Characterization of G protein-coupled receptor regulation in antisense mRNA-expressing cells with reduced arrestin levels.

Previous studies with overexpressing wild-type or dominant negative nonvisual arrestins have established a role for these proteins in beta2-adrenergic receptor (beta2AR) internalization, desensitization, and resensitization. To validate and extend such findings, we employed an antisense strategy to target the nonvisual arrestins, arrestin-2 and arrestin-3, and determined the associated effects on the regulation of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling. HEK293 cells stably expressing antisense constructs targeting arrestin-2 exhibited a selective reduction (approximately 50%) in arrestin-2 levels, while arrestin-3 antisense constructs resulted in reductions (>/=50%) in both arrestin-2 and arrestin-3 levels. Initial analysis of these cells demonstrated that a reduced level of arrestin expression resulted in a significant decrease in the extent of agonist-induced internalization of exogenously expressed beta2ARs, but had no effect on internalization of either m2 or m3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. Additional characterization involved assessing the role of arrestins in the regulation of endogenous GPCRs in these cells. Reduced arrestin levels significantly decreased the rate of endogenous beta2AR internalization, desensitization, and resensitization. Further analysis demonstrated that the desensitization of endogenous A2b adenosine and prostaglandin E2-stimulated receptors was also attenuated in cells with reduced arrestin levels. The effects on the beta2-adrenergic, A2b adenosine, and PGE2-stimulated receptors were similar among cell lines that exhibited either a selective reduction in arrestin-2 levels or a reduction in both arrestin-2 and -3 levels. These findings establish the utility of antisense approaches in the examination of arrestin-mediated GPCR regulation.

Arrestins and G-protein--coupled receptors: an on-again, off-again relationship.

Arrestins are a family of regulatory proteins that uncouple activated seven-transmembrane domain receptors from G-proteins leading to termination of ligand-induced signaling. Our understanding of arrestins has been greatly enhanced in recent years through the identification of several new members of the arrestin family, clarification of the mechanisms by which these proteins turn off receptors, and elucidation of their role as adaptor molecules in receptor internalization.

Altered activity of palmitoylation-deficient and isoprenylated forms of the G protein-coupled receptor kinase GRK6.

G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) utilize diverse mechanisms to associate with the plasma membrane and mediate phosphorylation of agonist-occupied receptors. For example, two members of this family, GRK4 and GRK6, contain C-terminal cysteine residues that are palmitoylated. To address whether the activity and membrane association of GRK6 is regulated by palmitoylation, we overexpressed and characterized wild-type GRK6 and two GRK6 mutants, one with the palmitoylation sites mutated to serines (GRK6-pal-) and one containing a C-terminal CAAX motif to promote geranylgeranylation (GRK6-GG). Compared with wild-type GRK6, GRK6-pal- had a approximately 5-fold higher Km and approximately 2-fold lower Vmax for phosphorylating rhodopsin, whereas GRK6-GG exhibited a approximately 2-fold lower Km and approximately 14-fold higher Vmax for rhodopsin. In contrast, wild-type GRK6 and GRK6-pal- displayed similar activity toward the nonreceptor substrate phosvitin, indicating that nonpalmitoylated GRK6 is catalytically active. Wild-type GRK6 and GRK6-GG, but not GRK6-pal-, also bound significantly to phosphatidylcholine vesicles (36 +/- 3, 79 +/- 4, and 4 +/- 2%, respectively) suggesting that GRK6 activity is dependent upon its ability to interact with the plasma membrane. When assayed in COS-1 cells GRK6-pal- promoted minimal agonist-dependent sequestration of the beta2-adrenergic receptor, while sequestration was significantly increased in cells expressing either wild-type GRK6 or GRK6-GG. These data demonstrate an important functional link between the ability of GRK6 to bind to the plasma membrane, a process that appears to be regulated by palmitoylation, and its activity toward receptor substrates.

Differentially regulated expression of the G-protein-coupled receptor kinases, betaARK and GRK6, during myelomonocytic cell development in vitro.

G-protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) mediate agonist-specific phosphorylation and desensitization of G-protein-coupled receptors. Previous studies have shown that several of these kinases are expressed in hematopoietic cells and that GRK expression is modulated during T-lymphocyte activation. Here, we analyzed the regulation of beta-adrenergic receptor kinase (betaARK) and GRK6 expression and activity in myelomonocytic and lymphoid cells. In the promyelocytic cell line HL-60, GRK6 protein levels and activity rose twofold to fourfold over the course of treatment with agents that induce differentiation toward either the myeloid (dimethyl sulfoxide and retinoic acid) or monocytic [1alpha,25(OH)2-vitamin D3] lineage, whereas betaARK protein levels and activity were only slightly altered. In contrast, treatment with phorbol 12,13-myristic acetate (PMA) led to a reduction in steady-state levels and activity of both betaARK and GRK6. Treatment of human lymphocytes with several polyclonal activators (phytohemagglutinin, anti-CD3 antibody and interleukin-2) resulted in enhanced betaARK and GRK6 mRNA and protein levels and increased activity of both kinases. In contrast, PMA and calcium ionophore treatment significantly elevated GRK6 protein levels, while decreasing betaARK expression. These data demonstrate that betaARK and GRK6 expression are differentially regulated during myelomonocytic cell development and lymphocyte activation.

Expression, purification, and characterization of the G protein-coupled receptor kinase GRK6.

G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs), such as rhodopsin kinase and beta-adrenergic receptor kinase (beta ARK), are involved in mediating agonist-specific phosphorylation and desensitization of G protein-coupled receptors. GRK6 is the most recently identified member of the GRK family and displays higher homology with GRK5 (70.1% amino acid identity) and IT11 (68.5%) compared to beta ARK (37.4%) and rhodopsin kinase (47.1%). To further characterize GRK6, it has been overexpressed in Sf9 cells and purified to homogeneity by sequential chromatography on SP-Sepharose and heparin-Sepharose columns. GRK6 shares a number of in vitro characteristics with GRK5, including potent inhibition by heparin and dextran sulfate (IC50 values of approximately 15 and approximately 7 nM, respectively), hyperstimulation by polycations, and preference for phosphorylation of non-acidic peptides. Rhodopsin and the beta 2-adrenergic and m2 muscarinic cholinergic receptors serve as stimulus-dependent substrates for GRK6, but with stoichiometries significantly lower than achieved by GRK5 and beta ARK. Additionally, GRK6 does not undergo significant autophosphorylation even though it contains residues identical to those that are autophosphorylated in GRK5 and rhodopsin kinase. These data extend our knowledge of a growing family of receptor-specific kinases and suggest that GRK6 has a substrate specificity distinct from beta ARK, rhodopsin kinase, and GRK5.

An attenuated variant of Coxsackievirus B3 preferentially induces immunoregulatory T cells in vivo.

BALB/c mice infected with the Woodruff variant of coxsackievirus group B type 3 (CVB3W) develop myocarditis mediated by autoimmune cytolytic T lymphocytes. A variant of CVB3W (designated H3-10A1) which infects the myocardium but induces minimal mortality of myocarditis compared to the parental virus was selected. Although H3-10A1 infections stimulate normal CTL responses to CVB3-infected myocytes, the autoimmune response to myocardial antigens is absent. Treatment of H3-10A1-infected mice with 50 mg of cyclophosphamide per kg of body weight, a treatment which preferentially eliminates suppressor cells, allows both the development of the autoimmune cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response and the expression of myocarditis. Similar treatment of CVB3W-infected mice had no effect on the disease. The presence of the immunoregulatory cells was confirmed by adoptive transfer of T lymphocytes from either H3-10A1 or CVB3W-infected donor mice into syngeneic CVB3W-infected recipients. Animals given H3-10A1-immune cells had minimal myocardial inflammation, while animals given CVB3W-immune lymphocytes developed enhanced cardiac disease. Elimination of the T-lymphocyte population from the donor cells prior to transfer abrogated suppression with the H3-10A1-immune population, showing that immunoregulation depended upon T lymphocytes. Both H3-10A1 and CVB3W have cross-reactive epitopes between the adenine translocator protein and the virion which are indicative of antigenic mimicry and may be the basis for the autoimmunity to cardiac antigens. These results suggest that immunoregulatory T cells may be primarily responsible for the nonpathogenicity of the H3-10A1 variant.