RESUMEN
We examined the intracellular signal transduction of two subtypes of human angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1aR and AT1bR) by means of the stable expression of each receptor cDNA in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Both receptors showed a rapid stimulation of phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis, a transient increase of intracellular Ca2+ concentration and an inhibitory action on the forskolin-induced cyclic AMP formation. Interestingly, at high AII concentrations (> 1 microM), these AT1bR-mediated responses were inhibited, whereas the AT1aR-mediated responses were not. Thus, the two AT1Rs are considered to be coupled to the same signal transduction cascades, but to be regulated differently on the post-translational level (presumably desensitization).