The alpha 2-adrenoceptors of the human retinoblastoma cell line (Y79) may represent an additional example of the alpha 2C-adrenoceptor

Functional alpha2C-adrenoceptors in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells

The alpha2-adrenoceptor mediating inhibition of forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells was further characterized. The alpha2-adrenoceptor agonists, UK 14,304 (5-bromo-6-(2-imidazolin-2-ylamino)quinoxaline), oxymetazoline, guanfacine, (-)-noradrenaline and clonidine concentration-dependently decreased cyclic AMP accumulation in this cell line (Emax ca. 50% inhibition). Agonist pEC50 values ranged between 6.7 and 7.8. Clonidine was a partial agonist. The effects of UK 14,304 were blocked after a pertussis toxin treatment. The concentration-response curves of UK 14,304 were shifted to the right in a parallel manner by the following antagonists (mean pK(B) values): yohimbine (8.17), idazoxan (7.63), prazosin (6.66), 2-[2-(4-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl)ethyl]-4,4-dimethyl-1,3-(2 H,4H) isoquinolindione (ARC 239; 7.12) and 2-(2,6-dimethoxyphenoxyethyl)aminomethyl-1,4-benzodioxane (WB-4101; 8.12). The relatively high pKB values of prazosin and ARC 239 point to a non-alpha2A-adrenoceptor-mediated effect. The relatively high pK(B) value of WB-4101 further characterizes the alpha2-adrenoceptor in SH-SY5Y cells as being of the alpha2C subtype. The analysis of the expression of alpha2-adrenoceptor subtypes by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed the exclusive presence of alpha2C-adrenoceptor mRNA in SH-SY5Y cells. We propose that inhibition of forskolin-stimulated cAMP accumulation in SH-SY5Y cells be used as a functional model of human, native alpha2C-adrenoceptors.

Homologous regulation of the alpha2C-adrenoceptor subtype in human hepatocarcinoma, HepG2

1. Previous studies of the regulation of the alpha2C-adrenoceptor in OK and in transfected cells have led to discrepant conclusions. In the present work, we examined the homologous regulation of the human alpha2C-adrenoceptor in the hepatocarcinoma cell-line, HepG2; a model which expresses this subtype spontaneously. 2. Short-period treatment of the cells with UK14304 provoked neither a diminution of the potency of the alpha2-agonist to inhibit forskolin-induced cyclic AMP-accumulation nor a change in the degree of receptor coupling to G-proteins. 3. Long-period exposure to UK14304 resulted in a large reduction of [3H]MK912 binding sites (55% decrease). The action of UK14304 was dose-dependent (EC50 = 190 +/- 45 nM), rapid (t1/2 = 4.2 h) and reversible. Receptor down-regulation was also observed with clonidine or (-)adrenaline (38 and 36% decrease, respectively) and was blocked by the addition of alpha2-antagonists. 4. Conversely to that observed with alpha2-agonists, treatment of the cells with RX821002 or yohimbine alone, but not with phentolamine, promoted a significant increase of the receptor expression. 5. The observed alterations of receptor density are not the reflection of changes at the alpha2C4 mRNA level. Estimation of the receptor protein turnover and measurement of its half-life demonstrated that down-regulation by alpha2-agonists and up-regulation by alpha2-antagonists, with inverse-agonist efficacy, are respectively the consequence of increased and decreased rate of receptor degradation. 6. In conclusion, our data show that alpha2C-adrenoceptor does not undergo desensitization but is down-regulated in HepG2. The lack of desensitization agrees with previous results obtained in cells transfected with the alpha2C4 gene, but not with observations made in OK cells. Inversely, down-regulation fits with results obtained in OK but not in transfected cells. The reasons for these discrepancies are discussed. Our results also demonstrated that certain alpha2-antagonists behave as inverse agonist on the HepG2 model and thus provide for the first time evidence of inverse efficacy of antagonists on a cellular model expressing physiological level of a wild-type alpha2-adrenoceptor.

Alpha-adrenoceptors and vascular regulation: molecular, pharmacologic and clinical correlates

This manuscript is intended to provide a comprehensive review of the alpha-adrenoceptors (ARs) and their role in vascular regulation. The historical development of the concept of receptors and the division of the alpha-ARs into alpha 1 and alpha 2 subtypes is traced. Emphasis will be placed on current understanding of the specific contribution of discrete alpha 1- and alpha 2-AR subtypes in the regulation of the vasculature, selective agonists and antagonists for these receptors, the second messengers utilized by these receptors, the myoplasmic calcium pathways activated to initiate smooth muscle contraction, as well as the clinical uses of agonists and antagonists that work at these receptors. New information is presented that deals with the molecular aspects of ligand interactions with specific subdomains of these receptors, as well as mRNA distribution and the regulation of alpha 1- and alpha 2-AR gene transcription and translation.

Adrenoceptor- and cholinoceptor-mediated mechanisms in the regulation of 5-hydroxytryptamine release from isolated tracheae of newborn rabbits

1. Isolated tracheae of newborn rabbits were incubated in vitro and the outflow of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) was determined by h.p.l.c. with electrochemical detection. Evidence has previously been provided that this 5-HT outflow derives from neuroendocrine epithelial (NEE) cells of the airway mucosa. 2. Phenylephrine (1, 10 and 30 microM) enhanced the outflow of 5-HT by 80, 290 and 205%, respectively. 5-HT outflow evoked by 10 microM phenylephrine was not affected by the presence of the neurotoxin tetrodotoxin (1 microM). 3. Rauwolscine, ARC 239 (an alpha(2B)-adrenoceptor preferring antagonist), yohimbine and prazosin antagonized the effect of 10 microM phenylephrine in a concentration-dependent manner with IC50 values of 150, 295, 300 and 1,700 nM, respectively. Comparison of the ratios (between all antagonists) of the present IC50 values with the corresponding ratios of Ki values obtained in binding studies for the alpha(2A)-, alpha(2B)-, alpha(2C)- and alpha(2D)-adrenoceptor subtypes strongly suggests the involvement of an alpha(2B)-receptor. 4. 5-HT outflow evoked by 10 microM phenylephrine was inhibited by 65% in the presence of 1 microM forskolin and abolished in the presence of 10 microM forskolin. 5. 5-HT outflow evoked by 10 microM phenylephrine was inhibited by about 45 and 70% in the presence of 0.1 and 1 microM isoprenaline, respectively. The inhibitory effect of 1 microM isoprenaline was only marginally antagonized by 1 microM, but blocked by 10 microM propranolol. 6. 5-HT outflow was not affected by the muscarine receptor agonist oxotremorine (10 microM), but was enhanced by 175% by 100 microM nicotine. The effect of nicotine was blocked by 100 microM hexamethonium and prevented by 1 microM tetrodotoxin or 1 microM yohimbine. 7. In conclusion, 5-HT release from NEE cells of the rabbit trachea is stimulated via alpha-adrenoceptors most likely of the alpha(2B)-subtype localized directly at the NEE cells. Activation of beta-adrenoceptors as well as direct activation of adenylyl cyclase by forskolin exert inhibitory effects on 5-HT release. Activation of nicotinic, but not of muscarinic receptors, also evokes the release of 5-HT. However, the effect of nicotine appears to be mediated indirectly via the release of noradrenaline.

Presynaptic alpha 2-autoreceptors in mouse heart atria: evidence for the alpha 2D subtype

Presynaptic alpha 2-autoreceptors in mouse atria were characterized in terms of the alpha 2A, alpha 2B, alpha 2C and alpha 2D subtypes. Segments of the atria were preincubated with 3H-noradrenaline and then superfused and stimulated electrically. The affinity of up to 16 antagonists for the autoreceptors was assessed as (1) pEC30% values. i.e. concentrations that increased previously autoinhibited release of 3H-noradrenaline (120 pulses, 3 Hz) by 30%, and (2) pKd values against the release-inhibiting effect of 5-bromo-6-(2-imidazolin-2-ylamino)-quinoxaline (UK 14,304) under conditions of no or little autoinhibition (2 trains of 20 pulses, 50 Hz, train interval 120 s). The pKd values correlated well with the pEC30% values (r = 0.98; P < 0.001; slope of regression line 0.93), indicating that UK 14,304 and released noradrenaline modulated the release of noradrenaline through pharmacologically identical receptors. Comparison with antagonist affinities for (1) prototypic native alpha 2 radioligand binding sites, (2) radioligand binding sites in COS cells transfected with alpha 2 subtype genes, and (3) previously classified presynaptic alpha 2-autoreceptors-all taken from the literature-indicated that the mouse atrial autoreceptors corresponded to the alpha 2D subtype. For example, the pKd values at mouse atrial auto-receptors correlated closely with pKd values at native alpha 2D binding sites in the bovine pineal gland (r = 0.96; P < 0.001); with pKd values at alpha 2D binding sites in COS cells transfected with the rat alpha 2D gene (r = 0.85; P < 0.01); and with pKd values at guinea-pig cerebral and atrial and mouse cerebral alpha 2D-autoreceptors (r = 0.96-0.98; P < 0.001). The antagonist pKd values at mouse atrial autoreceptors correlated less with pKd values at alpha 2A, alpha 2B and alpha 2C sites. It is concluded that the presynaptic alpha 2-autoreceptors in mouse atria are alpha 2D. This identification supports the hypothesis that at least the majority of alpha 2-autoreceptors belong to the alpha 2A/D pair of orthologous alpha 2-adrenoceptors.

Characterization of sensory neurotransmission and its inhibition via alpha 2B-adrenoceptors and via non-alpha 2-receptors in rabbit iris

To find out whether, and which type of, adrenoceptors mediate prejunctional inhibition of sensory neurotransmitter release from trigeminal fibres, the modulation of twitch response to electrical field stimulation on rabbit isolated iris was investigated. Evoked iris sphincter contractions consisted of a minor fast cholinergic and a large slow component. The latter was unaffected by atropine and guanethidine, hence nonadrenergic noncholinergic in nature (NANC), but nearly completely abolished by capsaicin pretreatment and by the neurokinin receptor antagonist spantide. The response was probably not mediated by NK2 receptors as SR 48,968, an NK2 selective nonpeptide antagonist, failed to reduce the response to the release of the endogenous neurokinin(s) (and exogenous substance P), but in part due to NK1 receptor activation as shown by a reduction of response by CP 96,345, an NK1 selective non-peptide antagonist, and in part perhaps mediated by NK3 receptors. A small neurokinin receptor antagonist- and capsaicin-insensitive NANC contraction is probably not mediated by CGRP receptors. The alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist oxymetazoline inhibited the evoked NANC response (22 nmol/l, IC20; about 40%, maximum inhibition) without affecting the cholinergic response (up to 1 mumol/l) or the postjunctional iris sensitivity to exogenous substance P. The inhibition was antagonized by rauwolscine (apparent -log KB 8.04) and by the relatively alpha 2B-adrenoceptor selective antagonist ARC-239 (-log KB 8.51). The alpha 2- and imidazoline receptor agonist aganodine inhibited the evoked NANC response (0.25 mumol/l, IC20; about 30%, maximum inhibition) without affecting the postjunctional substance P responses. Rauwolscine 0.3 mumol/l failed to antagonize this effect. It is concluded that the release of sensory neurotransmitter(s) from trigeminal fibres in the rabbit eye may be inhibited by alpha 2B-adrenoceptors and by a non-alpha 2-receptor, perhaps an imidazoline receptor.