Carbachol stimulates adenylate cyclase and phospholipase C and muscle contraction-relaxation in a reciprocal manner in dog iris sphincter smooth muscle

Adenylyl Cyclase in Ocular Health and Disease: A Comprehensive Review

Adenylyl cyclases (ACs) are a group of enzymes that convert adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP) to cyclic adenosine 3',5' monophosphate (cAMP), a vital and ubiquitous signalling molecule in cellular responses to hormones and neurotransmitters. There are nine transmembrane (tmAC) forms, which have been widely studied; however, the tenth, soluble AC (sAC) is less extensively characterised. The eye is one of the most metabolically active sites in the body, where sAC has been found in abundance, making it a target for novel therapeutics and biomarking. In the cornea, AC plays a role in endothelial cell function, which is vital in maintaining stromal dehydration, and therefore, clarity. In the retina, AC has been implicated in axon cell growth and survival. As these cells are irreversibly damaged in glaucoma and injury, this molecule may provide focus for future therapies. Another potential area for glaucoma management is the source of aqueous humour production, the ciliary body, where AC has also been identified. Furthering the understanding of lacrimal gland function is vital in managing dry eye disease, a common and debilitating condition. sAC has been linked to tear production and could serve as a therapeutic target. Overall, ACs are an exciting area of study in ocular health, offering multiple avenues for future medical therapies and diagnostics. This review paper explores the diverse roles of ACs in the eye and their potential as targets for innovative treatments.

Muscarinic receptor agonists and antagonists: effects on ocular function

Muscarinic agonists act mainly via muscarinic M₃ cholinoceptors to cause contraction of the iris sphincter, ciliary muscle and trabecular meshwork as well as increase outflow facility of aqueous humour. In the iris dilator, the effect of muscarinic agonists is species dependent but is predominantly relaxation via muscarinic M₃ receptors. In the conjunctiva, muscarinic agonists stimulate goblet cell secretion which contributes to the protective tear film. Muscarinic M₂ and M₃ receptors appear mainly involved. In the lens muscarinic agonists act via muscarinic M₁ receptors to produce depolarization and increase [Ca(2+)](i). All five subtypes of muscarinic receptor are present in the retina. In the developing retina, acetylcholine appears to limit purinergic stimulation of retinal development and decrease cell proliferation. In the adult retina acetylcholine and other muscarinic agonists may have complex effects, for example, enhancing light-evoked neuronal firing in transient ON retinal ganglion cells and inhibiting firing in OFF retinal ganglion cells. In the lacrimal gland, muscarinic agonists activate M₃ receptors on secretory globular acinar cells to stimulate tear secretion and also cause contraction of myoepithelial cells. In Sjögren's syndrome, antibodies to the muscarinic M₃ receptor disrupt normal gland function leading to xerophthalmia although the mechanism of action of the antibody is still not clear. Atropine and pirenzepine are useful in limiting the development of myopia in children probably by an action on muscarinic receptors in the sclera, although many other muscarinic receptor antagonists are not effective.

Involvement of betagamma subunits of G(q/11) in muscarinic M(1) receptor potentiation of corticotropin-releasing hormone-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity in rat frontal cortex

In the present study, we investigated the involvement of betagamma subunits of G(q/11) in the muscarinic M(1) receptor-induced potentiation of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity in membranes of rat frontal cortex. Tissue exposure to either one of two betagamma scavengers, the QEHA fragment type II adenylyl cyclase and the GDP-bound form of the alpha subunit of transducin, inhibited the muscarinic M(1) facilitatory effect. Moreover, like acetylcholine (ACh), exogenously added betagamma subunits of transducin potentiated the CRH-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity, and this effect was not additive with that elicited by ACh. Western blot analysis indicated the expression in frontal cortex of both type II and type IV adenylyl cyclases, two isoforms stimulated by betagamma subunits in synergism with activated G(s). The M(1) receptor-induced enhancement of the adenylyl cyclase response to CRH was counteracted by the G(q/11) antagonist GpAnt-2A but not by GpAnt-2, a preferential G(i/o) antagonist. In addition, the muscarinic facilitatory effect was inhibited by membrane preincubation with antiserum directed against the C terminus of the alpha subunit of G(q/11), whereas the same treatment with antiserum against either G(i1/2) or G(o) was without effect. These data indicate that in membranes of rat frontal cortex, activation of muscarinic M(1) receptors potentiates CRH-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity through betagamma subunits of G(q/11).

G-protein activation, intracellular Ca2+ mobilization and phosphorylation studies of membrane currents induced by AlF4- in Xenopus oocytes

We have examined the electrophysiological responses induced by aluminium fluoride (AlF4-) and carbachol in Xenopus oocytes. Application of AlF4- induced Ca(2+)-dependent oscillatory and smooth Cl- currents. Pre-treatment of oocytes with microinjected guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) diminished the currents, indicating that the effect of AlF4- occurred through G-protein activation. Confocal imaging of intracellular Ca2+ clearly demonstrated that AlF4- could increase the internal Ca2+ concentration in oocytes in the absence of external Ca2+. A protein kinase (PK) activator (4-beta-phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate) decreased the AlF4(-)-induced membrane currents, whereas a PK inhibitor (staurosporine) caused an increase. On the other hand, the protein phosphatase inhibitor (okadaic acid) showed little effect. Although the effects of the phosphorylating/dephosphorylating agents on the carbachol-induced currents were qualitatively similar to the case of AlF4-, some quantitative differences was noted. The results are discussed in terms of the signaling pathways involving muscarinic receptors and G-protein(s) in Xenopus oocytes.

Regulation of protein kinases in steady-state contraction of cat gastric smooth muscle

Cat gastric smooth muscle strips were used to investigate the involvement of protein kinases in the steady-state contraction induced by 1 microM acetylcholine or 20 mM KCI. The steady-state contraction induced by acetylcholine or KCl was inhibited by EGTA dose dependently. Voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel antagonists dose dependently inhibited the contractions induced by KCI as well as by acetylcholine. Inhibitory effects of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel antagonists were significantly more prominent on KCI-induced contractions than on acetylcholine-induced contractions. The acetylcholine-induced contraction was dose dependently inhibited by 8-(N,N-diethylamino)octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate (TMB-8, a blocker of intracellular Ca2+ release), but the KCl-induced contraction was not inhibited at all. Therefore both intracellular Ca2+ release and extracellular Ca2+ influx seem to be necessary for the acetylcholine-induced contraction, but intracellular Ca2+ release is not necessary for the KCl-induced contraction. Protein kinase C inhibitors, 10 microM 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methyl-piperazine 2HCl (H-7) and 1 microM staurosporine, significantly inhibited the contraction induced by acetylcholine or KCl. Calmodulin antagonists, 30 microM trifluoperazine and 50 microM N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-2-naphthalenesulfonamide HCI (W-7), however, significantly inhibited the contraction induced by acetylcholine but not by KCl. A tyrosine kinase inhibitor, 50 microM genistein, did not affect the acetylcholine-induced contraction but significantly inhibited the KCl-induced contraction. These results strongly suggest that the involvement of protein kinases in regulation of the steady-state contraction may be agonist-dependent.

Pathways involved in muscarinic M1 and M2 receptor stimulation in rabbit vas deferens

Pretreatment of the field-stimulated rabbit isolated vas deferens for 30 min with LiCl (2 x 10(-2) and 4 x 10(-2) M) attenuated the inhibition of neurogenic twitch contractions due to muscarinic M1 receptor stimulation by 4-(4-chlorophenylcarbamoyloxy)-2-butynyltrimethylammonium iodide (4-Cl-McN-A-343), and enhanced the muscarinic M2 receptor-mediated potentiation of contractions evoked by carbachol. When the tissues were preincubated for 5 min with the adenylate cyclase activator, forskolin (3 x 10(-8)-3 x 10(-7) M), the response to carbachol was attenuated whereas that to 4-Cl-McN-A-343 remained unchanged. 1,9-Dideoxy-forskolin (3 x 10(-7) and 10(-6) M), which fails to activate cyclase, did not abolish the carbachol effect. In addition, desensitization of the response to 4-Cl-McN-A-343 but not to carbachol occurred in preparations incubated for 90 min with the protein kinase C activator, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA, 3 x 10(-8)-3 x 10(-7) M), whereas its inactive 4 alpha-stereoisomer (4 alpha-PMA, 3 x 10(-7) M) was without effect. In unstimulated preparations, LiCl, forskolin and PMA did not impair contractions due to exogenous ATP (10(-3) M). These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that, in rabbit vas deferens, inhibitory muscarinic M1 receptors stimulate LiCl-sensitive phosphatidylinositol turnover (IP3 pathway) involving protein kinase C, whilst excitatory muscarinic M2 receptors are coupled to inhibition of adenylate cyclase, resulting in reduced levels of cyclic AMP.

Functional consequences of prejunctional receptor activation or blockade in the iris

The iris is innervated by nerves of the sympathetic, parasympathetic, and sensory nervous systems. The terminal nerve fibres are endowed with prejunctional receptors which modulate neurotransmitter release. Activation or blockade of prejunctional receptors by drugs may have an influence on iris smooth muscle tone. Several findings are in favour of the hypothesis that prejunctional receptors may be involved in regulation of iris smooth muscle tone and/or pathophysiological events. (i). Release of acetylcholine from parasympathetic nerves of guinea-pig iris sphincter evoked by electrical stimulation is subject to autoinhibition via prejunctional M2 muscarinic receptors, and the release can be enhanced by M2 selective antagonists such as methoctramine or gallamine. Concomitantly with the increased neurotransmitter release, the sphincter contraction is enhanced in the presence of M2 antagonists, since the postjunctional muscarinic receptors (presumably M3, or at least not M2) are not simultaneously blocked. Unlike the non-selective blocker atropine, M2 antagonists are not expected to cause mydriasis but rather miosis. (ii). Sensory nerves are involved in pathophysiological events following ocular irritation. Release of substance P and/or neurokinin A from sensory nerves of rabbit iris is followed by a non-adrenergic-non-cholinergic iris sphincter contraction (mediated by NK1 and NK3 receptors) which can be used to estimate sensory neurotransmitter release. Exocytotic release of the sensory neurotransmitters is inhibited by activation of alpha 2B-adrenoceptors and probably also via putative prejunctional imidazoline receptors. Alpha-adrenoceptors are stimulated by oxymetazoline and other imidazoline derivatives (which are agonists at imidazoline receptors) leading to a reduction of sensory neurotransmitter release, as evident from a decrease in evoked sphincter contraction. Imidazolines in eye drops may not only cause relief in ocular inflammation due to postjunctional vasoconstriction but also possibly due to a prejunctional effect, a reduction of sensory neurotransmitter release. Reinforcement of inflammation due to release of sensory neurotransmitters may thus be prevented.

Cholinergic contraction of the guinea pig lung strip is mediated by muscarinic M2-like receptors

The muscarinic receptor subtype mediating contraction of the guinea pig lung strip preparation was investigated and compared with that in guinea pig tracheal and human peripheral airway (small bronchi) smooth muscle preparations, using a number of subtype selective muscarinic receptor antagonists. It was found that guinea pig lung strip contraction was not mediated by a homogeneous class of muscarinic M3 receptors, in contrast to guinea pig tracheal and human peripheral airway smooth muscle. The affinities of the M1- and M3/M2-selective muscarinic receptor antagonists on the guinea pig lung strip were between 0.35 and 1.94 log units lower than in the M3 receptor tissues (respective pA2 values on guinea pig lung strip and trachea: pirenzepine 6.36/6.71, AF-DX 474 6.39/7.11, AQ-RA 721 6.93/7.96, DAU 5884 6.78/8.72, UH-AH 371 7.04/8.20), whereas the affinities of the M2/M3-selective antagonists were between 0.63 and 1.97 log units higher (AF-DX 116 6.63/6.00, AQ-RA 741 7.48/6.63, gallamine 5.44/3.47, methoctramine 7.30/5.38). As a result, a good correlation was obtained when pA2 values from guinea pig lung strip were compared to pKi values towards bovine cardiac muscarinic M2 receptors, though it was noticed that pirenzepine and the M3/M2-selective antagonists showed a closer relationship than the M2-selective compounds. These results suggest that cholinergic contraction of the guinea pig lung strip is mediated by muscarinic M2-like receptors, possibly representing a novel subtype or a mixture of M2 (cardiac) and M3 (or M4) subtypes. It remains to be established, however, on what structure in the lung these contractile M2-like receptors are located and also by which transduction mechanism they produce contraction.

The inhibition of human duodenal adenylate cyclase activity by Ca2+ and the effects of EGTA

This study demonstrates that the inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity by Ca2+ is enhanced in the presence of increasing [EGTA] (0, 0.3, 1, 2.5 mM) by 2 orders of magnitude. It has been established that this effect is not because of poor Ca2+ buffering by low [EGTA] or high Ca2+ binding by the membrane preparation. It is present irrespective of stimulus. We suggest the enhanced sensitivity of adenylate cyclase to Ca2+ induced by EGTA is caused by the Ca-EGTA complex being a more inhibitory species than Ca2+. Thus consideration of the effects of the Ca-EGTA complex should be made when interpreting the results from experiments involving Ca2+ and EGTA.