Takeshi Osugi

Bradykinin-induced intracellular Ca2+ elevation in neuroblastoma × glioma hybrid NG108-15 cells; Relationship to the action of inositol phospholipids metabolites

The effect of bradykinin on the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in NG108-15 cells was studied using a Ca2+ indicator quin 2. Bradykinin induced two phases of change in [Ca2+]i. Bradykinin induced a spike phase of [Ca2+]i increase which was detectable within 15 s and decayed to near-basal concentration in 3 min and then a prolonged plateau phase of [Ca2+]i increase which continued for 15 min. The bradykinin-induced spike phase was not diminished by decreasing extracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]o) to 1 microM. On the contrary, the plateau phase was dependent on [Ca2+]o and inhibited by Ca2+ blockers, verapamil (50 microM), nifedipine (1 microM). The iontophoretic injection of inositol-trisphosphate (IP3) into the single cell induced the increase of [Ca2+]i, which was independent of [Ca2+]o. These results indicate that the bradykinin-induced spike phase is mediated by the release of intracellular Ca2+ stores induced by IP3, while the plateau phase is mediated by influx of extracellular Ca2+ probably through voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels.

Identification of addicsin/GTRAP3-18 as a chronic morphine-augmented gene in amygdala.

Using subtractive cloning, we identified a 1.4 kb mRNA that was ubiquitously expressed in various tissues; this mRNA was highly up-regulated in amygdala nuclei in mice when morphine was repeatedly administered but not when an opiate-receptor antagonist was co-administered. The mRNA encodes a 23 kDa protein, designated ‘addicsin’. This contains two putative PKC-phosphorylation motifs and several hydrophobic regions, and was recovered in a soluble protein fraction of brain lysate. Its primary structure showed 98% identity with that of rat glutamate-transporter-associated protein 3-18 (GTRAP3-18), a putative modulator of neural glutamate-transporter EAAC1. Up-regulation of addicsin expression by morphine may affect glutamate uptake in the amygdala, causing mice to develop morphine tolerance and dependence.

Involvement of a single-stranded DNA binding protein, ssCRE-BP/Purα, in morphine dependence

We have purified a nuclear protein from mouse cerebella that binds to single‐stranded oligo‐DNA of cAMP response element and is modulated by morphine treatment. Isolation of the cDNA clone showed that the nuclear protein (ssCRE‐BP) was identical to Purα, a DNA binding protein for single‐stranded purine‐rich sequences that was originally isolated as a replication factor. ssCRE‐BP/Purα and mRNA were abundant in the brain. The levels of ssCRE‐BP/Purα and the transcript were not changed by chronic morphine treatment, however, the levels of an activator of ssCRE‐BP/Purα, which is necessary for the DNA binding, may be modulated by the treatment.

1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-glycerol and phorbol diester stimulate Ca2+ influx through Ca2+ channels in neuroblastoma × glioma hybrid NG108-15 cells

The effect of 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-glycerol (OAG) and the phorbol diester 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-acetate (TPA) on the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in NG108-15 cells was studied using a Ca2+ indicator, quin 2. OAG and TPA induced an increase in [Ca2+]i from 100 +/- 19 to 187 +/- 24 nM and 192 +/- 15 nM, respectively, within 15 min. The increase in [Ca2+]i induced by activators of protein kinase C was dependent on the extracellular Ca2+ concentration [Ca2+]o) and was inhibited by the Ca2+ blockers, verapamil and nifedipine. These results indicate that the OAG- and TPA-induced [Ca2+]i increase is mediated by the influx of extracellular Ca2+ through voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels.

Heterologous desensitization of bradykinin-induced phosphatidylinositol response and Ca2+ mobilization by neurotensin in NG108-15 cells

The heterologous desensitization of the bradykinin (BK)-induced increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) by neurotensin was studied in neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid NG108-15 cells. The addition of neurotensin to the cells resulted in an increase in [Ca2+]i and an increase in the formation of inositol phosphates in Ca2+-free medium. Pretreatment of the cells with neurotensin resulted in 43% decrease in the BK-induced increase of [Ca2+]i. The increase in [Ca2+]i induced by ionomycin, which causes Ca2+ release from the intracellular pool, was not decreased by pretreatment with neurotensin. This indicates that the inhibitory effect of neurotensin on the BK-induced increase of [Ca2+]i was not due to depletion of the intracellular Ca2+ pool. Pretreatment with neurotensin also caused a 47% decrease in the BK-induced formation of inositol trisphosphates (IP3). This decrease was not due to depletion of phosphatidylinositol bisphosphates. Neurotensin did not inhibit [3H]BK binding to cell membranes. These results show that neurotensin desensitizes the BK responses of NG108-15 cells, heterologously, perhaps by changes in phospholipase C and/or guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G-protein).

Modulation by chronic morphine administration of single-stranded cAMP response element (ssCRE) binding proteins in the mouse cerebellum

The development of opiate tolerance and dependence are thought to be associated with gene expression. Our previous studies have shown that the binding activity of nuclear factors to a single-stranded oligo-DNA containing cAMP response element (ssCRE) is altered by long term treatment with morphine in cultured neuronal cells. In the present experiments, the effects of acute and chronic treatments with morphine on the binding of nuclear proteins to single- and double-stranded oligo-DNAs of the cAMP response element were studied in the mouse brains by using gel shift assay. The activity of single-stranded CRE binding proteins (ssCRE-BP) was decreased by chronic morphine treatment to about 40% of control in the cerebellum. The effect of chronic morphine treatment on the binding activity persisted for at least 2 weeks after morphine withdrawal. The activity of double-stranded CRE binding proteins was also detected in the cerebellum, but it was insensitive to the morphine treatment. The activity of ssCRE-BP was also decreased by acute morphine treatment in 5 h, but it returned to control level in 24 h. These data suggest that the change of ssCRE-BP can be involved in the development of tolerance and dependence.

CHARACTERIZATION OF A NUCLEAR FACTOR THAT ENHANCES DNA BINDING ACTIVITY OF ssCRE-BP/PURα, A SINGLE-STRANDED DNA BINDING PROTEIN

Pur alpha has been identified as a single-stranded DNA binding protein that specifically binds to the purine-rich strand present in the DNA replication initiation zone of the human c-myc gene. We have previously demonstrated that chronic morphine treatment decreases the DNA binding activity of ssCRE-BP (single-stranded cyclic AMP response element-binding protein), which has been shown to be identical to pur alpha by cDNA cloning, and is abundant in the brain. In this report we identified an activator of ssCRE-BP/pur alpha in the brain and characterized it. Although purified ssCRE-BP/pur alpha or its GST-fusion protein exhibited very low DNA binding activities, they were markedly enhanced by including nuclear extract in the binding assay. The enhanced binding activity is trypsin-sensitive, heat-stable and has a molecular weight of approximately 66 kDa. Casein could substitute for the activator and increased the DNA binding activity of ssCRE-BP/pur alpha by one order. A series of deletion mutants were prepared in order to determine the DNA binding and activator interacting domains, and both of them were found to reside in AA 50-215 of ssCRE-BP/pur alpha. These data suggest that the DNA binding activity of ssCRE-BP/pur alpha is augmented by a nuclear protein, which may modulate the ssCRE-BP/pur alpha activity to develop morphine dependence and tolerance.

Effects of chronic exposure of NG108-15 cells to morphine or ethanol on binding of nuclear factors to cAMP-response element

The gel retardation assay with a single-stranded oligo-DNA of cAMP-response element (CRE) in a somatostatin promoter region was selected to examine the possibility of transcriptional regulation of cAMP-inducible genes by chronic morphine or ethanol treatment of NG108-15 cells. When the nuclear extracts from the cells treated with morphine (50 microM) or ethanol (100 mM) for several days were assayed, the amount of DNA-protein complex was decreased about 30-40% compared to that of the control. The decreased complex was recovered by 1-2 days after withdrawal of the drugs. Treatment of the cells with these drugs for 1 h did not change the amount of the DNA-protein complex. Thus, changes in CRE-binding proteins from the cells treated chronically with morphine or ethanol suggest that these drugs can modulate the expression of cAMP-inducible genes through which tolerance and dependence may develop.

Multiple agonist binding sites of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors and their relation to the negative inotropic action of agonists in guinea-pig heart

The Kd values of the multiple agonist binding sites in cardiac muscarinic receptors (mAChR) and pD2 values for negative inotropic actions were determined independently and their relation was examined. The guinea-pig cardiac mAChR is known to have three agonist binding sites (super-high (SH), high (H) and low (L) affinity agonist binding sites) for carbachol (CCh). Pilocarpine (Pilo) and oxotremorine (Oxo) distinguished two sites (higher (Ho/p) with pKd of 5.88 and 8.20, respectively, and lower (Lo/p) affinity agonist binding sites with pKd of 5.08 and 6.17, respectively). The effects of guanine nucleotide and sulfhydryl reagent indicated that the Ho/p site corresponded with the SH site for carbachol, and the Lo/p site with the H + L sites for carbachol. The pD2 values of CCh, Pilo and Oxo for negative inotropic actions on autocontraction of right atria were 5.38, 5.30 and 6.80, respectively. The pD2 values of CCh and Oxo on electrically stimulated contraction of left atria in the presence of isoproterenol were 5.80 and 6.46, respectively, thus being closely related to H or Lo/p agonist binding sites of mAChR.

Decrease in CRE binding activity by chronic morphine administration in mouse brain

Recent studies have suggested that opiate addiction is associated with transcriptional changes. We developed a novel method, in situ DNA-protein binding (ISDB), for investigating the distribution and changes of DNA binding activity of transcription factors in the brain. Using this method, we found that cAMP response element (CRE) binding activity was decreased by chronic morphine treatment in specific regions including the amygdala complex, thalamus, cerebral cortex and hypothalamus in mouse brain. This effect persisted for at least 14 days after the cessation of morphine. These data suggest that chronic morphine treatment elicits a long-term change in cAMP-mediated gene expression in the brain.