhibitor to be reported with no additional dependence on the identity of the beta or gamma subunit. Therefore, it probably represents a unique modulatory site on the GABAR, which could be useful for developing drugs targeting these receptors. The selective activity of amiloride could also be helpful for isolating the contribution of receptors composed of alpha6 subtypes in heterogeneous native GABAR populations.

Local anti-angiogenic brain tumor therapies

The critical role of angiogenesis in the growth of solid tumors, including neoplasms of the central nervous system, has provided the impetus for research leading to the discovery of inhibitors of tumor neovascularization. The therapeutic potential of systemically administered antiangiogenic drugs for brain tumors, however, is limited by a variety of anatomic and physiologic barriers to drug delivery. Implantable controlled-release polymers for local drug administration directly into the tumor parenchyma have therefore been developed to achieve therapeutic concentrations of these drugs within the brain while minimizing systemic toxicity. With use of these polymers, successful antiangiogenic therapy for treatment of experimental intracranial malignancies has been achieved. This has been demonstrated with a variety of otherwise unrelated drugs -- including the angiostatic steroids, tetracycline derivatives, and amiloride -- which modulate collagenase activity, and thus, basement membrane and interstitial matrix metabolism. Controlled-release polymers provide a clinically practicable method of achieving sustained antiangiogenic therapy which can be readily used in combination with other treatment modalities such as cytoreductive surgery, radiation, and cytotoxic chemotherapy.

Allosteric modulation of A(2A) adenosine receptors by amiloride analogues and sodium ions

Allosteric regulation of rat A(2A) adenosine receptors by amiloride, amiloride analogues, and sodium ions was studied by investigating their ability to influence the dissociation of [(3)H]4-2-[7-amino-2-(2-furyl)-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a][1,3, 5]triazin-5-yl-amino]ethylphenol ([(3)H]ZM241385) from receptors in rat striatal membranes. Both amiloride and its analogues accelerated the dissociation, the analogues being more potent than amiloride itself. In contrast, sodium ions decreased the rate of [(3)H]ZM241385 dissociation in a concentration-dependent manner, and this rate was not influenced by guanosine triphosphate, N-ethylmaleimide, suramin, or the selective A(2A) adenosine receptor antagonist, 5-amino-2-(2-furyl)-7(2-phenylethyl)pyrazolo[4,3-e]-1,2, 4-triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidine (SCH58261). The effect of competition between the amiloride analogue 5-(N,N-hexamethylene)amiloride (HMA) and sodium ions on [(3)H]ZM241385 dissociation was also explored. The addition of sodium ions resulted in a concentration-dependent rightward shift of the HMA response curve. The slopes of the HMA concentration-response curves in the presence and absence of sodium ions were not significantly different, which suggests that sodium ions and amiloride analogues act at a common allosteric site on the A(2A) adenosine receptor. There was a lack of correlation between the displacement of ligand binding and the allosteric potencies of the amiloride analogues.

Antinociception produced by systemic, spinal and supraspinal administration of amiloride in mice

This study investigates the antinociceptive and antihyperalgesic action caused by i.p., i.t. or i.c.v. injections of amiloride when assessed against formalin, capsaicin-induced licking, acetic acid-induced writhing and glutamate-induced hyperalgesia in mice. The systemic, spinal and supraspinal administration of amiloride causes dose-related antinociception when assessed against acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin and capsaicin-induced licking. In addition, amiloride administered by the same routes produced graded inhibition of glutamate-induced hyperalgesia in mice. Together, these results suggest, that amiloride or its derivatives may constitute a strategy for the development of new antinociceptive drugs.

Characterization of rabbit kidney and brain pancreatic polypeptide-binding neuropeptide Y receptors: differences with Y1 and Y2 sites in sensitivity to amiloride derivatives affecting sodium transport

Sites sensitive to human and rat pancreatic polypeptides (hPP and rPP) accounted for more than 30% of the specific binding of [125I](Leu31,Pro34) human peptide YY (LP-PYY) in particulates from rabbit kidney cortex, and about 10% of the specific binding in membranes from rabbit hypothalamus. The binding of [125I]hPP or [125I]rPP showed a high-affinity displacement with either hPP, rPP, LP-PYY, neuropeptide Y or peptide YY (Ki below 50 pM for all), while being quite insensitive to Y2-selective ligands. The PP binding had a high sensitivity to alkali cations and inhibitors of phospholipase C, very similar to that of LP-PYY binding 'masked' by excess cold hPP. However, as different from the Y1-like LP-PYY binding, but similar to the binding of the Y2-selective ligand [125I]human peptide YY(3-36) (hPYY(3-36)), the PP binding showed a low sensitivity to guanosine polyphosphates. The PP binding was much more sensitive to N5-substituted amiloride inhibitors of Na+ transport than the binding of LP-PYY, or that of hPYY(3-36). The inhibition of PP binding by N5-substituted amilorides was not enhanced by guanine nucleotides or by phospholipase C blockers. However, pairing of N5-substituted amilorides disproportionately increased the inhibition of hPP binding. Thus, in rabbit kidney or hypothalamus, the high-affinity PP-responding sites share some of the basic properties of the Y1 and Y2 sites, but are distinguished from both by a high sensitivity to compounds affecting sodium transport. These PP/NPY receptors could associate with membrane structures involved in the control of ion balance and osmotic responses.

Mutagenesis reveals structure-activity parallels between human A2A adenosine receptors and biogenic amine G protein-coupled receptors

Structure-affinity relationships for ligand binding at the human A2A adenosine receptor have been probed using site-directed mutagenesis in the transmembrane helical domains (TMs). The mutant receptors were expressed in COS-7 cells and characterized by binding of the radioligands [3H]CGS21680, [3H]NECA, and [3H]XAC. Three residues, at positions essential for ligand binding in other G protein-coupled receptors, were individually mutated. The residue V(3.32) in the A2A receptor that is homologous to the essential aspartate residue of TM3 in the biogenic amine receptors, i.e., V84(3.32), may be substituted with L (present in the A3 receptor) but not with D (in biogenic amine receptors) or A. H250(6.52), homologous to the critical N507 of rat m3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, may be substituted with other aromatic residues or with N but not with A (Kim et al. J. Biol. Chem. 1995, 270, 13987-13997). H278(7.43), homologous to the covalent ligand anchor site in rhodopsin, may not be substituted with either A, K, or N. Both V84L(3.32) and H250N(6.52) mutant receptors were highly variable in their effect on ligand competition depending on the structural class of the ligand. Adenosine-5'-uronamide derivatives were more potent at the H250N(6.52) mutant receptor than at wild type receptors. Xanthines tended to be close in potency (H250N(6.52)) or less potent (V84L(3.32)) than at wild type receptors. The affinity of CGS21680 increased as the pH was lowered to 5.5 in both the wild type and H250N(6.52) mutant receptors. Thus, protonation of H250(6.52) is not involved in this pH dependence. These data are consistent with a molecular model predicting the proximity of bound agonist ligands to TM3, TM5, TM6, and TM7.

Suppression of GABAB receptor function in rat neocortical slices by amiloride

Interactions of amiloride with GABAB receptors have been examined using spontaneously discharging rat neocortical slices. These discharges were suppressed by the GABAB receptor agonist baclofen (10 microM), and were prevented by amiloride and its analogs 5-(N,N-dimethyl)-amiloride, 5-(N-methyl-N-isobutyl)-amiloride and benzamil, but not by triamterene (100-500 microM). Each of these also increased the spontaneous discharge rate and reduced the discharge amplitude. The action of amiloride and its analogs in preventing the action of baclofen, may involve allosteric modification of the receptor binding sites via guanine nucleotide-binding proteins, or an indirect effect through antagonism of co-activated adenosine A1 receptors.

A1 adenosine receptors can occur manifesting two kinetic components of 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-[3H]dipropylxanthine ([3H]DPCPX) binding

The results described in this paper show, for the first time, that A1 adenosine receptors can have two kinetic components for the binding of the antagonist [3H]DPCPX. At low ionic strength (< or = 42 mmol/l), dissociation of [3H]DPCPX bound to A1 receptors fitted better to a two kinetic components model than to a one kinetic component model. The kinetic constants were consistent with comparable Kd values for the two components of the antagonist binding, and therefore these two components cannot be distinguished by saturation isotherm analysis.

Endothelin reverses the effects of acidosis on the intracellular Ca2+ transient and contractility in ferret myocardium

Endothelin may play an important role in modulating myocardial contractility under certain pathophysiological conditions. To determine whether endothelin beneficially modulates myocardial contractility in the common clinical condition of acidosis, we compared the effects of endothelin-1 on intracellular Ca2+ transients and isometric contractions under normal (extracellular pH [pH(o)] 7.4) and acidotic (pH(o) 6.4) conditions in ferret papillary muscles (n = 33) loaded with the Ca(2+)-regulated bioluminescent indicator aequorin. A pH(o) of 6.4 was induced by replacing 92% of HCO3- with Cl- in the bathing medium. The effects of endothelin at pH(o) 6.4 differed from the effects at pH(o) 7.4 in that 1) the minimally effective concentration of endothelin was 30-fold lower (1 x 10(-10) M at pH(o) 6.4; 3 x 10(-9) M at pH(o) 7.4) and the concentration-response curve of endothelin was significantly shifted to the left with a decrease in log EC50 from -7.83 +/- 0.13 to -8.92 +/- 0.10 (p less than 0.001), indicating an increased sensitivity of myocardium to endothelin; 2) endothelin produced an increase of approximately 375% in tension development at pH(o) 6.4 (approximately 62% at pH(o) 7.4) (p less than 0.001) without increasing peak [Ca2+]i (approximately 13% increase at pH(o) 7.4, p less than 0.001), indicating an increase in myofilament Ca2+ responsiveness; and 3) endothelin significantly abbreviated (approximately -19%, p less than 0.001) the prolonged intracellular Ca2+ transient induced by acidosis (pH(o) 6.4). In addition, pretreatment with 10 microM of the Na(+)-H+ exchange inhibitor 5-(N-methyl-N-isobutyl)-amiloride significantly attenuated endothelin-induced effects on the intracellular Ca2+ transient and contraction during acidosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The mode of interaction of amiloride and some of its analogues with the adenosine A1 receptor

Amiloride, a potassium sparing diuretic, inhibits adenosine A1 receptor-radioligand binding in calf and rat brain membranes in the low micromolar range. The drug interacted with the A1 receptor in a manner different from classical A1 ligands, but structure-activity relationship studies indicated that this inhibitory effect is not related to the ion transport inhibiting properties of amiloride (Garritsen et al., 1990a,b) In the present study, the question is addressed how amiloride interacts with the adenosine A1 receptor. Amiloride and two of its analogues, in concentrations equivalent to their Ki values in displacement studies, decrease the affinity of the A1 antagonist [3H]8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine, but not the maximal binding capacity of the radioligand. Furthermore, the dissociation rate of the receptor-ligand complex is unaltered in the presence of amiloride or its analogues in a concentration exceeding the Ki value 10-fold. These characteristics argue for a purely competitive mode of interaction. The functional consequences of the interaction between amiloride analogues and the A1 receptor were investigated at the level of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) formation. The amiloride analogue 5-(N-butyl-N-methyl) amiloride (MBA) reversed A1-receptor mediated inhibition of forskolin-stimulated cAMP formation in rat fat cell membranes. In this model, the antagonist potency of MBA is ca 5 microM. This value is in fair agreement with a Ki value of 3.5 microM in binding assays under similar conditions. In conclusion, amiloride inhibits A1 receptor binding in an apparently competitive manner. This suggests that the binding sites of amiloride and the classic A1 receptor ligands may at least partially overlap.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The ATP4− receptor-operated ion channel of human lymphocytes: Inhibition of ion fluxes by amiloride analogs and by extracellular sodium ions

Extracellular ATP is known to increase the membrane permeability of a variety of cells. Addition of ATP to human leukemic lymphocytes loaded with the Ca2+ indicator, fura-2, induced a rise in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration which was attenuated or absent in NaCl media compared with KCl, choline Cl, or NMG Cl media. In contrast, anti-immunoglobulin antibody gave similar Ca2+ transients in NaCl and KCl media. A half-maximal inhibition of peak ATP-induced Ca2+ response was observed at 10-16 mM extracellular Na+. Basal 45Ca2+ influx into lymphocytes was stimulated 9.6-fold by ATP added to cells in KCl media, but the effect of ATP was greatly reduced for cells in NaCl media. Hexamethylene amiloride blocked 74% of the ATP-stimulated Ca45 uptake of cells in KCl media. Flow cytometry measurements of fluo-3-loaded cells confirmed that the ATP-induced rise in cytosolic Ca2+ was inhibited either by extracellular Na+ or by addition of hexamethylene amiloride. Extracellular ATP stimulated 86Rb efflux from lymphocytes 10-fold and this increment was inhibited by the amiloride analogs in a rank order of potency 5-(N-methyl-N-isobutyl)amiloride greater than 5-(N,N-hexamethylene)amiloride greater than 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)amiloride greater than amiloride. ATP-induced 86Rb efflux showed a sigmoid dependence on the concentration of ATP and Hill analysis gave K1/2 of 90 and 130 microM and n values of 2.5 and 2.5 for KCl and NaCl media, respectively. However, the maximal ATP-induced 86Rb efflux was 3-fold greater in KCl than in NaCl media. Raising extracellular Na+ from 10 to 100 mM increased ATP-induced Na+ influx from a mean of 2.0 to 3.7 nEq/10(7) cells/min, suggesting either saturability or self-inhibition by Na+ of its own influx. These data suggest that ATP opens a receptor-operated ion channel which allows increased Ca2+ and Na+ influx and Rb+ efflux and these fluxes are inhibited by extracellular Na+ ions as well as by the amiloride analogs.

Receptor binding profiles of amiloride analogues provide no evidence for a link between receptors and the Na+/H+ exchanger, but indicate a common structure on receptor proteins

Amiloride and its analogues affect radioligand binding to the adenosine-A1 receptor. In this paper, the specificity of this effect is investigated by generating receptor binding profiles for amiloride and two of its analogues. A limited structure-activity relationships study is performed to probe the relationship between inhibition of receptor binding by amiloride analogues and the effects of these compounds on Na+ transport, in particular Na+/H+ exchange. The receptor binding profiles of amiloride, benzamil and 5'-(N,N-hexamethylene)amiloride (HMA) indicate that the compounds affect a variety of receptors and that none of the compounds is highly selective for any of these. The SAR study indicates that it is very unlikely that a direct coupling between receptors and Na+/H+ exchange or another amiloride-sensitive ion transport system is responsible for the inhibition of receptor binding. A correlation between the signal transduction systems coupled to the receptors involved and the potency of the amiloride analogues is also absent. The varying nature of the receptors, affected by amiloride or its analogues, suggests a wide-spread presence of an amiloride binding site on receptors and other membrane proteins.

Chemical modification of adenosine A1 receptors. Implications for the interaction with R-PIA, DPCPX and amiloride

Amiloride, a potassium sparing diuretic, inhibits the specific binding of [3H]8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX) and [3H]N6-R-1-phenyl-2-propyladenosine (PIA) to adenosine A1 receptors in calf brain. This interaction is different from the agonist-receptor or the antagonist-receptor interaction as Na+ and H+ counteract the inhibitory effect of amiloride whereas these ions hardly affect the binding of the classic A1 receptor ligands. In the present study, the effects of protein modifiers on the equilibrium inhibition constant of amiloride are compared with effects of these reagents on the affinities of DPCPX and PIA. It is demonstrated that the affinities of amiloride and [3H]DPCPX are changed after treatment with a carboxyl-modifying reagent but unaffected by modification of histidyl, arginyl and cystein residues. The maximal binding capacity of [3H]DPCPX is enhanced by sulfhydryl modification, whereas the number of [3H]DPCPX binding sites is reduced by treatment with a histidine-modifying reagent. The histidyl residues of the [3H]DPCPX binding site can be partially protected against modification by 300 microM amiloride, present during treatment of the membranes. An equivalent concentration of 8-phenyltheophylline results in complete protection. The apparent affinity of PIA is altered by modification of histidyl, carboxyl, arginyl and cystein residues. In the latter two cases, uncoupling of the G protein seems to be the major reason for the decrease in affinity of PIA. The results suggest that amiloride is an A1 antagonist with binding characteristics that differ from the classic A1 antagonists such as DPCPX.