Toshio Dan'ura

Induction of desensitization by phorbol ester to β-adrenergic agonist stimulation in adenylate cyclase system of rat reticulocytes

Treatment of rat reticulocytes with a phorbol ester, tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA), resulted in the desensitization of adenylate cyclase to the beta-adrenergic agonist stimulation depending on the dose and period of the TPA treatment. Treatment of the reticulocytes with TPA caused approximately 40% reduction in the stimulation by beta-adrenergic agonists of adenylate cyclase activity, whereas the treatment had little effect on the basal activity and the activation by fluoride and guanine nucleotide of the enzyme system. No change in the number of beta-adrenergic receptors was observed after the TPA treatment. Treatment with 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-glycerol (OAG), an activator of protein kinase C, also caused the desensitization of reticulocyte adenylate cyclase to isoproterenol. On the other hand, 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7), a potent inhibitor of protein kinase C, prevented the desensitization induced by TPA. These results suggest the involvement of protein kinase C in a process of desensitization of adenylate cyclase system to beta-adrenergic agonists in rat reticulocytes.

Protein kinases induce isoproterenol desensitization of β-adrenoceptor-coupled adenylate cyclase system: significance of receptor occupancy

Treatment of rat reticulocytes with isoproterenol resulted in dose- and time-dependent desensitization of adenylate cyclase to beta-adrenoceptor agonist stimulation. Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase was possibly involved in this desensitization. Treatment of rat reticulocytes with a phorbol ester, tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA), also induced desensitization to beta-adrenoceptor agonists, indicating the possible involvement of protein kinase C. The addition of a beta-adrenoceptor agonist enhanced the desensitizing effect of dibutyryl cyclic AMP or TPA. T1/2 (time for induction of half maximal desensitization) was decreased from 30 to 2.5 min in accordance with an increase in the concentration of the agonist. The extent of the desensitization was also increased by addition of the agonist. The potency with which the increase was induced was compatible with the potency for binding of the agonist to beta-adrenoceptors (KD values). These results suggest that cyclic AMP- or phorbol ester-induced desensitization is enhanced by receptor occupation by beta-adrenoceptor agonists.