Minna Vainio

Conserved structural, pharmacological and functional properties among the three human and five zebrafish α2‐adrenoceptors

1 Zebrafish has five distinct α2‐adrenoceptors. Two of these, α2Da and α2Db, represent a duplicated, fourth α2‐adrenoceptor subtype, while the others are orthologue of the human α2A‐, α2B‐ and α2C‐adrenoceptors. Here, we have compared the pharmacological properties of these receptors to infer structural determinants of ligand interactions. 2 The zebrafish α2‐adrenoceptors were expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells and tested in competitive ligand binding assays and in a functional assay (agonist‐stimulated [35S]GTPγS binding). The affinity results were used to cluster the receptors and, separately, the ligands using both principal component analysis and binary trees. 3 The overall ligand binding characteristics, the order of potency and efficacy of the tested agonists and the G‐protein coupling of the zebrafish and human α2‐adrenoceptors, separated by ∼350 million years of evolution, were found to be highly conserved. The binding affinities of the 20 tested ligands towards the zebrafish α2‐adrenoceptors are generally comparable to those of their human counterparts, with a few compounds showing up to 40‐fold affinity differences. 4 The α2A orthologues and the zebrafish α2D duplicates clustered as close pairs, but the relationships between the orthologues of α2B and α2C were not clearly defined. Applied to the ligands, our clustering methods segregated the ligands based on their chemical structures and functional properties. As the ligand binding pockets formed by the transmembrane helices show only minor differences among the α2‐adrenoceptors, we suggest that the second extracellular loop – where significant sequence variability is located – might contribute significantly to the observed affinity differences.

Adenosine inhibits tumor cell invasion via receptor-independent mechanisms.

Extracellular adenosine mediates diverse anti-inflammatory, angiogenic, and other signaling effects via binding to adenosine receptors, and it also regulates cell proliferation and death via activation of the intrinsic signaling pathways. Given the emerging role of adenosine and other purines in tumor growth and metastasis, this study evaluated the effects of adenosine on the invasion of metastatic prostate and breast cancer cells. Treatment with low micromolar concentrations of adenosine, but not other nucleosides or adenosine receptor agonists, inhibited subsequent cell invasion and migration through Matrigel- and laminin-coated inserts. These inhibitory effects occurred via intrinsic receptor-independent mechanisms, despite the abundant expression of A2B adenosine receptors (ADORA2B). Extracellular nucleotides and adenosine were shown to be rapidly metabolized on tumor cell surfaces via sequential ecto-5′-nucleotidase (CD73/NT5E) and adenosine deaminase reactions with subsequent cellular uptake of nucleoside metabolites and their intracellular interconversion into ADP/ATP. This was accompanied by concurrent inhibition of AMP-activated protein kinase and other signaling pathways. No differences in the proliferation rates, cytoskeleton assembly, expression of major adhesion molecules [integrin-1β (ITGB1), CD44, focal adhesion kinase], and secretion of matrix metalloproteinases were detected between the control and treated cells, thus excluding the contribution of these components of invasion cascade to the inhibitory effects of adenosine. These data provide a novel insight into the ability of adenosine to dampen immune responses and prevent tumor invasion via two different, adenosine receptor–dependent and –independent mechanisms. Implications: This study suggests that the combined targeting of adenosine receptors and modulation of intracellular purine levels can affect tumor growth and metastasis phenotypes. Mol Cancer Res; 12(12); 1863–74. ©2014 AACR.

Communication Between the Calcium and cAMP Pathways Regulate the Expression of the TSH Receptor: TRPC2 in the Center of Action

Transient receptor potential (TRP) cation channels are widely expressed and function in many physiologically important processes. Perturbations in the expression or mutations of the channels have implications for diseases. Many thyroid disorders, as excessive growth or disturbed thyroid hormone production, can be a result of dysregulated TSH signaling. In the present study, we found that of TRP canonicals (TRPCs), only TRPC2 was expressed in Fischer rat thyroid low-serum 5% cells (FRTL-5 cells). To investigate the physiological importance of the channel, we developed stable TRPC2 knockdown cells using short hairpin RNA (shTRPC2 cells). In these cells, the ATP-evoked entry of calcium was significantly decreased. This led to increased cAMP production, because inhibitory signals from calcium to adenylate cyclase 5/6 were decreased. Enhanced cAMP signaling projected to Ras-related protein 1-MAPK kinase 1 (MAPK/ERK kinase 1) pathway leading to phosphorylation of ERK1/2. The activated ERK1/2 pathway increased the expression of the TSH receptor. In contrast, secretion of thyroglobulin was decreased in shTRPC2 cells, due to improper folding and glycosylation of the protein. We show here a novel role for TRPC2 in regulating thyroid cell function.

Body condition is associated with adrenocortical response in the barn swallow (Hirundo rustica L.) during early stages of autumn migration.

Migration is an energy-demanding life-history period and also a significant population-limiting factor of long-distance migratory birds. It is important to understand how corticosterone, the main energy regulating hormone in birds, is associated with behavioural and physiological changes during migration. According to the migration modulation hypothesis (MMH), individual birds may express elevated levels of baseline corticosterone to facilitate fuelling, but down-regulate the adrenocortical response in order to protect skeletal muscles from the catabolic effects of the hormone. We measured the baseline and stress-induced levels of corticosterone in barn swallows (Hirundo rustica L.) during early stages of autumn migration. Here, we show that, while barn swallows clearly responded to the capture and handling stress by increasing the corticosterone level, the strength of this acute response was related to their energetic condition: birds with high body mass responded more rapidly and had lower peak values of corticosterone than lighter birds. Further, the baseline levels of corticosterone correlated negatively with the magnitude of the adrenocortical response. Barn swallows did not show elevated baseline levels of corticosterone in the course of autumn, which suggests that, instead of fuelling, the birds were actively migrating. Our results indicate that MMH also applies to aerial feeders, whose foraging habits differ from model birds of previous studies.

Extracellular ATP-mediated phospholipase a2 activation in rat thyroid FRTL-5 cells: Regulation by a Gi/Go protein, Ca2+, and mitogen-activated protein kinase

We investigated the mechanism of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activation in response to the P2 receptor agonist ATP in rat thyroid FRTL‐5 cells. The PLA2 activity was determined by measuring the release of [3H]‐arachidonic acid (AA) from prelabeled cells. ATP evoked a dose‐ and time‐dependent AA release. This release was totally inhibited by pertussis toxin (PTX) treatment, indicating the involvement of a Gi/Go protein. The AA release was also diminished by chelating extracellular Ca2+ with EGTA or by inhibiting influx of Ca2+ using Ni2+. Although the activation of protein kinase C (PKC) by 12‐phorbol 13‐myristate acetate (PMA) alone did not induce any AA release, the ATP‐evoked AA release was significantly reduced when PKC was inhibited by GF109203X or by a long incubation with PMA to downregulate PKC. Both the ATP‐evoked AA release and the mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAP kinase) phosphorylation were decreased by the MAP kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor PD98059. Furthermore, the ATP‐evoked MAP kinase phosphorylation was also inhibited by GF109203X and by downregulation of PKC, suggesting a PKC‐mediated activation of MAP kinase. Inhibiting Src‐like kinases by PP1 attenuated both the MAP kinase phosphorylation and the AA release. These results suggest that these kinases are involved in the regulation of MAP kinase and PLA2 activation. Elevation of intracellular cAMP by TSH or by dBucAMP did not induce a phosphorylation of MAP kinase. Furthermore, neither the ATP‐evoked AA release nor the MAP kinase phosphorylation were attenuated by TSH or dBucAMP. Taken together, our results suggest that ATP regulates the activation of PLA2 by a Gi/Go protein‐dependent mechanism. Moreover, Ca2+, PKC, MAP kinase, and Src‐like kinases are also involved in this regulatory process. J. Cell. Physiol. 183:155–162, 2000.

The role of adenosine A1 receptors in the ATP-evoked Ca2+ response in rat thyroid FRTL-5 cells

Abstract The effect of adenosine A1 receptor activation on the ATP-induced increase in intracellular free Ca2+ was studied in control and protein kinase C down-regulated Fisher rat thyroid (FRTL-5) cells. Long-term phorbol ester treatment, which leads to protein kinase C down-regulation, enhanced the ATP-evoked extracellular Ca2+ influx. The increased Ca2+ influx was antagonized by the adenosine A1 receptor antagonist 8-cyclopentyl-1, 3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX). [3H]DPCPX binding studies revealed that phorbol ester-treatment increased the number of adenosine A1 receptors. The adenosine A1 receptor-mediated inhibition of the cyclic AMP formation was not affected by the increased receptor number. We conclude that the enhanced ATP-evoked Ca2+ influx in protein kinase C down-regulated cells is mediated by adenosine formed by hydrolysis of ATP, and that this adenosine interacts with the increased number of A1 receptors. The mechanism by which adenosine enhances Ca2+ entry is not known. Thus, the larger number of adenosine A1 receptors broadens the spectrum of adenosine A1 receptor affected signaling systems in FRTL-5 cells.

Thyrotropin regulates adenosine A1 receptor expression in rat thyroid FRTL-5 cells

The effect of thyrotropin (TSH), on adenosine A1 receptor expression in thyroid FRTL‐5 cells was examined by [3H]‐1,3‐dipropyl‐,8‐cyclopentyl xanthine ([3H]‐DPCPX) binding on cells in suspension and on membrane preparation, and by in situ mRNA labelling. The estimated KD for intact cells was 0.19 nM and about 47,000 binding sites per cell were found in cells constantly grown in the presence of TSH. Three days deprivation of TSH decreased the number of [3H]‐DPCPX binding sites without any significant effect of KD. Reintroduction of TSH to the cells returned the higher level of A1 receptors both in suspension binding studies on whole cells and on membrane preparations. In situ hybridization revealed that TSH evoked an increase in the number of cells densely labelled with a probe against A1 receptor mRNA. The potency of the A1 receptor agonist N6‐cyclohexyladenosine (CHA) as an inhibitor of cyclic AMP formation induced by forskolin was increased in TSH‐treated cells, with a shift in the IC50 from 2.05 nM in TSH‐deprived cells to 0.14 nM in TSH‐treated cells. Since the activation of A1 receptors inhibits TSH‐mediated cyclic AMP signalling, our results suggest a regulatory feedback mechanism between signalling via adenosine A1 receptors and TSH receptors.

Corticosterone secretion patterns prior to spring and autumn migration differ in free-living barn swallows (Hirundo rustica L.).

Recent studies of long-distance migratory birds show that behavioural and physiological changes associated with predictable or unpredictable challenges during the annual cycle are distinctively regulated by hormones. Corticosterone is the primary energy regulating hormone in birds. Corticosterone levels are elevated during stresses but they are also modulated seasonally according to environmental conditions and life-history demands. We measured the baseline and stress-induced levels of corticosterone in the barn swallow (Hirundo rustica L.) just before spring and autumn migrations in South Africa and Finland, respectively. Barn swallows completing their pre-breeding moult had low body condition (residual body mass) and high baseline corticosterone levels in the wintering grounds. In contrast, baseline corticosterone levels in Finland were low and not related to residual mass. These data contradict the first prediction of the migration modulation hypothesis (MMH) by showing no association with baseline corticosterone levels and pre-migratory fuelling. Yet, the adrenocortical response to the capture and handling stress was notably blunted in South Africa compared to a strong response in Finland. Further, individuals that had started fuelling in Finland showed a reduced response to the handling stress. Taken together, elevated baseline corticosterone levels and high residual mass may blunt the adrenocortical response in long-distance migrants and aerial feeders such as the barn swallow. This observation lends support to the second prediction of the MMH.

Antinociceptive Synergism of MD-354 and Clonidine. Part II. The α2-Adrenoceptor Component

Previously, we reported that antinociceptive synergism of a 5-HT(3)/alpha(2)-adrenoceptor ligand MD-354 (m-chlorophenylguanidine) and clonidine combination occurs, in part, through a 5-HT(3) receptor antagonist mechanism. In the present investigation, a possible role for alpha(2)-adrenoceptors was examined. Mechanistic studies using yohimbine (a subtype non-selective alpha(2)-adrenoceptor antagonist), BRL 44408 (a preferential alpha(2A)-adrenoceptor antagonist) and imiloxan (a preferential alpha(2B/C)-adrenoceptor antagonist) on the antinociceptive actions of a MD-354/clonidine combination were conducted. Subcutaneous pre-treatment with all three antagonists inhibited the antinociceptive synergism of MD-354 and clonidine in the mouse tail-flick assay in a dose-dependent manner (AD(50) = 0.33, 2.1, and 0.17 mg/kg, respectively). Enhancement of clonidine antinociception by MD-354 did not potentiate clonidines locomotor suppressant activity in a mouse locomotor assay. When [ethyl-3H]RS-79948-197 was used as radioligand, MD-354 displayed almost equal affinity to alpha(2A)- and alpha(2B)-adrenoceptors (K(i) = 110 and 220 nM) and showed lower affinity at alpha(2C)-adrenoceptors (K(i) = 4,700 nM). MD-354 had no subtype-selectivity for the alpha(2)-adrenoceptor subtypes as an antagonist in functional [35S]GTPgammaS binding assays. MD-354 was a weak partial agonist at alpha(2A)-adrenoceptors. Overall, in addition to the 5-HT(3) receptor component, the present investigation found MD-354 to be a weak partial alpha(2A)-adrenoceptor agonist that enhances clonidines thermal antinociceptive actions through an alpha(2)-adrenoceptor-mediated mechanism without augmenting sedation.

Intracellularly Truncated Human α2B-Adrenoceptors: Stable and Functional GPCRs for Structural Studies

All three α2-adrenoceptor subtypes have a long third intracellular loop (3i), which is conserved by overall size and charge-hydrophobic properties but not by amino acid sequence similarity. These properties must be relevant for function and structure, because they have been preserved during hundreds of millions of years of evolution. The contribution of different loop portions to agonist/antagonist binding properties and G protein coupling of the human α2B-adrenoceptor (α2B-AR) was investigated with a series of 3i truncated constructs (Δ 3i). We used a variety of agonists/antagonists in competition binding assays. We stimulated α2B-AR Δ3i with various agonists and measured [35S]GTPγS binding in isolated cell membranes with or without antagonist inhibition. We also evaluated the ability of oligopeptides, analogous to the amino and carboxyl terminal parts of 3i, to promote G protein activation, monitored with the [35S]GTPγS assay. Our results reveal that the carboxyl end residues of 3i, R360(6.24) to V372(6.36), are important for Gi/Go protein activation. Deletions in regions from G206(5.72) to R245(5.110) altered the binding of some α2B-AR agonists, indicating that agonist binding is dependent on the conformation of the 3i domain, possibly through the involvement of G protein interactions. The truncated receptor constructs may be more stable on purification and thus be useful for structural characterization of α2B-AR.