Characterization of alpha 2-adrenergic receptors in the human colon adenocarcinoma cell line HT 29 in culture by [3H]yohimbine binding

Identification of alpha 2-adrenoceptors and non-adrenergic idazoxan binding sites in rabbit colon epithelial cells

alpha 2-Adrenoceptors are possibly involved in the regulation of the hydroelectrolytic flux across the digestive mucosa. As no data are available concerning the existence of these receptors in colon epithelial cells, we aimed to investigate the existence of alpha 2-adrenoceptors in this tissue using tritiated antagonists. [3H]Yohimbine and [3H]rauwolscine were not usable to label colonic alpha 2-adrenoceptors because of their very high level of non-specific binding. In contrast, the methoxy derivative of idazoxan, [3H]RX821002, appeared a convenient radioligand for the purpose. [3H]RX821002 bound with high affinity (KD = 6.2 +/- 0.8 nM) to a single population of non-interacting sites (Bmax = 193 +/- 17 fmol/mg protein). The rank order of potency of catecholamine enantiomers and adrenergic drugs to inhibit [3H]RX821002 binding demonstrated that the labelled sites are alpha 2-adrenoceptors and that 53% of the receptors are in a high-affinity state sensitive to GTP + NaCl. [3H]Idazoxan also bound to colocyte membranes, but inhibition by (-)-adrenaline and various imidazoline compounds indicated that this radioligands labels alpha 2-adrenoceptors and non-adrenergic sites. When experiments were performed under binding conditions impeding the interaction of [3H]idazoxan with the alpha 2-adrenoceptors (i.e. in presence of 10(-4) M (-)-adrenaline), the Bmax of non-adrenergic idazoxan binding sites was 97 +/- 8 fmol/mg protein and the KD was 3.5 +/- 0.5 nM. The sites were pharmacologically characterized with various imidazoline and non-imidazoline drugs. In order to study the putative relationship between alpha 2-adrenoceptors and non-adrenergic idazoxan binding sites, the expression of both kinds of sites was investigated along the crypt-to-surface axis. Crypt cells had a higher number of alpha 2-adrenoceptors than surface cells, whereas the number of non-adrenergic idazoxan binding sites remained constant. The results show that (i) alpha 2-adrenoceptors coexist with non-adrenergic idazoxan binding sites in rabbit colocytes; (ii) the number of alpha 2-adrenoceptors is higher in crypt cells than in surface cells and (iii) alpha 2-adrenoceptors and non-adrenergic binding sites are different and unrelated.

[3H]RX821002: a new tool for the identification of alpha 2A-adrenoceptors

The human adenocarcinoma cell-line HT29 was used as a model to investigate the binding properties of a new antagonist radioligand of the imidazoline series, [3H]RX821002. All aspects of [3H]RX821002 binding conclusively prove that this radioligand is a valuable tool for labelling alpha 2A-adrenoceptors. [3H]RX821002 binding was very rapid and reversible. Computer-assisted analysis of kinetic data revealed association and dissociation time courses consistent with a simple bimolecular reaction. Saturation isotherms indicated that [3H]RX821002 labeled with high affinity a single population of non-interacting sites displaying a KD of 1.7 +/- 0.1 nM. Adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists inhibited [3H]RX821002 and [3H]yohimbine binding with a strictly similar rank order of potency which is characteristic of alpha 2A-adrenoceptors. The binding parameters of [3H]RX821002 were compared with those of other commercially available [3H]antagonists, [3H]yohimbine and [3H]idazoxan. Analysis of the saturation isotherms for the three radioligands showed that (1) [3H]RX821002 was the radioligand exhibiting the lower percentage of non-specific binding and the better affinity, (2) the Bmax of [3H]RX821002 was significantly higher than that of [3H]yohimbine. The difference in Bmax was not due to better labelling of one of the two affinity states of the receptor but was greatly reduced in glycylglycine buffer, suggesting that, in Tris-Mg2+ buffer, [3H]yohimbine does not label the entire alpha 2-adrenoceptor population.

Insulin controls key steps of carbohydrate metabolism in cultured HT29 colon cancer cells

Effects of insulin on key steps of carbohydrate metabolism were investigated in cultured HT29 colon cancer cells by two different approaches, i.e. incubation of the cells either in the absence or in the presence of glucose in the medium. In glucose-deprived cells, insulin decreased glycogen breakdown, but did not affect polysaccharide levels when glucose was present. Glycogen synthase became activated after insulin treatment in both conditions, even though the activation was more evident when glucose was omitted. No effect on glycogen phosphorylase activity was evident under our experimental conditions. In cells incubated with glucose, the hormone stimulated in a dose-dependent manner the rates of glucose uptake and lactate release. Concomitantly with the increase in glycolytic rate, insulin caused a strong increase in fructose 2,6-bisphosphate. This effect was not observed in the absence of glucose. It is concluded that the carbohydrate metabolism of cultured HT29 cells responds to insulin, making this biological model suitable for investigations in vitro on the mechanism of insulin action.

Alpha 2-adrenoceptor in HT29 human colon adenocarcinoma cell-line: study of [3H](-)-adrenaline binding

The HT29 human adenocarcinoma cell-line was used to investigate the binding of [3H](-)-adrenaline at alpha 2-adrenoceptors. All aspects of the study indicated that alpha 2-adrenoceptors were specifically labeled. [3H](-)-adrenaline bound with high affinity (KD = 2.28 +/- 0.41 nM) to a single population of non-interacting sites. The rank order of adrenoceptor antagonists (yohimbine greater than phentolamine much greater than prazosin) and agonists (UK-14,304 greater than clonidine greater than (-)-adrenaline greater than (-)-noradrenaline greater than (+)-adrenaline greater than (+)-noradrenaline greater than amidephrine) to compete with [3H](-)-adrenaline binding showed that the labeled sites were alpha 2-selective and stereospecific. Comparison of the binding parameters of [3H](-)-adrenaline with those of [3H]clonidine (partial-agonist) and [3H]yohimbine (antagonist) indicated that [3H](-)-adrenaline and [3H]clonidine labeled a similar number of sites (156 +/- 13 versus 175 +/- 21 fmol/mg protein) and that [3H]yohimbine (Bmax = 246 +/- 22 fmol/mg protein) labeled more sites than the 3H-agonists. Data on the inhibition of [3H]yohimbine binding by (-)-adrenaline was better fitted to a two-site model and revealed (1) that the KiL/KiH ratio was higher for (-)-adrenaline than for clonidine (2) that both agonists recognized the same percentage of high-affinity receptors. The results from a kinetic study of [3H](-)-adrenaline binding were apparently inconsistent with the equilibrium data. Both the association and dissociation were bi-exponential, suggesting a relative heterogeneity of the labeled sites. The tritiated physiological full-agonist was moreover able to induce tight-binding. The practical consequences of this property are discussed.

Expression of membrane receptors and (proto)oncogenes during the ontogenic development and neoplastic transformation of the intestinal mucosa

The functional relationship between membrane receptors involved in signal transduction and (proto) oncogene expression has been explored during the ontogenic development and differentiation of the intestinal mucosa in man and rat. The present review develops detailed picture of the current understanding of some mechanisms underlying growth and function of normal, immortalized and cancerous intestinal epithelial cells.

Hormonal control of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate concentration in the HT29 human colon adenocarcinoma cell line. Alpha 2-adrenergic agonists counteract effect of vasoactive intestinal peptide

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) was found to cause a dose-dependent decrease in fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase concomitant with an increase in cyclic AMP in cultured HT29 cancer cells from human colon. The maximum effect was a 41% decrease obtained with 10 nM-VIP, and half-maximum effect was obtained with 0.75 nM-VIP. The effect of 2.5 nM-VIP was almost totally counteracted (i.e. fructose 2,6-bisphosphate concentration was restored) by either adrenaline (1 microM) or the alpha 2-adrenergic agonist UK-14304 (1 microM); the alpha 2-agonist clonidine (1 microM) was less efficient, since the VIP effect was decreased by 72% only. The adrenaline effect was totally antagonized by 1 microM-yohimbine. It is concluded that, in the HT29 cancer cells, the fructose 2,6-bisphosphate-producing system is sensitive to variations of cyclic AMP concentration and is under the dual control of VIP and alpha 2-adrenergic receptors.

Growth-related variation of alpha 2-adrenergic receptivity in the HT 29 adenocarcinoma cell-line from human colon

The human colon adenocarcinoma cell-line HT 29 has been shown to possess functional alpha 2-adrenergic receptors. Here, [3H] clonidine was used as radioligand to study the evolution of alpha 2-adrenergic receptivity during the time course of HT 29 cell culture. Scatchard analysis of the saturation curves indicates that the number of [3H]clonidine binding sites increases throughout the 17 day culture period. The maximal number of alpha 2-adrenoceptors is found during the stationary phase of growth, when cell density is high and mitotic rate low. Moreover, the use of adrenaline and clonidine as alpha 2-adrenergic agonists reveals a relationship between the number of receptors and the intensity of the biological effect associated with their stimulation (inhibition of the VIP-induced cyclic AMP accumulation).

alpha 2-Adrenoceptors in the HT 29 human colon adenocarcinoma cell line: characterization with [3H]clonidine; effects on cyclic AMP accumulation

In the present work, [3H]clonidine was used to characterize alpha 2-adrenoceptors on the human adenocarcinoma cell line HT 29. The effects of alpha 2-adrenergic stimulation on cellular cyclic AMP levels were also investigated. The binding of [3H]clonidine on HT 29 cell membrane preparations was rapid and reversible. Scatchard analysis of the saturation curves indicated the existence of a single class of non-interacting sites with a KD of 1.29 +/- 0.07 nM and a Bmax of 114 +/- 7 fmol/mg of cell membrane protein. The binding sites for [3H]clonidine showed the required specificity for alpha 2-adrenoceptors. The potencies of alpha-adrenergic compounds to displace [3H]clonidine binding ranked as follows: yohimbine greater than phentolamine much greater than prazosin for antagonists and clonidine greater than epinephrine greater than norepinephrine greater than phenylephrine much greater than amidephrine for agonists. When tested on intact cells, epinephrine, norepinephrine and clonidine were found to counteract, in a dose-dependent manner, the increase of cyclic AMP triggered by vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). Such inhibitory effects were abolished by the addition of yohimbine but not of prazosin. The physiological amines were the most efficient agonists: both epinephrine and norepinephrine inhibited VIP-induced cyclic AMP accumulation by 50-55% with KD values of 50 nM and 300 nM respectively. Clonidine was a partial agonist only, provoking a weak (25-30%) inhibition of VIP-induced cyclic AMP accumulation even at high concentrations. These results indicate that, like normal colocytes, human colon adenocarcinoma cells HT 29 possess alpha 2-adrenoceptors, the stimulation of which is associated with an inhibition of cyclic AMP production.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Involvement of guanine nucleotide and sodium in regulation of yohimbine and clonidine binding sites in the HT29 human colon adenocarcinoma cell-line

Sodium and GppNHp, a GTP analogue, decrease the specific binding of the alpha 2-adrenergic agonist [3H]clonidine on membranes from the HT29 cells; affinity of the ligand for the receptor is also decreased. The effects of the two agents are additive. By contrast, combination of sodium and GppNHp increases the number of binding sites for the alpha 2-adrenergic antagonist [3H]yohimbine. Sodium and GppNHp also decrease the potency of epinephrine and clonidine to displace [3H]yohimbine from the alpha 2-adrenoceptors of the HT29 cells

Activity of enzymes related to carbohydrate metabolism in the HT 29 colon adenocarcinoma cell line and tumor

Activity of several enzymes of the glycogen and carbohydrate metabolism is studied in HT 29 colon adenocarcinoma cell line and in HT 29 tumors developed in nude mice, by reference to the normal human colon mucosa. Activity of glycogen synthase, glycogen phosphorylase, pyruvate kinase, fructose-1,6-diphosphatase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase is found to be increased in both the cultured cells and the tumors. It indicates that the biochemical strategy of malignant cells, due to the neoplastic transformation process, involves specific changes in the carbohydrate metabolism of tumor as well as in vitro growing correspondent cell line.