Isoproterenol-sensitive Adenylate Cyclase Activity Research Articles

Beta-adrenoceptor antibodies and genetics in dilated cardiomyopathy--an overview and review.

Autoantibodies against the cardiac beta-adrenoceptor are present in 30-40% of patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and can be detected using ligand binding inhibition, immunoprecipitation or immunoblotting. The functional consequences of the antibody-receptor interactions are two-fold: (a) in isolated cardiac myocytes, diluted sera from cardiomyopathy patients induce internalization of the beta-receptors which are subsequently degraded intracellularly; (b) in membrane preparations, anti-receptor antibodies inhibit selectively the activity of isoproterenol-sensitive adenylate cyclase. The presence of anti-receptor antibodies is strongly linked to the HLA-DR4 phenotype: 72% of the HLA-DR4 patients in our series had anti-beta-receptor antibodies compared with 22% of the HLA-DR4-negative patients (most of which typed as HLA-DR1). Conversely, 67% of the antibody-positive patients typed as HLA-DR4, compared with only 10% of the antibody-negative patients. These results indicate the presence, in a subset of cardiomyopathy patients, of immunogenetical factors which may modulate myocardial beta-adrenoceptor function.

Differential regulation of beta 1- and beta 2-adrenergic receptor protein and mRNA levels by glucocorticoids during 3T3-F442A adipose differentiation.

The regulation by dexamethasone of beta 1- and beta 2-adrenergic receptor expression during the adipose differentiation of 3T3-F442A cells was investigated at the receptor protein and mRNA level. Preadipocytes were poorly responsive to beta-adrenergic receptor (beta-AR) agonists and expressed few beta-ARs (approximately 3,000 sites/cell) solely of beta 1 subtype. Differentiation increased adrenergic sensitivity and total beta-AR number (approximately 16,000 sites/cell) with a beta 1/beta 2 ratio of approximately 90/10. Long term exposure of either differentiating cells or mature adipocytes to dexamethasone induced down-regulation of (-)-isoproterenol-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity which paralleled a 2- to 3.5-fold decrease in beta-ARs, while the beta 1/beta 2 ratio switched to approximately 20/80. The ratios of beta 1/beta 2 binding sites were always consistent with the rank order of potency of beta-adrenergic agonists in stimulating the adenylate cyclase system. The action of steroid agonists and antagonist suggested a glucocorticoid receptor-mediated mechanism. The beta 1-AR mRNA (3.2 kilobases) was stimulated 3-4.7 times in differentiated cells, as compared with preadipose cells; this beta 1-AR transcript was repressed in dexamethasone-treated cells. The beta 2-AR mRNA species (2.3 kilobases), absent in preadipocytes, was expressed at low levels in untreated adipocytes, but reached 11-fold this level in dexamethasone-exposed cells. The switch in receptor subtype protein and mRNA levels elicited by dexamethasone demonstrates the differential genetic control by glucocorticoids of beta-AR subtype expression in 3T3-F442A cells. We suggest that this regulation of beta-AR gene expression requires interactions of glucocorticoid receptors with specific DNA targets and with one (or several) transcription factor(s) that are cell- and differentiation state-dependent.

Involvement of Dopamine Neurons in the Regulation of β‐Adrenergic Receptor Sensitivity in Rat Prefrontal Cortex

The contribution of dopamine (DA) afferents to the regulation of beta-adrenergic receptor sensitivity (isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity) in the rat prefrontal cortex was investigated by comparing the effects of lesions affecting either both DA and noradrenaline (NA) or NA fibers alone. Bilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesions made in the ventral tegmental area destroyed ascending DA and to a variable extent ascending NA fibers innervating the prefrontal cortex. Two opposite effects were observed depending on the extent of cortical NA denervation: (a) When NA denervation was complete (less than 4% of controls), a marked increase in the isoproterenol-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity (+78%) was found. The amplitude of this denervation supersensitivity was similar to that occurring following complete and selective destruction of NA innervation induced by bilateral 6-OHDA injections made into the pedunculus cerebellaris superior. (b) When 6-OHDA injections into the ventral tegmental area led to a partial destruction of cortical NA afferents (10-40% of control values), a hyposensitivity of the isoproterenol-induced adenylate cyclase activity (-30%) was observed. This effect contrasted with the moderate supersensitivity seen in rats with partial, but selective, destruction of NA innervation (pedunculus cerebellaris superior lesions). The hyposensitivity of beta-adrenergic receptors obtained in rats with partial lesions of cortical NA fibers, but devoid of cortical DA innervation, suggests that DA neurons may regulate, under certain conditions, the denervation supersensitivity of beta-adrenergic receptors.

Influence of anti-beta-receptor antibodies on cardiac adenylate cyclase in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

Autoantibodies against the cardiac beta 1-adrenoceptor are present in the sera of patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and may modulate the responsiveness of cardiac beta-adrenergic pathways to agonists. The regulation of cardiac adenylate cyclase activity by autoantibodies was examined in 50 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Inhibition of isoproterenol-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity could be demonstrated by serum dilutions or IgG in 52% (26 of 50) of the patients; basal and NaF-stimulated activities, in contrast, were unaffected. In 14 patients, both ligand binding to beta-receptor and isoproterenol-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity were inhibited by 100-fold serum dilutions. Pretreatment of cardiac membranes with pertussis toxin did not affect inhibition of adenylate cyclase indicating that the effect of sera does not depend on Gi. The immunogenetic control of antireceptor antibodies was examined by comparing the distribution of HLA antigens in antibody-positive and antibody-negative patients. HLA-DR4 and HLA-DR1 were strongly associated with antibodies inhibiting ligand binding and adenylate cyclase activity (71% of patients with such antibodies typed as either DR4 or DR1). Conversely 58% of patients with HLA-DR4 and 71% of patients with HLA-DR1 antibodies showed inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity compared to 46% of those who lacked both HLA-DR4 and HLA-DR1 antibodies. These results strongly suggest that cardiac beta-adrenergic receptors and adenylate cyclase activity in dilated cardiomyopathy can be modulated by circulating autoantibodies, the presence of which is under the control of the major histocompatibility complex.

Glucagon‐Induced Refractoriness of Hepatocyte Adenylate Cyclase: Comparison of Homologous and Heterologous Components and Evidence Against a Role of cAMP

Exposure of cultured hepatocytes to glucagon leads to a partial refractoriness of the adenylate cyclase both to glucagon (homologous desensitization) and to isoproterenol (heterologous desensitization). In contrast, isoproterenol produces a very strong homologous desensitization but almost no heterologous desensitization. The present study compared the pattern of the homologous and heterologous components of glucagon-induced desensitization in these cells, particularly during the first 4 hours, and examined the role of cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in the mechanism of refractoriness development. The decrease in glucagon-sensitive and isoproterenol-sensitive adenylate cyclase activities were closely parallel with respect to the extent, the time course and the dose required. 8-Bromoadenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (8-Bromo-cAMP) also reduced the hormone-responsive adenylate cyclase activity, but this effect developed more slowly than the desensitization after glucagon treatment. No consistent relationship was found between cAMP levels and induction of hormone refractoriness when the cells were exposed to glucagon, isoproterenol, cholera toxin or forskolin. Furthermore, addition of 0.5 mM 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine) (IBMX) which strongly amplified the cAMP response, did not potentiate the glucagon-induced desensitization of either glucagon-sensitive or isoproterenol-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity. Taken together, the results suggest that homologous and heterologous desensitization of the adenylate cyclase developing after glucagon exposure occur by similar (agonist-non-specific) mechanisms which do not involve cAMP.

Effect of cardiac transplantation on anti-beta-receptor antibodies in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

Although it is increasingly recognized that the density of membrane-associated β-adrenergic receptors is significantly reduced in failing hearts, 1,2 the mechanisms involved have not been elucidated and are likely to be heterogenous. We have been interested in the possibility that such mechanisms are largely determined by the nature of the pathologic processes leading to heart failure. This possibility is supported by our recent demonstration 3 that a substantial proportion of patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy have autoantibodies directed against the cardiac β-adrenergic receptor. These autoantibodies can inhibit ligand binding to the β receptor as well as precipitate the β receptor from solubilized cardiac membranes and inhibit isoproterenol-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity. They may, therefore, play a major role in the regulation of cardiac β-adrenoceptor pathways in patients with cardiomyopathy. The mechanisms leading to the appearance of anti-β-receptor antibodies in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy remain to be defined. They are likely to involve the interaction between a genetically determined susceptibility and an immunologic response triggered by cellular changes induced in the heart by the myopathic process. This response may be reversible if the source of autoantigen (i.e., the diseased heart) is removed. Thus, it is of considerable interest to determine the impact of cardiac transplantation on the prevalence and functional properties of anti-β-receptor antibodies.

Evidence for a decrease in the efficiency of β-receptor coupling to adenylate cyclase in liver membranes from sucrose-fed rats

Sucrose feeding has been shown previously to alter the plasma concentration of several factors which may regulate β-adrenergic receptors, including corticosteroids and insulin as well as altered sympathetic nervous system (SNS) tone. For this reason we initiated a study of the effects of sucrose feeding on the β-adrenergic receptor-adenylate cyclase system in rat liver plasma membranes, β-Adrenergic responsiveness was monitored by measuring isoproterenol stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity, while β-adrenergic receptor characteristics were evaluated by analyzing [ 125I]iodocyanopindolol ([ 125I]CYP) binding. Rats fed rat chow ad lib. supplemented by drinking water containing 10% sucrose solution exhibited a 50–75% reduction in hepatic isoproterenol-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity. This effect of sucrose was also observed in adrenalectomized (ADX) and 6-hydroxydopamine-pretreated animals, ruling out a causal role for corticosteroids or the sympathetic nervous system respectively. No effect was observed on basal, glucagon-, fluoride- or GTP-stimulated adenylate cyclase. A small but significant decrease in [ 125I]CYP specific binding capacity was observed in liver membranes prepared from sucrose-fed ADX rats, whereas no change in [ 125I]CYP binding capacity was observed in in sucrose-fed normal rats. These observations suggest that β-receptor to adenylate cyclase coupling efficiency is decreased by the sucrose diet. The activities of two membrane-associated phospholipid methyltransferases and the content of endogenous S-adenosylmethionine in liver were reduced by sucrose feeding, implying a defect in the methylation pathway for phosphatidylcholine synthesis. The possible relationship between this latter finding and the observed decrease in β-adrenergic receptor to adenylate cyclase coupling efficiency is discussed.

Alteration of central alpha 2- and beta-adrenergic receptors in the rat after DSP-4, a selective noradrenergic neurotoxin

A peripheral injection of DSP-4 [ N-(2-chloroethyl)-N-ethyl-2-bromobenzylamine] produced a marked, selective and lasting depletion of norepinephrine in certain regions of the rat central nervous system. This depletion at 10 days after injection was associated with regional alterations in some, but not all, adrenergic binding sites (receptors) as determined by in vitro [ 3H]prazosin (alpha 1), [ 3H]p-aminoclonidine (alpha 2) and [ 3H]dihydroalprenolol (beta) binding. The neocortical alpha 1-receptor was not changed. The alpha 2-receptor in several regions was altered as indicated by an increase in ligand affinity; additionally, the density of this receptor was slightly decreased in some regions. Depending on the region, the beta-receptor either increased in density or was unchanged. The increased density of this receptor in neocortex corresponded to an increased activity of isoproterenol-sensitive adenylate cyclase. These two changes were not affected by subchronic treatment with desipramine, a norepinephrine uptake inhibitor. The changes were, however, partially or completely reversed by subchronic administration of clenbuterol, a centrally-acting beta-receptor agonist. The dopaminergic receptor in various regions was unaltered as assessed by in vivo and/or in vitro binding of [ 3H]spiperone. The in vivo binding of this ligand also indicated that the serotoninergic receptor in frontal neocortex was unchanged. Assessment of adrenergic receptors in neocortex at 50 days after injection indicated only the above affinity change of the (presumably postsynaptic) alpha 2-receptor. The alpha 1-receptor remained unaltered. The density of the beta-receptor had normalized, as had the activity of isoproterenol-sensitive adenylate cyclase. Implicit in these findings is the following rank order of receptor sensitivity to chronic norepinephrine depletion: alpha 2 > beta > alpha 1. The use of DSP-4 has clear advantages over other methods of depleting central norepinephrine. This neurotoxin can be administered by intraperitoneal injection, the depletion of norepinephrine can be readily checked by absence of the post-decapitation reflex and the changes in other neurotransmitter concentrations are relatively minor or nonexistent. The alteration of alpha 2- and beta-receptors, as a consequence of DSP-4 treatment, may form the basis of a new animal model of adrenergic receptor supersensitivity. Such a model may clarify the importance of these central receptors to physiological and behavioral processes.

Differential decrease of the central beta-adrenergic receptor in the rat after subchronic infusion of desipramine and clenbuterol

The effect of subchronic infusion of desipramine, a norepinephrine uptake inhibitor, and clenbuterol, a beta-adrenergic agonist, on the central beta receptor of the rat was determined using in vitro [ 3H]dihydroalprenolol binding. Desipramine produced significant decreases of the receptor in neocortex and hippocampal formation, and clenbuterol effected such decreases in corpus striatum and cerebellum. Both drugs caused a marked decrease in the activity of isoproterenol-sensitive adenylate cyclase in neocortex. The alpha 2 receptor of neocortex and cerebellum was unchanged by either drug as assessed by in vitro [ 3 H]p- aminoclonidine binding. The results are discussed in terms of the different mechanisms of action of desipramine and clenbuterol, and the efficacy of these two drugs in the treatment of depression.

Studies on cyclic nucleotides in the prostate: VII. Effects of androgens and estrogens on catecholamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase system

Effects of androgens and estrogens on isoproterenol-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity of prostatic membranes from castrated rats have been investigated.

A cellular activator of catecholamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase in rat reticulocytes and erythrocytes: Changes during reticulocyte development and effects on the β receptor

Rat reticulocytes contain an isoproterenol-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity which is lost with maturation to erythrocytes despite no change in the density of β-adrenergic receptors. To explore this observation, a cytosol factor, previously shown to be important in the expression of catecholamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase in the reticulocyte, was compared to a cytosol factor obtained in a similar manner from mature erythrocytes. The cytosol factor from reticulocytes augmented isoproterenol-responsive adenylate cyclase activity in reticulocyte and erythrocyte membranes half-maximally at 0.7 ± 0.1 (SEM) and 1.1 ± 0.3 μg/ml, respectively. These concentrations of reticulocyte-derived cytosol factor were significantly lower ( P < 0.01) than those concentrations of the factor from erythrocytes necessary to augment isoproterenol-responsive adenylate cyclase activity in reticulocyte (9.7 ± 2.3) and erythrocyte (7.5 ± 1.0) membranes. Cytosol factor from reticulocytes also caused greater total isoproterenol responsiveness than that from erythrocytes both in reticulocyte (784 ± 107 vs 525 ± 65 pmol/mg protein) and in erythrocyte membranes (54 ± 6 vs 36 ± 3); P < 0.05. Neither reticulocyte nor erythrocyte cytosol factor affected the concentration at which isoproterenol half-maximally stimulated adenylate cyclase in either set of membranes. However, the cytosol factor from reticulocytes markedly decreased the binding affinity of isoproterenol for β receptors in reticulocytes from 0.8 ± 0.2 to 6.9 ± 1.4 μ m; P < 0.001. This reticulocyte factor had no significant effect on the binding affinity of isoproterenol for erythrocyte membranes. Erythrocyte factor did not change the binding affinity for isoproterenol in either reticulocyte or erythrocyte membranes.

Beta-Adrenergic receptor agonists increase phospholipid methylation, membrane fluidity, and beta-adrenergic receptor-adenylate cyclase coupling.

The beta-adrenergic agonist L-isoproterenol stimulated the enzymic synthesis of phosphatidyl-N-monomethylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine in rat reticulocyte ghosts containing the methyl donor S-adenosyl-L-methionine. The stimulation was stereospecific, dose-dependent, and inhibited by the beta-adrenergic agonist propranolol. The addition of GTP inside the resealed ghosts shifted the dose-response of phospholipid methylation by L-isoproterenol to the left by 2 orders of magnitude. Direct stimulation of adenylate cyclase [ATP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing), EC 4.6.1.1] with sodium fluoride or cholera toxin did not increase the methylation of phospholipids. At a concentration of S-adenosyl-L-methionine that stimulates synthesis of phosphatidyl-N-monomethylethanolamine, the activity of isoproterenol-sensitive adenylate cyclase was increased 2-fold without changes in the basal activity of adenylate cyclase and the number of beta-adrenergic receptors. The increase of phospholipid methylation by L-isoproterenol decreased membrane viscosity and increased translocation of methylated lipids. These findings indicate that enhancement of phospholipid methylation by L-isoproterenol decreases membrane microviscosity and thus increases lateral movement of the beta-adrenergic receptors and coupling with adenylate cyclase.

The effect of age on beta-adrenergic receptors and adenylate cyclase activity in rat erythrocytes

Beta-adrenergic receptors and catecholamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity were studied in erythrocytes obtained from rats 6 weeks, 6 months, and 15 months of age. Intact erythrocytes from 6 week old rats contained significantly more beta receptors (411 ± 31 sites/cell) than 6 month (328 ± 21) or 15 month old rats (335 ± 16), as determined by binding of [ 125I] iodohydroxybenzylpindolol. Erythrocytes from 6 week old rats also contained significantly greater isoproterenol-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity (95.0 ± 9.4pmoles/10 9 cells) than erythrocytes from 6 month (27.9 ± 3.3) or 15 month old rats (23.7 ± 3.6). The erythrocyte population of 6 week old rats was bigger (mean corpuscular volume = 62 ± 2 μ 3/cell) than the older rat erythrocytes (47 ± 1 μ 3 and 48 ± 1 μ 3). When the data were expressed relative to a unit of cell volume, there was no difference in the density of beta receptors among all three populations but a progressive and significant fall in hormone-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity. In the rat erythrocyte, the age-related loss of adenylate cyclase activity is not accompanied by changes in β-receptor density.

Preparation and Characterization of a Hormone-responsive Renal Plasma Membrane Fraction

Abstract A renal plasma membrane fraction has been prepared by homogenization and differential centrifugation in an isotonic sucrose solution in 10 mm Tris, pH 7.5, and 1 mm ethylenediaminetetraacetate. Sedimentation in a continuous sucrose density gradient yielded a fraction that showed a striking decrease in specific activity of marker enzymes for endoplasmic reticulum and brush border, but a 2.7-fold increase in the specific activity of Na-K-ATPase. The specific activity of the mitochondrial marker, succinic cytochrome c reductase, was similar to that in the crude homogenate. The purified membrane fraction contained adenylate cyclase activity sensitive to parathyroid hormone, calcitonin, vasopressin, and isoproterenol. Only the isoproterenol-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity was inhibited by propranolol (10-5 m). Each of the three peptide-sensitive adenylate cyclase activities could be characterized by a specific anatomic distribution. The adenylate cyclase responses to the three peptide hormones showed partial additivity. The purified plasma membranes bound 125I-calcitonin (salmon), and this binding was blocked by unlabeled salmon calcitonin but not by adrenocorticotropic hormone or growth hormone. The membranes degraded 125I-salmon calcitonin to forms that were not precipitable with trichloroacetic acid and did not bind to fresh membranes.