Cell Line NCB-20 Research Articles

Xanthurenic Acid Binds to Neuronal G-Protein-Coupled Receptors That Secondarily Activate Cationic Channels in the Cell Line NCB-20

Xanthurenic acid (XA) is a metabolite of the tryptophan oxidation pathway through kynurenine and 3-hydroxykynurenine. XA was until now considered as a detoxification compound and dead-end product reducing accumulation of reactive radical species. Apart from a specific role for XA in the signaling cascade resulting in gamete maturation in mosquitoes, nothing was known about its functions in other species including mammals. Based upon XA distribution, transport, accumulation and release in the rat brain, we have recently suggested that XA may potentially be involved in neurotransmission/neuromodulation, assuming that neurons presumably express specific XA receptors. Recently, it has been shown that XA could act as a positive allosteric ligand for class II metabotropic glutamate receptors. This finding reinforces the proposed signaling role of XA in brain. Our present results provide several lines of evidence in favor of the existence of specific receptors for XA in the brain. First, binding experiments combined with autoradiography and time-course analysis led to the characterization of XA binding sites in the rat brain. Second, specific kinetic and pharmacological properties exhibited by these binding sites are in favor of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). Finally, in patch-clamp and calcium imaging experiments using NCB-20 cells that do not express glutamate-induced calcium signals, XA elicited specific responses involving activation of cationic channels and increases in intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Altogether, these results suggest that XA, acting through a GPCR-induced cationic channel modulatory mechanism, may exert excitatory functions in various brain neuronal pathways.

Endogenous intracellular glutathionyl radicals are generated in neuroblastoma cells under hydrogen peroxide oxidative stress.

We report the detection of endogenous intracellular glutathionyl (GS.) radicals in the intact neuroblastoma cell line NCB-20 under oxidative stress. Spin-trapping and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic methods were used for monitoring the radicals. The cells incubated with the spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline 1-oxide (DMPO) were challenged with H2O2 generated by the enzymic reaction of glucose/glucose oxidase. These cells exhibit the EPR spectrum of the GS. radical adduct of DMPO (DMPO-.SG) without exogenous reduced glutathione (GSH). The identity of this radical adduct was confirmed by observing hyperfine coupling constants identical to previously reported values in in vitro studies, which utilized known enzymic reactions, such as horseradish peroxidase and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase, with GSH and H2O2 as substrates. The formation of the GS. radicals required viable cells and continuous biosynthesis of GSH. No significant effect on the resonance amplitude by the addition of a membrane-impermeable paramagnetic broadening agent indicated that these radicals were located inside the intact cell. N-Acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC)-treated cells produced NAC-derived free radicals (NAC.) in place of GS. radicals. The time course studies showed that DMPO-.SG formation exhibited a large increase in its concentration after a lag period, whereas DMPO-NAC. formation from NAC-treated cells did not show this sudden increase. These results were discussed in terms of the limit of antioxidant enzyme defenses in cells and the potential role of the GS. radical burst in activation of the transcription nuclear factor NF-kappa B in response to oxidative stress.

Photoaffinity labeling and binding studies reveal the existence of two types of phencyclidine receptors in the NCB-20 cell line

The mouse neuroblastoma-Chinese hamster brain hybrid cell line NCB-20 is the only clonal cell line in which binding studies indicate the presence of phencyclidine (PCP) receptor-like sites. We report here that polypeptide components of NCB-20 cell PCP sites were identified with the photolabile PCP derivative [ 3 H]N-[1-(3- azidophenyl)cyclohexyl]piperidine ([ 3H]AZ-PCP). The pharmacological selectivity of [ 3H]AZ-PCP binding (under reversible conditions) was similar to that observed for [ 3 H]N-[1-(2- thienyl)cyclohexyl]-piperidine ([ 3H]TCP) binding to NCB-20 cell membranes. Inhibition of [ 3H]TCP binding by AZ-PCP, dexoxadrol or MK-801 was biphasic, suggesting the presence of two types of PCP sites on NCB-20 cells. Photolysis of NCB-20 cell membranes pre-equilibrated with [ 3H]AZ-PCP, followed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), revealed the presence of 5 major labeled bands ( M r 90,000, 68,000, 49,000, 40,000 and 33,000), a pattern similar to that observed for rat brain membranes. MK-801 and d-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid ( d-(−)-AP5) selectively inhibited the labeling of M r 68,000 and 90,000 polypeptides. These results indicate that the labeled bands represent constituents of at least two different PCP binding proteins. The M r 68,000 and 90,000 components appear to correspond to a high-affinity site, which comprises approximately 20% of total [ 3H]TCP sites in these cells, and exhibits the pharmacology expected for the PCP receptor of the N- methyl- d-aspartate (NMDA)-gated channel.

The properties of 5-HT3 receptors in clonal cell lines studied by patch-clamp techniques.

1 The characteristics of transmembrane currents evoked by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the neuroblastoma x Chinese hamster brain cell line NCB-20 and neuroblastoma clonal cell line N1E-115 have been studied under voltage-clamp conditions by the whole-cell recording and outside-out membrane patch modes of the patch-clamp technique. 2 In 73% of NCB-20 cells examined (n = 221), and all N1E-115 cells studied (n = 80), 5-HT (10 microM) elicited a transient inward current at negative holding potentials, this being associated with an increase in membrane conductance. In both cell lines responses to 5-HT reversed in sign at a potential of approximately -2 mV and demonstrated inward rectification. 3 The reversal potential of 5-HT-induced currents (E5-HT) recorded from either NCB-20 or N1E-115 cells was unaffected by total replacement of internal K+ by Cs+. In N1E-115 cells, reducing internal K+ concentration from 140 to 20 mM produced a positive shift in E5-HT of approximately 28 mV, whereas reducing external Na+ from 143 to 20 mM was associated with a negative shift in E5-HT of about 37 mV. A large reduction in internal Cl- concentration (from 144 to 6 mM) had little effect on E5-HT. 4 5-HT-induced currents of NCB-20 cells were unaffected by methysergide (1 microM) or ketanserin (1 microM), but were reversibly antagonized by GR38032F (0.1-1.0 nM) with an IC50 of 0.25 nM. GR 38032F (0.3 nM) reduced 5-HT-induced currents in N1E-115 cells to approximately 26% of their control value. 5 On outside-out membrane patches excised from both NCB-20 and N1E-115 cells, 5-HT induced small inward currents which could not be clearly resolved into discrete single channel events. Such responses were: (i) reversibly antagonized by GR 38032F (1 nM) (ii) reversed in sign at 0 mV, and (iii) subject to desensitization. 6 Fluctuation analysis of inward currents evoked by 5-HT (1 microM) in N1E-115 cells suggests that 5-HT gates a channel with a conductance of approximately 310fS. Such a relatively small conductance could readily explain why the response of outside-out membrane patches to 5-HT cannot at present be resolved into clear single channel events.

MRNA from NCB-20 cells encodes the N-methyl-D-aspartate/phencyclidine receptor: a Xenopus oocyte expression study.

The mouse neuroblastoma--Chinese hamster brain hybrid cell line NCB-20 is the only clonal cell line in which binding studies indicate the presence of phencyclidine (PCP) receptors. We report here that Xenopus oocytes injected with NCB-20 cell poly(A)+ RNA express N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-activated channels and that these channels include the PCP receptor site. In injected oocytes, NMDA application evoked a partially desensitizing inward current that was potentiated by glycine, blocked by the competitive antagonist D-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid, blocked by Mg2+ and by Zn2+, and blocked in a use-dependent manner by the PCP receptor ligands PCP and MK-801. There was little or no response to kainate or quisqualate (agonists of the other excitatory amino acid receptors), to gamma-aminobutyric acid (an inhibitory transmitter), or to glycine (an inhibitory transmitter as well as an allosteric potentiator of NMDA channels). Thus, NMDA/PCP receptors expressed from NCB-20 cell mRNA exhibit properties similar to those of the neuronal receptors. The absence of expression of other excitatory amino acid receptors in this system makes it particularly useful for study of NMDA-evoked responses without interference from responses mediated by other receptors. Moreover, NCB-20 mRNA may be an appropriate starting material for cloning the cDNA(s) encoding the NMDA/PCP-receptor complex.

Characterization of a polyclonal antibody to the μ opioid receptor

Active opioid receptors have been solubilized from bovine striatal synaptosomal membranes and purified approximately 4000-fold using a combination of affinity and hydroxyapatite chromatography. The affinity column was constructed by attaching hybromet, a newly synthesized opioid ligand with high affinity for the μ receptor, to a solid support matrix. A polyclonal antibody was generated to opioid receptors by injection of the purified receptor preparation into female New Zealand rabbits. The specificity of the antiserum was demonstrated by receptor competition and immunoprecipitation studies. Immunological titration of opioid binding activity from rat brain showed that the antibody was able to displace specific binding of [ 3H]etorphine (universal opioid) and [ 3H]dihydromorphine (μ opioid) from rat membranes, but was ineffective against the binding of [ 3H]ethylketocyclazocine (κ opioid), [ 3H] d-Ala 2, d-Leu 5-enkephalin (δ opioid) or [ 3H]phencyclidine (phencyclidine/σ receptor ligand). The antibody was able to precipitate the M r 94 000 component of the 125I-labeled affinity-purified receptor, a finding which suggests that this subunit may be an opioid recognition component. By indirect immunofluorescence, the antibody was shown to bind specifically to the plasma membranes of the neurotumor cell line NCB-20 (neuroblastoma × Chinese hamster brain hybrid cells), which has high affinity opioid receptors. The observed fluorescence in the neuroblastoma cells was prevented by pre-adsorption of the antibody with purified receptor from rat brain. These results indicate that the antibody is specific for opioid receptors and may prove useful in the precise localization of opioid receptors in the central and peripheral nervous systems by immunohistochemical procedures.

Inhibition of receptor-mediated stimulation of cyclic AMP accumulation in neuroblastoma-hybrid NCB-20 cells by a phorbol ester

Activation of protein kinase C by phorbol esters such as phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), modulates responsiveness of the cyclase system in many cell types. In the neuroblastoma-hybrid cell line NCB-20, PMA causes a reduction in receptor-mediated accumulation of cyclic AMP. The reduction in receptor responses by PMA occurs within 3 min and is still apparent at 40 min. This occurs in a concentration-dependent manner with an EC 50 for PMA of approx. 30 nM. Accumulations of cyclic AMP that are elicited by prostaglandin E 2, vasoactive intestinal peptide or 2-chloroadenosine are decreased in the presence of PMA. Accumulations of cyclic AMP that are elicited by forskolin in the absence of a receptor agonist are unaffected by the presence of PMA. Inhibition of cyclic AMP generation by dopamine is not diminished by PMA suggesting the receptor input through the inhibitory N i-guanyl nucleotide binding protein is still functional after PMA treatment. The generalized inhibition of receptor-mediated responses by PMA could be due to a protein kinase C-mediated phosphorylation of the stimulatory N s-guanyl nucleotide binding protein, but other mechanisms are possible.

Bradykinin induces a rapid release of inositol trisphosphate from a neuroblastoma hybrid cell line NCB-20 that is not antagonized by enkephalin

In mouse neuroblastoma × Chinese hamster brain clonal cell line NCB-20, bradykinin (BK) receptor stimulation causes phosphoinositide hydrolysis and release of inositol phosphates. Maximum stimulation (4-fold) of [2- 3H]inositol trisphosphate (IP 3) release in the absence of Li + from NCB-20's prelabelled for 20–24 hours with [2- 3H]myo-inositol (15 μCi/confluent 60 mm dish) occurred after 5–10 seconds of bradykinin exposure, with an EC 50 of approximately 100 nM. Inositol bisphosphate (IP 2) and inositol monophosphate (IP 1) also showed increases (2.9-fold and 1.5 fold, respectively), with peaks at 15–20 seconds and 50 seconds, respectively. Under these same conditions, D-Ala 2-D-Leu 5 enkephalin (DADLE) (10 μM), an opiate agonist with 2 nM affinity, gave no stimulation of IP 3 release. Furthermore, it did not block BK-initiated release, both when applied simultaneously with BK and when cells were preincubated with DADLE for 100 minutes to lower cyclic AMP levels. These results show that (1) pain-inducing BK has a major acute stimulatory effect on receptor-phospholipase C-coupled IP 3 release, (2) the opioid peptide DADLE has no such effect and (3), DADLE does not block the IP 3 release induced by BK.

Differential regulation of multiple neuroreceptors in a somatic cell hybrid by inhibitors of glycoprotein processing

Specific binding of [ 3H][D-Ala 2, D-Leu 5]enkephalin, [ 3H]ethylketocyclazocine, 5-[ 3H]hydroxytryptamine, and [ 3H]spiperone was examined in neuroblastoma-brain hybrid cell line NCB-20 following exposure to inhibitors of N -linked protein glycosylation (tunicamycin, TM) and oligosaccharide processing (swainsonine, SW). TM treatment reduced ligand binding at δ- and σ-opiate receptors and neuroleptic binding sites (20 to 50% of control), with no discernible effect on the binding properties of 5HT 1-serotonin receptors. In contrast, exposure to SW resulted in a three-fold increase in binding capacity of σ-receptors, while decreasing receptor affinity for ligand. SW treatment did not alter ligand interactions with either σ-receptors or neuroleptic binding sites, but did reduce specific binding of serotonin to 5HT 1-receptors. The effects of TM and SW on distinct receptor subpopulations were further demonstrated by attenuation of opiate and serotonin-mediated regulation of intracellular cyclic AMP.

Specific receptor-mediated inhibition of cyclic AMP synthesis by dopamine in a neuroblastoma X brain hybrid cell line NCB-20.

Dopamine and dopamine receptor agonists were found to inhibit adenylate cyclase activity dose-dependently in a neuroblastoma X Chinese hamster brain explant hybrid cell line NCB-20. Apomorphine (with an IC50 value of 10 nM) was the most effective inhibitor, followed by 2-amino-6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthaline (ADTN), dopamine, and N-dipropyldopamine. The inhibition was potently reversed by sulpiride, butaclamol, and flupenthixol in a stereospecific manner, but was unaffected by yohimbine, except at high concentrations. Clonidine also inhibited adenylate cyclase activity in these cells and this was reversed by the alpha 2-adrenoreceptor antagonist yohimbine, but not by sulpiride. [D-Ala2, D-Leu5] Enkephalin inhibited adenylate cyclase activity in NCB-20 cells at nanomolar concentrations; this was reversed by naloxone. All three inhibitory neurotransmitters were able to reverse the stimulation of cyclic AMP synthesis by serotonin or prostaglandin E1. The dopamine receptor that modulates cyclic AMP synthesis in NCB-20 cells is pharmacologically quite distinct from a high-affinity spiperone binding site identified in these cells, but shows the pharmacologic specificity of the "D2" receptor previously described in mammalian brain.

Chronic opiate treatment does not modify α2-adrenergic receptors in rat cerebral cortex, kidney and in the neurotumor cell line NCB20

We examined the effect of chronic opiate treatment on the α 2-adrenergic receptor binding of both the agonist [ 3H]clonidine and the antagonist [ 3H]yohimbine in the cerebral cortex and kidney of rats. In addition, we demonstrated the presence of an adrenergic receptor of the α 2 type on the neurotumor cells line NCB20 and used this cell line as a model for studying the interaction between the opiate and α 2-adrenergic systems. In all the three above systems, chronic opiate treatment did not modify the number or the affinity of α 2-adrenergic receptors.

Characterization of an adenylate cyclase-linked serotonin (5-HT1) receptor in a neuroblastoma X brain explant hybrid cell line (NCB-20).

Clonal cell line NCB-20 (a hybrid of mouse neuroblastoma N18TG2 and Chinese hamster 18-day embryonic brain explant) expressed both high- (KD 180 nM) and low-affinity (greater than 3000 nM) binding sites for [3H]serotonin (5-HT) which were absent from the parent neuroblastoma. The low-affinity binding site was eliminated by 1 microM spiperone. The order of drug potency for inhibition of high-affinity [3H]5-HT binding was consistent with a 5-HT1 receptor (5,6 - dihydroxytryptamine = 5-HT = methysergide = 5-methoxytryptamine greater than cyproheptadine = clozapine = mianserin greater than spiperone greater than dopamine = morphine = ketanserin = norepinephrine). [3H]5-HT binding was inhibited by guanine nucleotides (e.g., GTP and Gpp(NH)p), whereas antagonist binding was not; ascorbate was also inhibitory. A 30-min exposure of cells to 1-2 microM 5-HT or other agonists produced a three- to fivefold stimulation of cyclic AMP levels. The order of potency for 5-HT agonist stimulation of basal cyclic AMP levels and 5-HT antagonist reversal of agonist-stimulated levels was the same as the order of drug potency for inhibition of high-affinity [3H]5-HT binding, suggesting linkage of the 5-HT1 receptor to adenylate cyclase in NCB-20 cells.

Delta and sigma sites of clonal NCB20 cells do not modulate calcium uptake

Opiate alkaloids and peptides are reported to inhibit 45Ca 2+ binding to synaptic plasma membranes and uptake into brain synaptosomes. We have examined the effects of a number of opiates on 45Ca 2+ uptake in a clonal cell line NCB20 which expresses multiple opioid binding sites. The cells express voltage-dependent calcium channels that are blocked by verapamil and nifedipine. In contrast to brain, 45Ca 2+ uptake in these cells, in normal or high potassium medium, is unaffected by opiates. This difference may be due to the particular receptor types; the δ and σ sites of these cells do not inhibit 45Ca 2+ uptake.

Possible role of cyclic AMP in the receptor-mediated regulation of glycosyltransferase activities in neurotumor cell lines.

Exposure of mouse neuroblastoma cell line N4TGl to opiates or [D-Ala2,D-Leu5] enkephalin produced a naloxone-reversible inhibition of cyclic AMP synthesis and prevented, in a concentration-dependent manner, the formation of both ganglioside GM2 (GalNAc-[NeuNAc]-Gal-Glc-ceramide) from GM3 (NeuNAc-Gal-Glc-ceramide) and ganglioside GM1 (Gal-GalNAc-[NeuNAc]-Gal-Glc-ceramide) from GM2 in cell-free extracts. In contrast, the receptor-mediated elevation of intracellular cyclic AMP levels by agents such as prostaglandin E1 (in the presence of isobutylmethylxanthine) or the addition of the cyclic AMP derivatives (dibutyryl cyclic AMP) markedly stimulated the activities of UDP-GalNAc:GM3,N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase and UDP-Gal:GM2,galactosyltransferase. An overall increase in the synthesis of gangliosides more complex than GM3 was also observed in the mouse neuroblastoma x hamster brain explant hybrid cell line NCB-20 following elevation of cyclic AMP levels by treatment with serotonin and pargyline. The data presented support the hypothesis that cyclic AMP may have a role in the regulation of sialoglycosphingolipid biosynthesis.