Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance: state of the art

This short review summarizes recent and projected advances in Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry instrumentation and applications, ranging from petroleomics to proteomics. More details are available from the cited primary literature and topical reviews.

Proteome studies of human cerebrospinal fluid and brain tissue using a preparative two-dimensional electrophoresis approach prior to mass spectrometry

A preparative proteomic approach, involving liquid phase isoelectric focusing (IEF) in combination with one-dimensional electrophoresis and electroelution followed by mass spectrometry and database searches, was found to be an important tool for identifying low-abundant proteins (microgram/L) in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and membrane proteins in human frontal cortex. Several neuron-related proteins, such as amyloid precursor-like protein, chromogranins A and B, glial fibrillary acid protein, beta-trace, transthyretin, ubiquitin, and cystatin C, were identified in CSF. Several types of proteins were also characterized from a detergent-solubilized human frontal cortex homogenate including membrane proteins such as synaptophysin, syntaxin and Na+/K+ ATPase. One-third of the identified proteins have not previously been identified in human CSF or human frontal cortex using proteomic techniques. The absence of these proteins in two-dimensional electrophoresis maps might be due to insufficient amounts or low solubility. The advantages of using preparative liquid phase electrophoretic separations for identifying proteins from complex biological mixtures are speed of analysis, high loadability in the IEF separation, nondiscrimination of membrane proteins or low abundance proteins, yielding sufficient amounts for characterization by mass spectrometry. The use of this strategy in proteome studies of CSF/brain tissue is expected to offer new perspectives in studies of the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases, and reveal new potential markers for brain disorders.

Processing of neuropeptide Y, galanin, and somatostatin in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are two prevalent neurodegenerative disorders for which the causes are unknown, except in rare familial cases. Several changes in neuropeptide levels as measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) have been observed in these illnesses. Somatostatin (SOM) levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are consistently decreased in AD and FTD. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) levels are decreased in AD, but normal in FTD. Galanin (GAL) levels increase with the duration of illness in AD patients. The majority of studies of neuropeptides in CSF have not been verified by HPLC. The observed decrease in a neuropeptide level as measured by RIA may therefore reflect an altered synthesis or extracellular processing, resulting in neuropeptide fragments that may or may not be detected by RIA. Matrix-assisted laser desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) has been shown to be a powerful technique in the analysis of biological materials without any pre-treatment, by detecting peptides and proteins at a specific mass-to-charge (m/z) ratio. We studied the processing of the neuropeptides NPY, NPY, SOM and GAL in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with AD (n = 3), FTD (n = 3) and controls (n = 2) using MALDI-MS. We found that considerable inter-individual variability exists in the rate of neuropeptide metabolism in CSF, as well as the number of peptide fragments formed. Certain patients showed differences in the processing of specific neuropeptides, relative to other patients and controls. This analysis of the metabolic processing of neuropeptides in CSF yielded a large amount of data for each individual studied. Further studies are required to determine the changes in neuropeptide processing that can be associated with AD and FTD. With further investigations using MALDI-MS analysis, it may be possible to identify a neuropeptide fragment or processing enzyme that can be correlated to these disease states.

Electron capture dissociation and infrared multiphoton dissociation MS/MS of an N-glycosylated tryptic peptic to yield complementary sequence information

Glycoproteins are a functionally important class of biomolecules for which structural elucidation presents a challenge. Fragmentation of N-glycosylated peptides, employing collisionally activated dissociation, typically yields product ions that result from dissociation at glycosidic bonds, with little occurrence of dissociation at peptide backbone sites. We have applied two dissociation techniques, electron capture dissociation (ECD) and infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD), in a 7-T Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer, in the investigation of an N-glycosylated peptide from an unfractionated tryptic digest of the lectin of the coral tree, Erythrina corallodendron. ECD provided c and z. ions derived from the peptide backbone, with no observed loss of sugars. Cleavage at 11 of 15 backbone amine bonds was observed. The lack of cleavage at sites located close to the glycosylated asparagine residue may result from steric blocking by the glycan. IRMPD provided abundant fragment ions, primarily through dissociation at glycosidic linkages. The monosaccharide composition and the presence of three glycan branch sites could be determined from the IRMPD fragments. The two types of spectra, obtained with the same instrument, thus provide complementary structural information about the glycopeptide. The current result extends the applicability of ECD for glycopeptide analysis to N-glycosylated peptides and to peptides containing branched, highly substituted glycans.

Identification of the apolipoprotein E4 isoform in cerebrospinal fluid with preparative two-dimensional electrophoresis and matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) was isolated from human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from control individuals and patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The purification was performed with preparative two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE), involving liquid-phase isoelectric focusing (IEF) in the Rotofor cell in combination with sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and electroelution in the Mini Whole Gel Eluter. ApoE was characterized by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) analysis of tryptic digests. The known change of Cys to Arg in position 112 of the apoE4 isoform was identified. This was detected in CSF from AD patients, reflecting the increased frequency of the apoE4 allele in this population. This peptide was not detected in CSF samples from healty control individuals. The use of this rapid electrophoretic separation in proteomic studies of CSF proteins provides single proteins, such as apoE, of high purity in yields sufficient for characterization by MALDI-TOF-MS. Characterization of proteins and their modifications (amino acid substitutions, glycosylation or phosphorylation) in CSF will be a useful tool in the investigation of the pathophysiology of brain disorders such as AD.

Proteome studies of human cerebrospinal fluid and brain tissue using a preparative two-dimensional electrophoresis approach prior to mass spectrometry

A preparative proteomic approach, involving liquid phase isoelectric focusing (IEF) in combination with one-dimensional electrophoresis and electroelution followed by mass spectrometry and database searches, was found to be an important tool for identifying low-abundant proteins (microgram/L) in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and membrane proteins in human frontal cortex. Several neuron-related proteins, such as amyloid precursor-like protein, chromogranins A and B, glial fibrillary acid protein, beta-trace, transthyretin, ubiquitin, and cystatin C, were identified in CSF. Several types of proteins were also characterized from a detergent-solubilized human frontal cortex homogenate including membrane proteins such as synaptophysin, syntaxin and Na+/K+ ATPase. One-third of the identified proteins have not previously been identified in human CSF or human frontal cortex using proteomic techniques. The absence of these proteins in two-dimensional electrophoresis maps might be due to insufficient amounts or low solubility. The advantages of using preparative liquid phase electrophoretic separations for identifying proteins from complex biological mixtures are speed of analysis, high loadability in the IEF separation, nondiscrimination of membrane proteins or low abundance proteins, yielding sufficient amounts for characterization by mass spectrometry. The use of this strategy in proteome studies of CSF/brain tissue is expected to offer new perspectives in studies of the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases, and reveal new potential markers for brain disorders.

Arginine vasopressin in the cytoplasm and nuclear fraction of lymphocytes from healthy donors and patients with depression or schizophrenia

We investigated whether cytoplasmic or nuclear extracts of human peripheral blood lymphocytes contain AVP in samples from healthy controls and patients diagnosed as depressed or schizophrenic. Both the cytoplasmic and nuclear extracts contained AVP as determined by radioimmunoassay. AVP and other peptides were detected in the purified samples by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry. It is the first time that AVP has been characterized in human lymphocytes of patients with depression or schizophrenia. This finding demonstrates the presence of another important component within the potential regulatory loop between immune and neuro-endocrine tissues.

Identification of proteins from Escherichia coli using two-dimensional semi-preparative electrophoresis and mass spectrometry

Escherichia coli is a gram-negative bacterium that causes sepsis and infections of the nervous system, and the digestive and urinary tracts. The availability of the complete nucleotide sequence encoding the E. coli K-12 genome has made this organism an excellent model for proteomic studies. Semi-preparative two-dimensional electrophoresis, including liquid phase isoelectric focusing (IEF), one-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and gel elution, have for the first time been used in combination with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS), electrospray tandem mass spectrometry and database searching for rapid separation of proteins from a uropathogenic strain of E. coli. The identity of 30 proteins, including the membrane protein nmpC, was obtained using this approach.

New separation tools for comprehensive studies of protein expression by mass spectrometry

Mass spectrometry has emerged as a core technique for protein identification and characterization because of its high sensitivity, accuracy, and speed of analysis. The most widespread strategy for studying global protein expression in biological systems employs analytical two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D PAGE) followed by enzymatic degradation of isolated protein spots, peptide mapping, and bioinformatics searches. Using this method, thousands of proteins can be resolved in a gel and their expression quantified. However, certain types of proteins possessing important cellular functions are not easily analyzed using this strategy. These proteins include membrane, low copy number, highly basic, and very large (> 150 kDa) and small (< 10 kDa) proteins. To meet the growing need to simultaneously monitor all types of proteins in a biological system, new separation strategies have emerged that are amenable to hyphenation to mass spectrometric techniques. This article will review these new techniques and examine their usefulness in studies of protein expression.

Identification of protein vaccine candidates from Helicobacter pylori using a preparative two-dimensional electrophoretic procedure and mass spectrometry

Helicobacter pylori is an important human gastric pathogen for which the entire genome sequence is known. This microorganism displays a uniquely complex pattern of binding to complex carbohydrates presented on host mucosal surfaces and other tissues, through adhesion molecules (adhesins) on the microbial cell surface. Adhesins and other membrane-associated proteins are important targets for vaccine development. The identification and characterization of cell-surface proteins expressed by H. pylori is a prerequisite for the development of vaccines designed to interfere with bacterial colonization of host tissues. However, identification of membrane proteins is difficult using a traditional proteomics approach employing 2D-PAGE. We have used a novel approach in the identification of microbial proteins that employs a rapid preparative two-dimensional electrophoretic separation followed by mass spectrometry and database searches. No pre-enrichment of bacterial membranes was required. The entire process, from sample preparation to protein identification, can be completed in less than 18 hours, and the presence of proteins can be monitored after both the first- and second-dimensional separations using mass spectrometry. We were able to identify 40 proteins from a detergent-solubilized H. pylori preparation; over one-third of these were membrane or membrane-associated proteins. A functionally characterized low-abundance membrane protein, the Leb-binding adhesin, was found in this group. The use of this rapid 2D electrophoretic separation in proteomic studies of H. pylori is expected to speed up the identification of expressed virulence proteins and vaccine targets in this and other microbial pathogens.

Peptide mapping of proteins in cerebrospinal fluid utilizing a rapid preparative two-dimensional electrophoretic procedure and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

A quick two-step procedure involving liquid phase isoelectric focusing in the Rotofor cell in combination with electroelution in the Mini whole cell gel eluter has been used for purification of proteins from human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Fractions, each highly enriched in a single protein band and virtually free of other proteins, were selected for characterization by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS). Six CSF proteins, transferrin, alpha1-acid-glycoprotein, Zn-alpha2-glycoprotein, apolipoprotein A1, apolipoprotein E and beta-trace were identified by MALDI-TOFMS analysis of the tryptic digests. These results demonstrate that the combination of liquid phase IEF and electroelution is a rapid preparative two-dimensional separation which can provide single proteins of high purity, in yields sufficient for characterization by MALDI-TOFMS. Characterization of such brain-specific proteins in CSF will be useful in the investigation of the pathophysiology of different brain disorders.

Both dopamine and the putative dopamine D3 receptor antagonist PNU-99194A induce a biphasic inhibition of phorbol ester-stimulated arachidonic acid release from CHO cells transfected with the dopamine D3 receptor

In Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected with the cDNA for the dopamine D3 receptor, low concentrations of dopamine (IC50: 0.5 nM) counteracted the release of arachidonic acid (AA) induced by the protein kinase C activator TPA (maximal inhibition: 15% at 10 - 30 nM). The effect of dopamine -- which was antagonized by pretreatment with pertussis toxin (PTX) or by the dopamine receptor antagonist haloperidol -- was biphasic; thus, at increasing concentrations of dopamine (100 nM - 1 microM), AA levels approached baseline. The preferential dopamine D3 receptor ligand PNU-99194A displayed an effect similar to that of dopamine; thus, whereas low concentrations of PNU-99194A (IC50: 1.9 nM) reduced TPA-induced AA release (maximal inhibition: 15% at 30 - 100 nM), higher concentrations (> or =1 microM) were ineffective. When dopamine and PNU-99194A were administered together at concentrations yielding maximal inhibition of AA release, no additive effect was observed; moreover, a high concentration of dopamine counteracted the AA-reducing effect of a low concentration of PNU-99194A and vice versa. It is suggested that D3 receptors in transfected CHO cells may exert mainly an inhibitory, but also a stimulatory influence on TPA-induced AA release, and that PNU-99194A acts as an agonist in this system.

Identification of proteins in a human pleural exudate using two-dimensional preparative liquid-phase electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

Pleural effusion may occur in patients suffering from physical trauma or systemic disorders such as infection, inflammation, or cancer. In order to investigate proteins in a pleural exudate from a patient with severe pneumonia, we used a strategy that combined preparative two-dimensional liquid-phase electrophoresis (2-D LPE), matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and Western blotting. Preparative 2-D LPE is based on the same principles as analytical 2-D gel electrophoresis, except that the proteins remain in liquid phase during the entire procedure. In the first dimension, liquid-phase isoelectric focusing allows for the enrichment of proteins in liquid fractions. In the Rotofor cell, large volumes (up to 55 mL) and protein amounts (up to 1-2 g) can be loaded. Several low abundance proteins, cystatin C, haptoglobin, transthyretin, beta2-microglobulin, and transferrin, were detected after liquid-phase isoelectric focusing, through Western blotting analysis, in a pleural exudate (by definition, >25 g/L total protein). Direct MALDI-TOF-MS analysis of proteins in a Rotofor fraction is demonstrated as well. MALDI-TOF-MS analysis of a tryptic digest of a continuous elution sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) fraction confirmed the presence of cystatin C. By applying 2-D LPE, MALDI-TOF-MS, and Western blotting to the analysis of this pleural exudate, we were able to confirm the identity of proteins of potential diagnostic value. Our findings serve to illustrate the usefulness of this combination of methods in the analysis of pathological fluids.

Characterization of proteins from human cerebrospinal fluid by a combination of preparative two-dimensional liquid-phase electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

To purify and characterize low-abundance proteins in complex biological mixtures, we used a novel strategy that combined preparative two-dimensional liquid-phase electrophoresis (2D-LPE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Preparative 2D-LPE is based on the same isoelectric focusing and gel electrophoresis principles as the widely used analytical 2D gel electrophoresis, except that analytes remain in solution throughout separation. This novel approach shows many improvements compared to analytical 2D gel electrophoresis for the separation of proteins in biological fluids. For example, larger volumes/amounts of samples can be loaded, yielding sufficient amounts of low-abundance proteins for further characterization. Since proteins remain in liquid phase during the entire procedure, extra steps such as electroelution, extraction, or transfer to membranes from the gels prior to mass spectrometric analysis are obviated. We report the usefulness of 2D-LPE combined with MALDI-TOF MS for the purification and characterization of cystatin C and beta-2 microglobulin in human cerebrospinal fluid. This method should be applicable to a wide range of biological fluids, such as cerebrospinal fluid, serum, tissue extracts, cell media, whole cells, and bacterial lysates.

Fingerprinting of Helicobacter pylori strains by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric analysis

Helicobacter pylori is an important human gastrointestinal pathogenic bacterium which is believed to colonize approximately one-half of the world's population. Different strains of H. pylori possess virulence proteins for tissue colonization, host evasion and tissue damage. The bacteria display genomic instabilities that include gene rearrangements and gene exchange. Recently, methods for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) have been established for monitoring biomarkers in bacterial extracts. In order to establish a set of H. pylori specific biomarkers as well as a set of strain-specific biomarkers, we examined lysates and extracts from six different strains of this bacterium. Three different MALDI matrices, alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid, sinapinic acid, and ferulic acid were tested for sensitivity of analysis. Also, the effects of solubilizing analytes with the detergent n-octyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside were explored. It was found that a set of H. pylori specific, and a probable set of strain-specific, biomarkers could be established using MALDI-TOFMS. The use of H. pylori fingerprinting by MALDI may be useful for typing of these bacteria, or for studying genetic drift at the phenotypic level in specific strains.

Direct dopamine D2-receptor-mediated modulation of arachidonic acid release in transfected CHO cells without the concomitant administration of a Ca2+-mobilizing agent

In CHO cells transfected with the rat dopamine D2 receptor (long isoform), administration of dopamine per se elicited a concentration-dependent increase in arachidonic acid (AA) release. The maximal effect was 197% of controls (EC50=25 nM). The partial D2 receptor agonist, (-)-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-n-propylpiperidine [(-)-3-PPP], also induced AA release, but with somewhat lower efficacy (maximal effect: 165%; EC50=91 nM). The AA-releasing effect of dopamine was counteracted by pertussis toxin, by the inhibitor of intracellular Ca2+ release, 8-(N N-diethylamino)octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate (TMB-8), by excluding calcium from the medium, by the phospholipase A2 (PLA2) inhibitor, quinacrine, and by long-term pretreatment with the phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). In addition, it was antagonized by the D2 antagonists, raclopride and (-)-sulpiride--but not by (+)-sulpiride--and absent in sham-transfected CHO cells devoid of D2 receptors. The results obtained contrast to the previous notion that dopamine and other D2 receptor agonists require the concomitant administration of calcium-mobilizing agents such as ATP, ionophore A-23187 (calcimycin), thrombin, and TRH, to influence AA release from various cell lines.

The intrinsic activity of (-)-3-PPP vis-à-vis prolactin-suppressing dopamine D2 receptors in transfected GH4C1 cells is dependent on which secretagogue that is used to provoke prolactin release

The abilities of dopamine (DA) and the partial DA D2 receptor agonist (-)-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-n-propylpiperidine, (-)-3-PPP, to suppress prolactin (PRL) release induced by any of five different PRL secretagogues in GH4C1 cells transfected with the human D2 receptor (short isoform) were investigated. Whereas DA reduced the response to all five secretagogues. (-)-3-PPP reduced the response to vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), but not to high medium potassium (K+) or to the potassium channel antagonist tetraethylammonium (TEA). (-)-3-PPP tended to reduce the PRL release induced by the Ca2+ channel agonist BAY K-8644 (BAY); however, this effect of the partial agonist was modest and not significant. Whereas the effects of both DA and (-)-3-PPP on the PRL response to VIP and TRH were counteracted by co-incubation with the D2 antagonist raclopride, the effects of DA on the PRL response to K+, BAY, and TEA were antagonized by co-incubation with either raclopride or (-)-3-PPP. The results show that, at a given receptor density, the intrinsic activity of a partial D2 agonist with respect to D2-mediated suppression of PRL release may vary from agonism to antagonism depending on which intracellular transduction systems that are being concomitantly activated.

Substance P and related peptides in porcine cortex: whole tissue and nuclear localization

A large portion of the knowledge that has been gathered on the distribution of neuropeptides in neural tissues is based on findings obtained with immunocytochemistry and radioimmunoassay. However, these methods give limited structural information about the peptides being studied. Using porcine cortex as a model tissue, we combined immunoaffinity chromatography with reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, radioimmunoassay, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). We determined the molecular nature of the peptides contributing to the substance P-like immunoreactivity measured in extracts of whole tissue and cell nuclei. In addition to substance P(1-11), other peptides were extracted using this protocol. The presence of SP(1-11) was confirmed through post-source decay analysis. These results illustrate the usefulness of MALDI-TOF-MS in the characterization of neuropeptides from biological tissues.

Mass spectrometry of peptides in neuroscience

This review focuses on the contributions of modern mass spectrometry to neuropeptide research. An introduction to newer mass spectrometric techniques is provided. Also, the use of mass spectrometry in combination with high-resolution separation techniques for neuropeptide identification in biological samples is illustrated. The amino acid sequence information that is important for the identification and analysis of known, novel, or chemically modified neuropeptides may be obtained using mass spectrometric techniques. Because mass spectrometry techniques can be used to reflect the dynamic properties associated with neuropeptide processing in biological systems, they may be used in the future to monitor peptide profiles within organisms in response to environmental challenges such as disease and stress.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis of proteins in human cerebrospinal fluid

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectra of proteins in cerebrospinal fluid analyzed without prior purification are presented. Less than 100 fmol amounts of proteins in the 10,000 to 20,000 u mass range and linked to human disease (multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and stroke) were detected in a complex mixture of proteins and peptides, in the presence of high concentrations of salts, lipids and free amino acids. The mass resolution was sufficient to distinguish between the non-hydroxylated and hydroxylated forms of a 13,400 u protein. Simple fractionation of the cerebrospinal fluid using microbore-reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography improved signal-to-noise ratios in the mass spectra. High-accuracy peptide mass mapping and database searching were utilized to confirm the identity of several proteins. The presented results show that matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry could be used as a tool to perform rapid screening of chemically altered proteins in small volumes of biological fluids.

Isolation and characterization of proteins from human lymphocyte nuclei using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and post-source decay analysis

The cell nucleus plays an essential role in all aspects of cell function, including DNA replication, gene transcription, RNA processing and cell division. Within the cell nucleus there are many proteins and peptides that have regulatory roles. Although several higher molecular weight protein components (> 30 kDa) have been identified and characterized, limited information is available for the lower molecular weight components. Nuclei from human peripheral blood lymphocytes were isolated and rapidly characterized by employing a strategy using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, tryptic digestion, and post-source decay analysis of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) ions in combination with database searches. Database searches utilizing molecular weight, proteolytic digest fragments, and peptide sequence results identified known proteins. The results illustrate the usefulness of MALDI as a tool in the characterization of low abundance proteins in the cell nucleus.

Inverse agonism at dopamine D2 receptors. Haloperidol-induced prolactin release from GH4C1 cells transfected with the human D2 receptor is antagonized by R(-)-n-propylnorapomorphine, raclopride, and phenoxybenzamine

Our earlier observation that the antipsychotic drug haloperidol in the absence of dopamine increases cAMP formation and prolactin release in two prolactin-producing cell lines expressing rat dopamine D2 receptors (GH3, GH4ZR7), but not in similar cells devoid of D2 receptors (GH4C1), prompted us to suggest that haloperidol may act as an inverse (or negative) agonist, rather than as a neutral antagonist, at the D2 receptor (Nilsson and Eriksson 1993). In the present study it is shown that haloperidol elicits a dose-dependent increase in prolactin release also in prolactin-producing GH4C1 cells transfected with the human dopamine D2 receptor (short isoform) (GH4C1-hD2s); in addition, it is shown that another antipsychotic drug, flupenthixol, also causes prolactin release per se in this cell line. The effect of haloperidol on prolactin release in GH4C1-hD2s is calcium dependent and counteracted by pretreatment either with the D2 receptor agonist R(-)-n-propylnorapomorphine or with a D2 receptor antagonist that does not affect prolactin release per se (raclopride). In addition, pretreatment with the alkylating compound phenoxybenzamine at a concentration causing a marked reduction of D2 receptor density in GH4C1-hD2s cells significantly counteracted haloperidol-induced prolactin release.

Effects of remoxipride and raclopride on prolactin release from clonal pituitary tumour cells

The dopamine D2 receptor antagonist remoxipride (30 microM) stimulated prolactin release from the prolactin-producing rat pituitary tumour cell strains GH3 and GH4C1 as well as from transfected GH4C1 cells expressing the short isoform of the rat D2 receptor (GH4ZR7). The effect of remoxipride on prolactin release is probably not due to an interaction with D2 receptors since GH4C1 cells, in contrast to GH3 and GH4ZR7 cells, are completely devoid of D2 receptors; in contrast, we have previously shown that the D2 antagonist haloperidol causes prolactin release from D2 receptor-expressing cells, only. Exposure of GH3 cells to the inhibitor of intracellular Ca2+ mobilization, 8-(diethylamino)-octyl 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate hydrochloride (TMB-8) prevented the prolactin-releasing effect of remoxipride whereas pretreatment with the membrane Ca2+ channel antagonist nimodipine did not influence the response. The D2 receptor antagonist raclopride counteracted the reduction of VIP-stimulated prolactin release induced by the D2 agonist quinpirole but caused no prolactin release per se.

Two potentially angiostatic factors, a steroid and L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid, antagonize one another

The proline analogue L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid (LACA) systemically suppressed mast-cell-mediated angiogenesis, as measured by the rat mesenteric-window method. Dexamethasone and methylprednisolone at very low and non-toxic s.c. doses also somewhat inhibited the angiogenesis. Most interestingly, the co-administration of either of these steroids with LACA paradoxically stimulated angiogenesis. These findings suggest that in the future search for candidates for clinically-useful systemic angiostatic remedies, one may have to focus not only on the effect of individual drugs or agents, but also on the effect of such putative anti-angiogenic agents when co-administered. The fact that two potentially angiostatic agents can antagonize one another has not previously been reported.

Haloperidol increases prolactin release and cyclic AMP formation in vitro: inverse agonism at dopamine D2 receptors?

Haloperidol (30 nM, 3 microM) was found to increase prolactin release from GH4C 1 cells transfected with the D2 receptor cDNA (GH4ZR 7) and from wild-type (untransfected) GH 3 cells, but not from wild-type GH4C 1 cells. In addition, haloperidol (3 microM) stimulated cAMP formation in GH 3 cells. It is suggested that haloperidol may act as an inverse agonist rather than as a neutral antagonist at dopaminergic D2 receptors.