Functional expression of kinin B1 and B2 receptors in mouse abdominal aorta.

Previous studies have shown that the vascular reactivity of the mouse aorta differs substantially from that of the rat aorta in response to several agonists such as angiotensin II, endothelin-1 and isoproterenol. However, no information is available about the agonists bradykinin (BK) and DesArg(9)BK (DBK). Our aim was to determine the potential expression of kinin B(1) and B(2) receptors in the abdominal mouse aorta isolated from C57BL/6 mice. Contraction and relaxation responses to BK and DBK were investigated using isometric recordings. The kinins were unable to induce relaxation but concentration-contraction response curves were obtained by applying increasing concentrations of the agonists BK and DBK. These effects were blocked by the antagonists Icatibant and R-715, respectively. The potency (pD(2)) calculated from the curves was 7.0 +/- 0.1 for BK and 7.3 +/- 0.2 for DBK. The efficacy was 51 +/- 2% for BK and 30 +/- 1% for DBK when compared to 1 microM norepinephrine. The concentration-dependent responses of BK and DBK were markedly inhibited by the arachidonic acid inhibitor indomethacin (1 microM), suggesting a mediation by the cyclooxygenase pathway. These contractile responses were not potentiated in the presence of the NOS inhibitor L-NAME (1 mM) or endothelium-denuded aorta, indicating that the NO pathway is not involved. We conclude that the mouse aorta constitutively contains B(1) and B(2) subtypes of kinin receptors and that stimulation with BK and DBK induces contractile effect mediated by endothelium-independent vasoconstrictor prostanoids.

Residues Val254, His256, and Phe259 of the angiotensin II AT1 receptor are not involved in ligand binding but participate in signal transduction.

The role of the external third of helix VI of the angiotensin II (AII) AT1 receptor for the interaction with its ligand and for the subsequent signal transduction was investigated by individually replacing residues 252-256 by Ala, and residues 259 or 261 by Tyr, and permanently transfecting the resulting mutants to Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Binding experiments showed no great changes in affinity of any of the mutants for AII, [Sar1]-AII, or [Sar1, Leu8]-AII, but the affinity for the nonpeptide antagonist DuP753 was significantly decreased. The inositol phosphate response to AII was remarkably decreased in mutants V254A, H256A, and F259Y. These results indicate that AT1 residues Val254, His256, and Phe259 are not involved in ligand binding but participate in signal transduction. Based in these results and in others from the literature, it is suggested that, in addition to the His256 imidazole ring, the Phe259 aromatic ring interacts with the AII's Phe8, thus contributing to the signal-triggering mechanism.

Further evidence for the existence of two receptor sites for bradykinin responsible for the diphasic effect in the rat isolated duodenum.

Low doses of bradykinin (below 10 nM), as well as of K+ (below 10 mM) induced relaxation, whereas higher doses caused contraction of the rat duodenum. The relaxant responses induced by bradykinin and K+ were not affected by ouabain (1 microM), but pre-incubation with 5.9 mM K+ abolished the responses to that ion but not those to bradykinin. The contractile and relaxant components of the response to bradykinin (but not those to K+) increased with the time elapsed after mounting of the preparation, and this was due to stretching by the load of the recording system. Specific and reversible desensitization (tachyphylaxis) was observed with the contractile response (but not the relaxation) induced by bradykinin. Des-Arg9-bradykinin, an analogue specific for B1-receptors, was much less active than bradykinin, and elicited only a contractile response. Among four bradykinin potentiating peptides that were tested, potentiator C enhanced the relaxation only, whereas BPP5a and captopril potentiated only the contraction and BPP9a potentiated both types of response to bradykinin. Our results support the hypothesis that the relaxant and contractile components of the rat duodenum's response to bradykinin are due to actions at different receptor sites, which can be distinguished by their properties (desensitization) and their different apparent affinities for agonists and for potentiating peptides.

Reactivity to bradykinin and potassium of the isolated duodenum from rats with genetic and renal hypertension.

The biphasic (relaxation-contraction) response of the isolated duodenum was used to study the reactivity of non-vascular smooth muscles in genetic (SHR) and renal hypertensive rats compared to their respective controls (WKY and Wistar). For the contractile component of the response to bradykinin, the duodenum from WKY rats was more sensitive, whereas the duodenum from SHR was both more sensitive and hyperreactive, compared to that from Wistar rats. The relaxant component of the response to bradykinin was present in the duodenum of both WKY rats and SHR, but was concentration-dependent only in the WKY group. The relaxant response to K+ was very small in SHR, and was not concentration-dependent. The concentration-response curves for relaxant responses to adrenaline and for contractile responses to acetylcholine did not differ in the SHR and WKY groups. Ca2+/Mg2+-ATPase activity was found to be markedly reduced in the SHR group. No qualitative or quantitative differences were observed between the responses of the duodenum of renal hypertensive rats and those of their normotensive controls. It is proposed that the altered reactivity of the SHR duodenum is due to changes in ion handling by the smooth muscle cell membrane.

Selectivity of bradykinin analogues for receptors mediating contraction and relaxation of the rat duodenum.

1. Bradykinin produces a biphasic response in the rat duodenum that consists of a relaxation (pD2 = 8.44) followed by a contraction (pD2 = 6.91). 2. The B1 agonist des-Arg9-bradykinin produced a contraction (pD2 = 7.16) but no relaxation. Des-Arg9-[Leu8]-bradykinin, which is a B1 antagonist in other systems produced contraction (pD2 = 7.65) in the rat duodenum. 3. Four bradykinin analogues that are preferential B2 agonists in other tissues had a biphasic effect with pD2 values in the range 7.22-8.68 for relaxation and 6.26-6.91 for contraction. 4. [Thi5,8,D-Phe7]-bradykinin, which is a B2 antagonist in most other systems produced relaxation in the rat duodenum, with a pD2 of 7.49. 5. It is concluded that the contractile component of the response to bradykinin in rat duodenum may be mediated by a subtype of the B1 receptor and the relaxant component by a receptor of the B2 subtype.

Effect of stretching on the sensitivity of the guinea pig ileum to bradykinin and on its modification by bradykinin potentiating peptides.

The sensitivity of the guinea pig isolated ileum to bradykinin, but not to other agonists, was increased ca. 2-fold during the 3-4 h following mounting of the preparation under 1 g load. Concomitantly, a decrease was observed in the bradykinin potentiating effect of BPP9a, and of potentiator B but not potentiator C. This decrease was observed only with analogues of BPP9a or potentiator B which retained one or both of the basic amino acid residues in these peptides. Similar stretching of the rat isolated uterus did not affect bradykinin sensitivity or the potency of bradykinin potentiating peptides. Kininase activity of the ileum significantly increased during the 4 h period after mounting of the loaded preparation, but was not affected by treatment with BPP9a. It is proposed that bradykinin sensitivity is favoured by the changes in sodium and potassium transport in the cell membrane caused by stretching of the ileum, and that a similar mechanism may be partly responsible for the action of bradykinin potentiating peptides.

Different pathways for Ca2+ mobilization by angiotensin II and carbachol in the circular muscle of the guinea-pig ileum.

Ca2+ pathways activated by angiotensin II and carbachol were evaluated in the circular muscle of the guinea-pig ileum by recording mechanical and electrical activities. Transient contractions induced by angiotensin II were greatly reduced by Ca2+ removal from the medium whereas carbachol-induced responses were not significantly altered. Nifedipine had no effect on the responses to both agonists. A high concentration of tetrodotoxin (0.1 microM) inhibited angiotensin II-induced contractile responses without affecting the depolarization, whereas 1 mM Ni2+ inhibited the mechanical and electrical effects. Neither tetrodotoxin nor Ni2+ affected carbachol-induced effects. These results indicate that angiotensin II-induced phasic contractions depend on extracellular Ca2+ but not on voltage-dependent L-type Ca2+ channels. It is suggested that angiotensin II activates Ni2+-sensitive Na+ and non-specific cationic channels, whereas the responses to carbachol are dependent on receptor-activated Ca2+ release. Furthermore the different response of the longitudinal and circular muscles to the inhibitory effects of tetrodotoxin and Ni2+ on the angiotensin II- and carbachol-induced contractions indicates that these agonists exert their own myogenic effects on each layer and are able to trigger different Ca2+ mobilization pathways.

Evidence for a regulatory site in the angiotensin II receptor of smooth muscle.

The homologous desensitization induced by angiotensin II analogues in the guinea-pig isolated ileum was studied. Desensitization assessed by the loss of response on repeated treatment showed [Sar1]angiotensin II to be a strong desensitizer whereas no desensitization to [Lys2]angiotensin II was detected. However, prolonged treatment with either analogue desensitized the tissue, indicating that [Lys2]angiotensin II-induced desensitization was reversed faster. A correlation was found between the degree of desensitization caused by repeated treatment and the time for half-relaxation after washout of the first treatment, but the relaxation after washout became faster in the desensitized state. In experiments designed to study competition between the agonistic and desensitizing properties of angiotensin II analogues, high concentrations of [Lys2]angiotensin II blocked the agonistic but not the desensitizing effect of lower concentrations of [Sar1]angiotensin II. It is concluded that desensitization is due to the interaction of angiotensin II with a regulatory site on the receptor.

Calcium and sodium dependence of the biphasic response of the guinea-pig ileum to agonists.

The isometric responses of the longitudinal smooth muscle of the guinea-pig ileum to acetylcholine and to histamine consist of a phasic contraction followed by a fade and a tonic contraction. At high agonist concentrations the fade is more pronounced and a period of lower tonus is observed in the early stage of the tonic component of the response. Experiments done in Ca2+-free medium indicate that the events responsible for the shape of the response take place in the absence of Ca2+ and of contraction. The phasic contraction was inhibited by hyperpolarization in low-Na+ medium. Small decreases in the external Na+ concentration caused a diminution of the fade. Reduction of the Na+ concentration during the early stages of the tonic response caused contraction whereas relaxation was observed at the late stages. It is proposed that the fade is dependent on a Na+-sensitive mechanism that is predominant at early but not at late stages of the responses to agonists.

Role of sodium ions in angiotensin tachyphylaxis in the guinea-pig ileum and taenia coli.

We have examined the responsiveness of the guinea-pig ileum and taenia coli to angiotensin (ANG) analogues that were previously shown to be either able ([1-sarcosine]-ANG, Sar1-ANG) or unable ([2-lysine]-ANG, Lys2-ANG) to induce tachyphylaxis in the ileum. The taenia coli, in which tachyphylaxis had not been previously shown to occur, was strongly tachyphylactic to Sar1-ANG, but not to Lys2-ANG. The contractile responses of the ileum, as well as the contractile and electrical (sucrose-gap) events in the taenia coli, in response to the two ANG analogues, were used to investigate the tachyphylactic phenomenon and the role of Na+ in the manifestation. Relaxation of the ileum and repolarizations of the taenia coli were faster after treatment with Lys2-ANG than after Sar1-ANG. In the tachyphylactic state, relaxation and repolarization after Sar1-ANG became as fast as after Lys2-ANG. In "low-Na+" (80 mmol/l) medium, as well as in ouabain-treated preparations, the responses of the ileum to ANG analogues were similar to those of tissues in the tachyphylactic state. Addition of Ca2+ to taenia coli preparations previously treated with the two ANG analogues in Ca2+-free medium, caused contractile and electrical responses only in the case of Sar1-ANG. It is proposed that ANG tachyphylaxis is due to changes at the level of the receptor causing increased Na+ permeability which leads to a decreased Na+ gradient across the cell membrane.

Changes in residues 1 and 4 of angiotensin II affect differently its agonist and tachyphylactic properties.

Two series of angiotensin II analogues with modifications at positions 1 or 4 of the peptide chain were studied with respect to their tachyphylactic properties and to the kinetics of relaxation of the guinea-pig ileum after a contractile response to maximally effective concentrations. Tachyphylaxis was measured by the decrease in response amplitude after three successive treatments ("tachyphylactic index") and the relaxation rate was evaluated by the time taken for the tonus to reach half of its value at the moment of agonist washout ("half relaxation time"). A correlation between tachyphylactic index and half relaxation time was found for the series of position 1 analogues, but not for the position 4 analogues. For the two series, the half relaxation times of the tachyphylactic analogues decreased from the first to the third of a series of successive treatments. Bulky substituents at position 1, which did not greatly affect the agonist activity, suppressed the tachyphylactic property. The results provide evidence that the agonist and tachyphylactic properties of angiotensin II are due to its interaction, respectively, with an agonist site and a "tachyphylaxis" site on the receptor and that the structural requirements for binding to the two sites are different.

Role of Na+ and protein kinase C in angiotensin desensitization and tachyphylaxis in the guinea-pig ileum.

Simultaneous recordings of the tension and intracellular Ca2+ concentration of guinea-pig ileum longitudinal smooth muscle strips, as well as 24Na+ and 45Ca2+ influx measurements in cultured myocytes from the same tissue, were used to investigate the mechanisms underlying angiotensin-induced desensitization and tachyphylaxis. Angiotensin II and [2-lysine]-angiotensin II (Lys2All), incubated for prolonged periods (10 min) with muscle strips, induced fading of the contractile response (desensitization) and reappearance of the intracellular Ca2+ concentration oscillations, which were inhibited during the initial increase in cytosolic Ca2+. The desensitization was paralleled, in cultured myocytes, by inhibition of the 45Ca2+ but not of the 24Na+ influxes which were initially stimulated by the peptides. On the other hand, repeated administrations of angiotensin II (but not of Lys2All) caused gradual reduction of the contractile response and of the 24Na+ influx stimulation evoked by the agonist (tachyphylaxis). Treatment with phorbol 12-13 dibutyrate accelerated the desensitization induced by both angiotensin II and by Lys2All and aggravated the tachyphylaxis to angiotensin II. The results support the hypothesis that activation of protein kinase C is responsible for the desensitization and that tachyphylaxis is due to the slow dissociation of angiotensin II from a postulated Na(+)-dependent regulatory site on the receptor.

Amiloride inhibition of guinea pig contractile responses to acetylcholine.

1. Amiloride inhibited the tonic component of the responses of the isolated guinea pig ileum to high (1 microM, which is above ED50), but not to low (44 nM) concentrations of acetylcholine. 2. The inhibition was concentration-dependent in the range 0.1 microM-10 microM and was attenuated in low-Na+ or high-Ca2+ media. 3. Amiloride (10 microM) inhibited the increase of 45Ca2+ uptake induced by 1 microM acetylcholine in the longitudinal muscle of the guinea pig ileum. 4. These results suggest that amiloride inhibits agonist-induced Na+ influx and indirectly Ca2+ influx through the Na+/Ca2+ exchange mechanism.

Membrane potential and reactivity to potassium of duodenal smooth muscle from spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Na/K-ATPase from the duodenum of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) is inhibited compared to that of the Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) controls. The present study investigates depolarization of smooth muscle cell membranes through direct determination of the membrane potential in the longitudinal duodenal smooth muscle isolated from the two rat strains. Membrane potentials were not different in the two groups: -64.0 +/- 0.5 mV (N = 86) (means +/- SEM) in SHR and -62.0 +/- 3.0 mV (N = 95) in the WKY group. However, when the electrogenic contribution of Na/K-ATPase was abolished by removing potassium from the extracellular medium, the membrane potentials differed significantly: -35.0 +/- 1.0 mV (N = 45) and -28.0 +/- 1.0 mV (N = 48) for SHR and WKY, respectively. The lower depolarization observed in the duodena isolated from SHR is a further indication that the sodium pump is inhibited in these animals.

Binding affinities and activation of Asp712Ala and Cys100Ser mutated kinin B1 receptor forms suggest a bimodal scheme for the molecule of bound-DABK.

Mutant forms of kinin B(1) receptor (B(1)R) and analogs of the full agonist des-Arg(9)-bradykinin (DABK) were investigated aiming to verify the importance of selected receptor residues and of each agonist-peptide residue in the specific binding and activation. Linked by a specific disulfide bond (Cys(100)-Cys(650)), the N-terminal (N(t)) and the EC3 loop C-terminal (C(t)) segments of angiotensin II (AngII) receptor 1 (AT(1)R) have been identified to form an extracellular site for binding the agonist N(t) segment (Asp(1) and Arg(2) residues). Asp(712) residue at the receptor EC3 loop binds the peptide Arg(2) residue. By homology, a similar site might be considered for DABK binding to B(1)R since this receptor contains the same structural elements for composing the site in AT(1)R, namely the disulfide bond and the EC3 loop Asp(712) residue. DABK, Ala(n)-DABK analogs (n=Ala(1)-, Ala(2)-, Ala(3)-, Ala(4)-, Ala(5)-, Ala(6)-, Ala(7)-, Ala(8)-DABK), and other analogs were selected to binding wild-type, Asp712Ala and Cys100Ser mutated B(1)R receptors. The results obtained suggested that the same bimodal scheme adopted for AngII-AT(1)R system may be applied to DABK binding to B(1)R. The most crucial similarity in the two cases is that the N(t) segments of peptides equally bind to the homologous Asp(712) residue of both AT(1)R and B(1)R extracellular sites. Confirming this preliminary supposition, mutation of residues located at the B(1)R extracellular site as EC3 loop Asp(712) and Cys(100) caused the same modifications in biological assays observed in AT(1)R submitted to homologous mutations, such as significant weakening of agonist binding and reduction of post-receptor-activation processes. These findings provided enough support for defining a site that determines the specific binding of DABK to B(1)R receptors.

Angiotensin II desensitization and Ca2+ and Na+ fluxes in vascular smooth muscle cells.

The role of ion fluxes in angiotensin II (AII) desensitization (tachyphylaxis) was investigated by studying Na+ and Ca2+ translocation in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells from the rat aorta. The effects of AII were compared to those of [1-sarcosine]-AII (Sar1-AII), an analogue which also induces tachyphylaxis, and [2-lysine]-AII (Lys2-AII), an analogue that does not show this property. Maximally effective concentrations of the three peptides induced a rapid and transient increase in 45Ca2+ efflux, a rapid and sustained decrease in total cell Ca2+ and an increased Na+ permeability. Repeated treatments, at short intervals, with either of the three peptides abolished the effect on Ca2+ efflux, and this desensitization was slowly reversible. A 30-min rest period was sufficient for full recovery of the response of cells that were desensitized by Lys2-AII, whereas the recovery from AII or Sar1-AII-desensitization was still not complete after 60 min. Our results suggest that the difference in the behaviour of the "tachyphylactic" AII and Sar1-AII and the "non-tachyphylactic" Lys2-AII lays not in the production of different signals upon binding to the receptor, but in a difference in the hormone-receptor interaction itself.

Insertion of an electronegative sulfur atom in the side chain of position 5 of angiotensin II: changes in the tachyphylactic properties of the peptide.

Angiotensin II (AII) analogs bearing n-Leu, Met or S-substituted groups for cysteine at position 5 were studied regarding their agonistic and tachyphylactic properties. It was shown that these analogs lowered the relative affinity towards the AT1 receptor as determined by contractile responses, which could be due to the removal of the beta-branching residue at position 5. Insertion of a sulfur atom in a different position away from the attached backbone carbon atom presented no significant difference in EC50 values for these analogs. Interestingly, the S-bearing analogs at position 5 were full agonists but the tachyphylactic property was lost, in contrast to [n-Leu5]AII, which still induced reduction of the contractile responses. Nevertheless after replacing the Asp with Sar in position 1 (Sar1) tachyphylaxis was again established. It is concluded that the insertion of Met or an S-substituted cysteine into the side chain at position 5 of AII may promote interactions with its receptor due to the slight electronegative character of the sulfur atom and changes in the restricted conformational freedom of the Ile5 residue in the AII molecule. This was overcome by Sar1, probably through interactions due to its fully protonated N-terminal amino group and favoring the conformation responsible for the tachyphylaxis phenomenon.

Pharmacological characterization of RMP-7, a novel bradykinin agonist in smooth muscle.

RMP-7 is a bradykinin (BK) agonist designed to be resistant to kininases such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). Pharmacological assays were performed with RMP-7 in isolated guinea-pig ileum and rat mesenteric artery. RMP-7 induced contractile responses in the guinea-pig ileum, where the apparent affinity of the peptide (pD2) was significantly lower than that determined for BK (7.3 +/- 0.07 vs. 8.3 +/- 0.05, respectively). HOE-140 blocked this effect indicating that B2 receptor was involved. Captopril (1 microM) had no potentiating effect on RMP-7 but increased pD2 value determined for BK (8.8 +/- 0.1), confirming a high resistance of RMP-7 to the ACE. In rat mesenteric artery, RMP-7 induced endothelium-dependent relaxation (7.8 +/- 0.4), with a higher affinity than that of BK which induced vasodilatation only in the presence of 1 microM captopril (6.9 +/- 0.36). Nevertheless, the maximum effect induced by RMP-7 was lower than that of BK in contrast to that observed in guinea-pig ileum although B2 receptor was involved in both cases. We concluded that: RMP-7 is greatly resistant to the ACE and that the receptor sites activated by RMP-7 and BK show important differences in vascular and non-vascular preparations probably due to the different sensitivity of the B2 receptor to RMP-7.

Angiotensin II tachyphylaxis in the guinea pig ileum and its prevention: a pharmacological and biochemical study.

Angiotensin II (AII) tachyphylaxis occurs in the guinea pig ileum, but is not induced by analogs lacking the N-terminal amino group or the Arg2 guanidino group. Both AII and Lys2AII increased cell inositol trisphoshate content in cultured intestinal smooth muscle cells. Protein kinase C inhibition by staurosporine or downregulation by prolonged incubation with phorbol reverted tachyphylaxis of the inositol trisphoshate response, but not that of the Na+ uptake response, indicating that the uncoupling of the phosphoinositide signal system by protein kinase C did not involve all processes distal to receptor activation. Tachyphylaxis of the Na+ uptake response was prevented when receptor internalization was blocked by reduction of the temperature (4 degrees C) or by pretreatment of the cells with phenylarsine oxide. Acid washings, which prevented tachyphylaxis of the 24Na+ influx response, also prevented tachyphylaxis of the contractile response of the guinea pig ileum to AII. Although these findings suggest that sequestration or internalization of the AII receptor might be involved in AII tachyphylaxis, binding of [125I]AII and of [125I]Lys2AII to the cells was equally unaffected by repeated administrations of the peptides. The results suggest that conformational change of the AII-receptor complex within the plasma membrane, but not internalization, is the most important factor responsible for tachyphylaxis.

Effect of sodium concentration and of atropine on the contractile response of the guinea-pig ileum to potassium ions.

The possibility that the guinea-pig ileum's contractile response to K+-rich solutions is partly mediated by acetylcholine release from the intramural nervous tissue was examined by studying the inhibition of that response by atropine at different values of [Na+]o. In a medium in which the NaCl was replaced by iso-osmotic glucose, the response to high [K+]o was not greatly affected, while the responses to acetylcholine and to other agonists were significantly reduced. In control medium (149 mM Na+), atropine (10(-7) M) partly inhibited the responses to K+-rich solutions and to agonists such as histamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine and bradykinin. When [Na+]o was reduced to 12 mM, by iso-osmotic substitution of glucose for NaCl, the response to high K+ was no longer inhibited by atropine, which still partly inhibited the contractions elicited by the three agonists and totally blocked the response of acetylcholine. It is proposed that atropine's inhibition of the response to high K+ and to agonists is not due to its specific anti-muscarinic effect, but to an unspecific action, which in the case of the agonists is independent of [Na+]o. In addition, the inhibition of the response to high K+ would results from a different Na+-dependent mechanisms, possibly involving the stimulation of the Na-K pump by atropine. This is supported by the observation that this drug partly relaxed ileum preparations that were contracted by ouabain.