Review article: nonclinical and clinical pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of etrolizumab, an anti-ß7 integrin therapy for inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: Novel treatments with superior benefit-risk profiles are needed to improve the long-term prognosis of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Etrolizumab-a monoclonal antibody that specifically targets ß7 integrins-is currently under phase III clinical evaluation in IBD. AIM: This review summarises the available pharmacological and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic data for etrolizumab to provide a comprehensive understanding of its mechanism of action (MOA) and pharmacological effects. METHODS: Published and internal unpublished data from nonclinical and clinical studies with etrolizumab are reviewed. RESULTS: Etrolizumab exerts its effect via a unique dual MOA that inhibits both leucocyte trafficking to the intestinal mucosa and retention within the intestinal epithelial layer. The gut-selectivity of etrolizumab results from its specific targeting of the ß7 subunit of α4ß7 and αEß7 integrins. Etrolizumab does not bind to α4ß1 integrin, which mediates lymphocyte trafficking to tissues including the central nervous system, a characteristic underlying its favourable safety with regard to progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy. Phase I/II studies in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) showed linear pharmacokinetics when etrolizumab was administered subcutaneously at 100 mg or higher once every 4 weeks. This dose was sufficient to enable full ß7 receptor occupancy in both blood and intestinal tissues of patients with moderate to severe UC. The phase II study results also suggested that patients with elevated intestinal expression of αE integrin may have an increased likelihood of clinical remission in response to etrolizumab treatment. CONCLUSION: Etrolizumab is a gut-selective, anti-ß7 integrin monoclonal antibody that may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of IBD.

A humanized monoclonal antibody targeting the ß7 integrin selectively blocks intestinal homing of T lymphocytes.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: rhuMAb Beta7 is a humanized anti-human ß7 monoclonal antibody currently in phase I in inflammatory bowel disease. rhuMAb Beta7 binds the ß7 subunit of the integrins α4ß7 and αEß7, blocking interaction with their ligands. These integrins play key roles in immune cell homing to and retention in mucosal sites, and are associated with chronic inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The goal of this study was to evaluate the mucosal specificity of rhuMAb Beta7. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: We assessed the effect of murine anti-Beta7 on lymphocyte homing in mouse models of autoimmune disease. We also compared the effect of rhuMAb Beta7 on circulating mucosal-homing versus peripheral-homing T cells in naïve non-human primates. KEY RESULTS: In cynomolgus monkeys, occupancy of ß7 integrin receptors by rhuMAb Beta7 correlated with an increase in circulating ß7(+) mucosal-homing lymphocytes, with no apparent effect on levels of circulating ß7(-) peripheral-homing lymphocytes. rhuMAb Beta7 also inhibited lymphocyte homing to the inflamed colons of severe combined immunodeficient mice in CD45RB(high) CD4(+) T-cell transfer models. Consistent with a lack of effect on peripheral homing, in a mouse model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, anti-ß7 treatment resulted in no amelioration of CNS inflammation. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The results presented here suggest that rhuMAb Beta7 selectively blocks lymphocyte homing to the gastrointestinal tract without affecting lymphocyte trafficking to non-mucosal tissues. rhuMAb Beta7 provides a targeted therapeutic approach with the potential for a more attractive benefit:risk ratio than currently available inflammatory bowel disease therapies.

Translational pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of an FcRn-variant anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody from preclinical model to phase I study.

MTRX1011A is a humanized anti-CD4 antibody with an amino acid substitution (N434H) to improve its binding to the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn). Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) data in baboons suggest that the increased binding to FcRn reduces the nonspecific elimination rate (K(el)) of MTRX1011A by ~50% but does not affect its PK-PD relationship. The human PK/PD data of MTRX1011A from a phase I study in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were compared with those previously reported for TRX1, its predecessor antibody, using population PK-PD modeling. The results suggest a comparable PK-PD relationship and no significant difference between the K(el) values of the two antibodies. However, the results may have been confounded by the differences in the clinical populations in which the two antibodies were studied and the presence of preexisting immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies in the RA sera that recognize N434H in MTRX1011A. This study highlights the challenges in translating from animal studies to human application the effects of FcRn-directed mutations on the PK of monoclonal antibodies.

In vitro internalization, intracellular transport, and clearance of an anti-CD11a antibody (Raptiva) by human T-cells.

Efalizumab (Raptiva) is a humanized CD11a-specific monoclonal antibody that was recently approved for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis. In psoriasis patients, the rate of efalizumab clearance from serum is related to T-cell surface expression of CD11a, suggesting a receptor-mediated clearance model for efalizumab (Bauer et al., 1999). However, limited experimental data are available to explain how the interaction with CD11a results in the systemic clearance of efalizumab. The following studies were designed to test the hypothesis that one mechanism of anti-CD11a antibody clearance is mediated in part by cellular internalization. This was tested in vitro using purified mouse and human T-cells as a model to study the cellular uptake and clearance of anti-CD11a antibodies. Data from these studies suggest that anti-CD11a antibodies are internalized by purified T-cells. Upon internalization, the antibodies appeared to be targeted to lysosomes and were cleared from within the cells in a time-dependent manner. CD11a-mediated internalization and lysosomal targeting of efalizumab may constitute one pathway by which this antibody is cleared in vivo.

Dose schedule of recombinant murine thrombopoietin prior to myelosuppressive and myeloablative therapy in mice.

PURPOSE: Thrombopoietin is being investigated as a therapeutic agent for platelet recovery following myelosuppressive therapy. Little information is available, however, on the optimal dose of this drug or the timing of its administration. To develop these data, a series of studies were conducted to examine the effects that time of dosing has on the efficacy and safety of recombinant full-length murine thrombopoietin in murine myelosuppression and murine myeloablation models. METHODS: For the myelosuppression model, mice were exposed to 500 rad whole-body irradiation in a cesium irradiator and received an intraperitoneal dose of 1.2 mg carboplatin at time 0. For the myeloablation model, mice were exposed to 900 to 950 rad of whole-body irradiation at time 0. RESULTS: Significant increases in the number of platelets and red and white blood cells were observed by day 10 in mice that had received a single intravenous bolus dose of recombinant murine thrombopoietin from 2 h before until 4 h after myelosuppressive therapy compared to those had received myelosuppressive therapy alone. In the myeloablation studies, mice treated with 900 rad of whole-body irradiation alone had a mortality rate of 50% compared to 0% for mice that had received recombinant murine thrombopoietin 2 h prior to whole-body irradiation. When the whole-body irradiation dose was increased to 950 rad, the mortality rate of the control mice was 83% compared to 25% for mice that had received recombinant murine thrombopoietin 2 h prior to whole-body irradiation. Dosing with recombinant murine thrombopoietin 7 days prior to whole-body irradiation resulted in a mortality rate greater than or equal to that of control mice. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that pretreatment with thrombopoietin can dramatically affect recovery from myelosuppressive and myeloablative therapy. Therefore, the timing of thrombopoietin administration in relation to the therapy may be critical to the drug's safety and efficacy.

Role of the distal half of the c-Mpl intracellular domain in control of platelet production by thrombopoietin in vivo.

The cytokine thrombopoietin (TPO) controls the formation of megakaryocytes and platelets from hematopoietic stem cells. TPO exerts its effect through activation of the c-Mpl receptor and of multiple downstream signal transduction pathways. While the membrane-proximal half of the cytoplasmic domain appears to be required for the activation of signaling molecules that drive proliferation, the distal half and activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway have been implicated in mediating megakaryocyte maturation in vitro. To investigate the contribution of these two regions of c-Mpl and the signaling pathways they direct in mediating the function of TPO in vivo, we used a knock-in (KI) approach to delete the carboxy-terminal 60 amino acids of the c-Mpl receptor intracellular domain. Mice lacking the C-terminal 60 amino acids of c-Mpl (Delta60 mice) have normal platelet and megakaryocyte counts compared to wild-type mice. Furthermore, platelets in the KI mice are functionally normal, indicating that activation of signaling pathways connected to the C-terminal half of the receptor is not required for megakaryocyte differentiation or platelet production. However, Delta60 mice have an impaired response to exogenous TPO stimulation and display slower recovery from myelosuppressive treatment, suggesting that combinatorial signaling by both ends of the receptor intracellular domain is necessary for an appropriate acute response to TPO.

Metabolism of thrombopoietin (TPO) in vivo: determination of the binding dynamics for TPO in mice.

Previous in vivo studies have established that plasma thrombopoietin (TPO) levels are regulated by binding to c-Mpl on platelets and that, in vitro, platelets bind and degrade TPO. To determine if the in vivo metabolism of TPO was specific and saturable, we injected normal CD-1 mice IV with trace amounts of 125I-rmTPO with or without a saturating concentration of rmTPO. The amount of radioactivity present in the spleen, blood cell fraction, platelet fraction, tibia/fibula, and femur was significantly greater in the mice receiving 125I-rmTPO alone. Conversely, the amount of radioactivity present in the plasma was significantly greater in the mice receiving both 125I-rmTPO and rmTPO, thus suggesting the uptake of rmTPO by the spleen, platelets, and bone marrow in vivo was saturable. Platelet and spleen homogenates from animals receiving 125I-rmTPO alone showed a degradation pattern of 125I-rmTPO similar to that observed in vitro using mouse platelet rich plasma. To determine the in vivo binding dynamics for rmTPO, mice were injected with 125I-rmTPO alone or with increasing concentrations of rmTPO; spleen and blood cell-associated radioactivity was determined at 2 hours postinjection. A 4-parameter curve fit of the data indicated that the "in vivo binding affinity" for rmTPO was approximately 6.4 microg/kg. These data indicate that after a dose of approximately 6.4 microg/kg, 50% of all c-Mpl receptors will be saturated with rmTPO. Electron microscopy indicated that radioactivity was present bound to and within megakaryocytes and platelets in both sternum and spleen and platelets in circulation. Together these data demonstrate that in vivo, 125I-rmTPO is mainly metabolized by platelets and to a small extent by cells of the megakaryocyte lineage, via a specific and saturable mechanism.

Human platelets as a model for the binding and degradation of thrombopoietin.

Recent studies have shown that plasma thrombopoietin (TPO) levels appear to be directly regulated by platelet mass and that removal of plasma TPO by platelets via binding to the c-Mpl receptor is involved in the clearance of TPO in rodents. To help elucidate the role of platelets in the clearance of TPO in humans, we studied the in vitro specific binding of recombinant human TPO (rhTPO) to human platelet-rich plasma (PRP), washed platelets (WP), and cloned c-Mpl. Using a four-parameter fit and/or Scatchard analysis, the approximate affinity of rhTPO for its receptor, which was calculated from multiple experiments using different PRP preparations, was between 128 and 846 pmol/L, with approximately 25 to 224 receptors per platelet. WP preparations gave an affinity of 260 to 540 pmol/L, with approximately 25 to 35 receptors per platelet, and erythropoietin failed to compete with 125I-rhTPO for binding to WP. Binding and dissociation studies conducted with a BiaCore apparatus yielded an affinity of 350 pmol/L for rhTPO binding to cloned c-Mpl receptors. The ability of PRP to bind and degrade 125I-rhTPO was both time- and temperature-dependent and was blocked by the addition of excess cold rhTPO. Analysis of platelet pellets by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that 125I-rhTPO was degraded into a major fragment of approximately 45 to 50 kD. When 125I-rhTPO was incubated with a platelet homogenate at pH = 7.4, a degradation pattern similar to intact platelets was observed. Together, these data show that human platelets specifically bind rhTPO with high affinity, internalize, and then degrade the rhTPO.

Regulation of thrombopoietin levels by c-mpl-mediated binding to platelets.

The involvement of platelets and the c-mpl receptor in the regulation of thrombopoietin (TPO) plasma concentrations and tissue mRNA levels was investigated in both normal mice and mice defective in c-mpl (c-mpl-/-). Although c-mpl-/- mice have fewer platelets and higher plasma TPO activity than normal mice, there was no increase in TPO mRNA levels as measured by an S1 nuclease protection assay. After the intravenous injection of 125I-TPO, specific uptake of radioactivity by the spleen and blood cells was present in the normal mice, but absent in the c-mpl-/- mice. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from normal mice was able to bind and internalize 125I-TPO, whereas PRP from c-mpl-/- mice lacked this ability. Analysis of 125I-TPO binding to normal PRP indicated that binding was specific and saturable, with an approximate affinity of 560 pmol/L and 220 receptors per platelet. PRP from normal mice was also able to degrade 125I-TPO into lower molecular weight fragments. After the intravenous injections, c-mpl-/- mice cleared a dose of 125I-TPO at a much slower rate than did normal mice. Injection of washed platelets from normal mice into c-mpl-/- mice resulted in a dramatic, but transient, decrease in plasma TPO levels. These data provide evidence that platelets regulate plasma TPO levels via binding to the c-mpl receptor on circulating platelets.

Characterization of the interaction of zamifenacin at muscarinic receptors in vitro.

The interaction of zamifenacin ((3R)-(+)-diphenylmethoxy-1-(3,4)-methylenedioxyphenethyl)pi peridine) at muscarinic receptor subtypes was studied using radioligand binding and functional techniques, in vitro. In radioligand binding studies, zamifenacin acted as a competitive antagonist, with the following pKi values; rat cerebral cortex (M1) 7.90 +/- 0.08, myocardium (M2) 7.93 +/- 0.13, submaxillary gland (M3) 8.52 +/- 0.04 and rabbit lung (M4) 7.78 +/- 0.04. In functional studies zamifenacin acted as a surmountable antagonist, exhibiting the following apparent affinity values; canine saphenous vein (putative M1) 7.93 +/- 0.09, guinea-pig left atria (M2) 6.60 +/- 0.04, guinea-pig ileum (M3) 9.31 +/- 0.06, guinea-pig oesophageal muscularis mucosae (M3) 8.84 +/- 0.04, guinea-pig trachea (M3) 8.16 +/- 0.04, and guinea-pig urinary bladder (M3) 7.57 +/- 0.15. Therefore, zamifenacin is selective for muscarinic M3 receptors in guinea-pig ileum, oesophageal muscularis mucosae, trachea and bladder over muscarinic M2 receptors in atria. The degree of muscarinic M3/M2 receptor selectivity depends upon the muscarinic M3 receptor preparation studied.

Allosteric interactions among agonists and antagonists at 5-hydroxytryptamine3 receptors.

Cooperation in the action of agonists suggests that there are multiple binding sites on 5-hydroxytryptamine3 (5-HT3) receptors. The purpose of this study was to characterize these binding sites and their interactions on both native and cloned 5-HT3 receptors. The affinities of competitive 5-HT3 receptor antagonists were similar regardless of whether the receptors were labeled with [3H]RS-42358, [3H]granisetron, or 1-(m-[3H]chlorophenyl)biguanide ([3H]mCPG). By contrast, the affinities of the agonists 5-HT, mCPG, and phenylbiguanide were approximately 10-fold higher when the receptors were labeled with [3H]mCPG. The dissociation of [3H]mCPG, [3H]RS-42358, and [3H]RS-25259, but not [3H]granisetron, from both cloned and native 5-HT3 receptors was markedly slower in the presence of 5-HT or 2-methyl-5-HT than in the presence of antagonists such as RS-42358. This suggests that the binding of these agonists to unoccupied sites on the receptor can increase the receptor's affinity for prebound ligands and thereby slow their dissociation. These data support previous indications of positive cooperation among multiple binding sites on both native and cloned 5-HT3 receptors, and they extend this idea by demonstrating that agonists can modify the interaction of some, but not all, antagonists with the receptor.

Cloning and expression of a 5-hydroxytryptamine7 receptor positively coupled to adenylyl cyclase.

A cDNA clone (designated as GP2-7) encoding a novel 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptor was isolated from a guinea pig hippocampal library. The receptor shares amino acid homology within the hydrophobic domains with other cloned 5-HT receptor subtypes (34-48%). The sequence of GP2-7 is homologous to that described for a novel receptor previously cloned from a rat brain cDNA library and provisionally designated as 5-HT7. mRNA for GP2-7 was detected in cortical and limbic brain regions. Transiently expressed GP2-7 showed high-affinity binding to [3H]5-HT (pKi = 9.0) with the following rank order of affinities: 5-carboxyamidotryptamine (5-CT) > 5-HT = 5-methoxytryptamine (5-MeOT) > methiothepin > 8-hydroxy-2-(dipropylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) > spiperone >> sumatriptan. Adenylyl cyclase activity in CHO-K1 cells transiently transfected with GP2-7 was stimulated by several analogues of 5-HT with the following order of potency: 5-CT > 5-HT = 5-MeOT > dipropyl-5-CT > 8-OH-DPAT. Methiothepin and spiperone were potent antagonists. Preliminary analysis suggests that GP2-7 closely resembles a receptor in the guinea pig hippocampus that exhibits a high affinity toward 5-CT.

Pharmacological characterization of 5-hydroxytryptamine3 receptors in murine brain and ileum using the novel radioligand [3H]RS-42358-197: evidence for receptor heterogeneity.

Previous studies have demonstrated species-specific differences in 5-hydroxytryptamine3 (5-HT3) receptors, but unequivocal evidence of 5-HT3 receptor subtypes, within a species, has not yet been obtained. The purpose of the current study was to test for heterogeneity in 5-HT3 receptors in murine tissues. 5-HT3 receptors in membranes derived from brain cerebral cortex of CD-1, C57Bl/6, and Swiss Webster mice and ileum of CD-1 mice were labeled with the 5-HT3 receptor antagonist [3H]RS-42358-197. Structurally diverse competing ligands were then used to characterize the binding site. [3H]RS-42358-197 bound with similar affinity in each of the cortical tissues (mean KD = 0.14 nM; range, 0.06-0.32 nM) but bound with lower affinity in ileal tissue (2.5 nM). The density of sites labeled with [3H]RS-42358-197 ranged from 10.4 fmol/mg of protein in Swiss Webster mouse cortex to 44.2 fmol/mg of protein in Sprague-Dawley rat cortex. Displacing ligands produced a pharmacologic profile of the [3H]RS-42358-197 binding site consistent with it being a 5-HT3 receptor: (R)-YM060 > (S)-zacopride > (R)-zacopride > MDL 72222 > 2-methyl-5-HT. However, > or = 10-fold differences in the affinity of certain ligands were found when comparing 5-HT3 binding sites in membranes from cerebral cortex of the different strains of mice and when comparing 5-HT3 binding sites in brain and ileal membranes prepared from the CD-1 mouse strain.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Labelling of 5-hydroxytryptamine3 receptors with a novel 5-HT3 receptor ligand, [3H]RS-42358-197.

RS-42358-197[(S)-N-(1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-3-yl)-2,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1 H-benzo[de]isoquinolin-1-one hydrochloride] displaced the prototypic 5-hydroxytryptamine3 (5-HT3) receptor ligand [3H]quipazine in rat cerebral cortical membranes with an affinity (pKi) of 9.8 +/- 0.1, while having weak affinity (pKi < 6.0) in 23 other receptor binding assays. [3H]RS-42358-197 was then utilized to label 5-HT3 receptors in a variety of tissues. [3H]RS-42358-197 labelled high-affinity and saturable binding sites in membranes from rat cortex, NG108-15 cells, and rabbit ileal myenteric plexus with affinities (KD) of 0.12 +/- 0.01, 0.20 +/- 0.01, and 0.10 +/- 0.01 nM and densities (Bmax) of 16.0 +/- 2.0, 660 +/- 74, and 88 +/- 12 fmol/mg of protein, respectively. The density of sites labelled in each of these tissues with [3H]RS-42358-197 was similar to that labelled with [3H]GR 65630, but was significantly less than that found with [3H]-quipazine. The binding of [3H]RS-42358-197 had a pharmacological profile similar to that of [3H]quipazine, as indicated by the rank order of displacement potencies: RS-42358-197 > (S)-zacopride > tropisetron > (R)-zacopride > ondansetron > MDL72222 > 5-HT. However, differences in 5-HT3 receptors of different tissues and species were detected on the basis of statistically significant differences in the affinities of phenylbiguanide, and 1-(m-chlorophenyl)biguanide when displacing [3H]RS-42358-197 binding. [3H]RS-42358-197 also labelled a population (Bmax = 91 +/- 17 fmol/mg of protein) of binding sites in guinea pig myenteric plexus membranes, with lower affinity (KD = 1.6 +/- 0.3 nM) than those in the other preparations. Moreover, the rank order of displacement potencies of 15 5-HT3 receptor ligands in guinea pig ileum was found not to be identical to that in other tissues. Binding studies carried out with [3H]RS-42358-197 have detected differences in 5-HT3 receptor binding sites in tissues of different species and further underscore the unique nature of the guinea pig 5-HT3 receptor.

Characterization of the interaction of the cervane alkaloid, imperialine, at muscarinic receptors in vitro.

The action of the cervane alkaloid, imperialine, has been assessed at M1, M2 and M3 receptors in functional assays and at M1, M2, M3 and putative M4 sites in binding studies. In functional studies, imperialine acted as a selective surmountable antagonist at M2 receptors in guinea-pig isolated atria and uterus (-log KB = 7.7 and 7.4, respectively), in comparison to M1 receptors in canine isolated saphenous vein (-log KB = 6.9) or M3 receptors in a range of guinea-pig isolated smooth muscles including ileum, trachea, fundus, seminal vesicle or oesophagus (-log KB = 6.6-6.8). In rat aorta, the -log KB value at the M3 receptor (5.9) was slightly, but significantly, lower. In competition radioligand binding studies, imperialine was also selective toward to M2 sites in rat myocardium (-log Ki = 7.2) with respect to M1 and M3 sites (rat cerebral cortex, rat submaxillary gland; -log Ki = 6.1 and 5.7, respectively). However, it did not significantly discriminate between rat cardiac M2 sites and putative M4 sites in rabbit lung (-log Ki = 6.9). Imperialine resembles the alkaloid himbacine in terms of its pharmacological profile at muscarinic receptor subtypes in that it acts as an M2 selective antagonist with respect to M1 or M3 sites. It may also provide a second, commercially available, antagonist with which to discriminate between M1 and M4 receptors.

Characteristics of 5-HT3 binding sites in NG108-15, NCB-20 neuroblastoma cells and rat cerebral cortex using [3H]-quipazine and [3H]-GR65630 binding.

1. The biochemical and pharmacological properties of 5-HT3 receptors in homogenates of NG108-15 and NCB-20 neuroblastoma cells and rat cerebral cortex have been ascertained by the use of [3H]-quipazine and [3H]-GR65630 binding. 2. In NG108-15 and NCB-20 cell homogenates, [3H]-quipazine bound to a single class of high affinity (NG108-15: Kd = 6.2 +/- 1.1 nM, n = 4; NCB-20: Kd = 3.0 +/- 0.9 nM, n = 4; means +/- s.e.means) saturable (NG108-15: Bmax = 1340 +/- 220 fmol mg-1 protein; NCB-20: Bmax = 2300 +/- 200 fmol mg-1 protein) binding sites. In rat cortical homogenates, [3H]-quipazine bound to two populations of binding sites in the absence of the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) uptake inhibitor, paroxetine (Kd1 = 1.6 +/- 0.5 nM, Bmax1 = 75 +/- 14 fmol mg-1 protein; Kd2 = 500 +/- 300 nM, Bmax2 = 1840 +/- 1040 fmol mg-1 protein, n = 3), and to a single class of high affinity binding sites (Kd = 2.0 +/- 0.5 nM, n = 3; Bmax = 73 +/- 6 fmol mg-1 protein) in the presence of paroxetine. The high affinity (nanomolar) component probably represented 5-HT3 binding sites and the low affinity component represented 5-HT uptake sites. 3. [3H]-paroxetine bound with high affinity (Kd = 0.02 +/- 0.003 nM, n = 3) to a site in rat cortical homogenates in a saturable (Bmax = 323 +/- 45 fmol mg-1 protein, n = 3) and reversible manner. Binding to this site was potently inhibited by 5-HT uptake blockers such as paroxetine and fluoxetine (pKi s = 8.6-9.9), while 5-HT3 receptor ligands exhibited only low affinity (pK; < 7). No detectable specific [3H]-paroxetine binding was observed in NG108-15 or NCB-20 cell homogenates. 4. [3H]-quipazine binding to homogenates of NG108-15, NCB-20 cells and rat cortex (in the presence of 0.1 microM paroxetine) exhibited similar pharmacological characteristics. 5-HT3 receptor antagonists competed for [3H]-quipazine binding with high nanomolar affinities in the three preparations and the rank order of affinity was: (S)-zacopride > quarternized ICS 205-930 2 granisetron > ondansetron > ICS 205-209 (R)-zacopride > quipazine > renzapride > MDL-72222 > butanopride > metoclopramide. 5. [3H]-GR65630 labelled a site in NCB-20 cell homogenates with an affinity (Kd = 0.7 + 0.1 nms n = 4) and density (B__ = 1800 + 1000 fmol mg- protein) comparable to that observed with [3H]-quipazine. Competition studies also indicated a good correlation between the pharmacology of 5-HT3 binding sites when [3H]-GR65630 and [3H]-quipazine were used in these cells. 6. In conclusion, [3H]-quipazine labelled 5-HT3 receptor sites in homogenates of NG108-15 cells, NCB-20 cells and rat cerebral cortex. In rat cortical homogenates, [3H]-quipazine also bound to 5-HT uptake sites, which could be blocked by 0.1 microM paroxetine. The pharmacological specificity of the 5-HT3 receptor labelled by [3H]-quipazine was similar in the neuroblastoma cells and rat cortex and was substantiated in NCB-20 cells by the binding profile of the selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, [3H]-GR65630.

Direct labeling of rat M3-muscarinic receptors by [3H]4DAMP.

The muscarinic receptors of rat submaxillary gland, rat heart and rat cortex were directly labeled using the ligand [3H]4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methyl-piperidine methiodide [( 3H]4DAMP). In the rat submaxillary gland, [3H]4DAMP predominantly bound with high affinity (Kd = 0.2 nM) to a population of binding sites that displayed the pharmacology of the M3 muscarinic receptor subtype. In rat heart, [3H]4DAMP labeled the M2 muscarinic receptor with low affinity (Kd = 4 nM). In rat cortex [3H]4DAMP predominantly bound to a population of sites with high affinity (Kd = 0.2 nM). The pharmacology of these sites was consistent with [3H]4DAMP labeling both M1 and M3 muscarinic receptors present in rat cortex with high affinity. These data indicate that [3H]4DAMP represents a useful ligand for selectively labeling the M1 and M3 muscarinic receptor subtypes.

Binding characteristics of the muscarinic receptor subtype of the NG108-15 cell line.

Kinetic, saturation and competition binding studies were conducted on the muscarinic receptor binding sites labeled by [3H]N-methylscopolamine ([3H]NMS) in membranes prepared from NG108-15 cells. The pharmacology of the NG108-15 cell muscarinic receptors was compared to that of the M1 receptors of rat cortex labeled using [3H]pirenzepine, the M2 and M3 receptors of rat heart and submaxillary gland, respectively, labeled using [3H]NMS and the muscarinic receptors of the PC12 cell line also labeled using [3H]NMS. The rate of dissociation of [3H]NMS from the NG108-15 cell muscarinic receptor was similar to that obtained at the M3 receptor and at the muscarinic receptor of the P12 cells but was slower that the dissociation rate obtained at the M2 cardiac muscarinic receptor. The Kd of [3H]NMS in the NG108-15 cells was significantly lower than that obtained at the M2 and M3 receptor but was similar to the Kd obtained in PC12 cells. In competition studies the affinity estimates for AF-DX 116, 4-DAMP, methoctramine and pirenzepine were not consistent with the presence of either an M1, M2 or M3 receptor but were identical to the affinity estimates obtained at the muscarinic receptor of the PC12 cell line. On the basis of these data we conclude that the muscarinic receptor present in the NG108-15 cells is different to the M1, M2 or M3 subtypes already described but is similar to the muscarinic receptor present in the PC12 cell line. Since NG108-15 cells expresses mRNA for the m4 muscarinic receptor gene described by Bonner et al. (1987) we propose that the muscarinic receptors present in this cell line be denoted as M4 receptors.

PC12 phaeochromocytoma cells contain an atypical muscarinic receptor binding site.

1. Kinetic, saturation and competition binding studies were conducted on the muscarinic receptor binding site labelled by [3H]-N-methylscopolamine [( 3H]-NMS) in intact PC12 cells and cell membranes. Similar studies were conducted on M1 receptors of rat cortex labelled with [3H]-pirenzepine and M2 and M3 receptors present in rat heart and submaxillary gland respectively, and labelled with [3H]-NMS. 2. The dissociation of [3H]-NMS from muscarinic receptors in PC12 cells was slower than dissociation from both M2 and M3 muscarinic receptors. 3. The Kd of [3H]-NMS in the PC12 cells was significantly lower than that obtained at the M2 and M3 receptor. 4. In competition studies the affinity data for pirenzepine, hexahydroadiphenine and 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine methiodide were consistent with the presence of an M3 receptor in the PC12 cells. However, for AF-DX 116, cyclohexylphenyl(2-piperidinoethyl)silanol and methoctramine affinity estimates in PC12 cells were 3-6 fold lower than at the M3 receptor. 5. On the basis of these data we conclude that the muscarinic receptor present in the PC12 cells differs from the M1, M2 and M3 subtypes already described.