GPCR Activation States Induced by Nanobodies and Mini-G Proteins Compared by NMR Spectroscopy.

In this work, we examine methyl nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of the methionine ε-[13CH3] labelled thermostabilized ß1 adrenergic receptor from turkey in association with a variety of different effectors, including mini-Gs and nanobody 60 (Nb60), which have not been previously studied in complex with ß1 adrenergic receptor (ß1AR) by NMR. Complexes with pindolol and Nb60 induce highly similar inactive states of the receptor, closely resembling the resting state conformational ensemble. We show that, upon binding of mini-Gs or nanobody 80 (Nb80), large allosteric changes throughout the receptor take place. The conformation of tß1AR stabilized by the native-like mini-Gs protein is highly similar to the conformation induced by the currently used surrogate Nb80. Interestingly, in both cases residual dynamics are present, which were not observed in the resting states. Finally, we reproduce a pharmaceutically relevant situation, where an antagonist abolishes the interaction of the receptor with the mini-G protein in a competitive manner, validating the functional integrity of our preparation. The presented system is therefore well suited for reproducing the individual steps of the activation cycle of a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) in vitro and serves as a basis for functional and pharmacological characterizations of more native-like systems in the future.

Deep brain stimulation and fluoxetine exert different long-term changes in the serotonergic system.

Both selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) deep brain stimulation (DBS) modulate serotonergic activity. We compared the acute (1 day) and long-term (12 days) effects of vmPFC stimulation and fluoxetine on serotonin (5-HT) release and receptor expression in rats. Samples to measure serotonin levels were collected from the hippocampus using microdialysis. Serotonin transporter (SERT), 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B mRNA were measured using in situ hybridization. [3H]8-OH-DPAT and [125I]cyanopindolol autoradiography were used to measure 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B binding. Our results show that after fluoxetine injections serotonin levels were approximately 150% higher than at baseline. Twelve days later, pre-injection 5-HT extracellular concentration was substantially higher than on day 1. In contrast, serotonin levels following DBS were only 50% higher than at baseline. While pre-stimulation 5-HT on day 12 was significantly higher than on treatment day 1, no stimulation-induced 5-HT peak was recorded. SERT expression in the dorsal raphe was increased after acute fluoxetine and decreased following a single day of DBS. Neither fluoxetine nor DBS administered acutely substantially changed 5-HT1A or 5-HT1B binding. Chronic fluoxetine treatment, however, was associated with a decrease in [3H]8-OH-DPAT prefrontal cortex and hippocampus expression. In contrast, chronic DBS induced a significant increase in [125I]cyanopindolol binding in the prefrontal cortex, globus pallidus, substantia nigra and raphe nuclei. mRNA expression of 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B in raphe nuclei was not altered by either treatment. These results suggest that fluoxetine and DBS modulate activity of the serotonergic system but likely exert their effects through different mechanisms.

Pharmacological Analysis and Structure Determination of 7-Methylcyanopindolol-Bound ß1-Adrenergic Receptor.

Comparisons between structures of the ß1-adrenergic receptor (AR) bound to either agonists, partial agonists, or weak partial agonists led to the proposal that rotamer changes of Ser(5.46), coupled to a contraction of the binding pocket, are sufficient to increase the probability of receptor activation. (RS)-4-[3-(tert-butylamino)-2-hydroxypropoxy]-1H-indole-2-carbonitrile (cyanopindolol) is a weak partial agonist of ß1AR and, based on the hypothesis above, we predicted that the addition of a methyl group to form 4-[(2S)-3-(tert-butylamino)-2-hydroxypropoxy]-7-methyl-1H-indole-2-carbonitrile (7-methylcyanopindolol) would dramatically reduce its efficacy. An eight-step synthesis of 7-methylcyanopindolol was developed and its pharmacology was analyzed. 7-Methylcyanopindolol bound with similar affinity to cyanopindolol to both ß1AR and ß2AR. As predicted, the efficacy of 7-methylcyanopindolol was reduced significantly compared with cyanopindolol, acting as a very weak partial agonist of turkey ß1AR and an inverse agonist of human ß2AR. The structure of 7-methylcyanopindolol-bound ß1AR was determined to 2.4-Å resolution and found to be virtually identical to the structure of cyanopindolol-bound ß1AR. The major differences in the orthosteric binding pocket are that it has expanded by 0.3 Å in 7-methylcyanopindolol-bound ß1AR and the hydroxyl group of Ser(5.46) is positioned 0.8 Å further from the ligand, with respect to the position of the Ser(5.46) side chain in cyanopindolol-bound ß1AR. Thus, the molecular basis for the reduction in efficacy of 7-methylcyanopindolol compared with cyanopindolol may be regarded as the opposite of the mechanism proposed for the increase in efficacy of agonists compared with antagonists.

The 2.1 Å resolution structure of cyanopindolol-bound ß1-adrenoceptor identifies an intramembrane Na+ ion that stabilises the ligand-free receptor.

The ß1-adrenoceptor (ß1AR) is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that is activated by the endogenous agonists adrenaline and noradrenaline. We have determined the structure of an ultra-thermostable ß1AR mutant bound to the weak partial agonist cyanopindolol to 2.1 Å resolution. High-quality crystals (100 µm plates) were grown in lipidic cubic phase without the assistance of a T4 lysozyme or BRIL fusion in cytoplasmic loop 3, which is commonly employed for GPCR crystallisation. An intramembrane Na+ ion was identified co-ordinated to Asp872.50, Ser1283.39 and 3 water molecules, which is part of a more extensive network of water molecules in a cavity formed between transmembrane helices 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7. Remarkably, this water network and Na+ ion is highly conserved between ß1AR and the adenosine A2A receptor (rmsd of 0.3 Å), despite an overall rmsd of 2.4 Å for all Cα atoms and only 23% amino acid identity in the transmembrane regions. The affinity of agonist binding and nanobody Nb80 binding to ß1AR is unaffected by Na+ ions, but the stability of the receptor is decreased by 7.5°C in the absence of Na+. Mutation of amino acid side chains that are involved in the co-ordination of either Na+ or water molecules in the network decreases the stability of ß1AR by 5-10°C. The data suggest that the intramembrane Na+ and associated water network stabilise the ligand-free state of ß1AR, but still permits the receptor to form the activated state which involves the collapse of the Na+ binding pocket on agonist binding.

Structural basis for molecular recognition at serotonin receptors.

Serotonin or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) regulates a wide spectrum of human physiology through the 5-HT receptor family. We report the crystal structures of the human 5-HT1B G protein-coupled receptor bound to the agonist antimigraine medications ergotamine and dihydroergotamine. The structures reveal similar binding modes for these ligands, which occupy the orthosteric pocket and an extended binding pocket close to the extracellular loops. The orthosteric pocket is formed by residues conserved in the 5-HT receptor family, clarifying the family-wide agonist activity of 5-HT. Compared with the structure of the 5-HT2B receptor, the 5-HT1B receptor displays a 3 angstrom outward shift at the extracellular end of helix V, resulting in a more open extended pocket that explains subtype selectivity. Together with docking and mutagenesis studies, these structures provide a comprehensive structural basis for understanding receptor-ligand interactions and designing subtype-selective serotonergic drugs.

Presynaptic selectivity of a ligand for serotonin 1A receptors revealed by in vivo PET assays of rat brain.

A novel investigational antidepressant with high affinity for the serotonin transporter and the serotonin 1A (5-HT(1A)) receptor, called Wf-516 (structural formula: (2S)-1-[4-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-3-[2-(5-methyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)benzo[b]furan-4-yloxy]propan-2-ol monohydrochloride), has been found to exert a rapid therapeutic effect, although the mechanistic basis for this potential advantage remains undetermined. We comparatively investigated the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of Wf-516 and pindolol by positron emission tomographic (PET) and autoradiographic assays of rat brains in order to elucidate their molecular interactions with presynaptic and postsynaptic 5-HT(1A) receptors. In contrast to the full receptor occupancy by pindolol in PET measurements, the binding of Wf-516 to 5-HT(1A) receptors displayed limited capacity, with relatively high receptor occupancy being achieved in regions predominantly containing presynaptic receptors. This selectivity was further proven by PET scans of neurotoxicant-treated rats deficient in presynaptic 5-HT(1A) receptors. In addition, [(35)S]guanosine 5'-O-[γ-thio]triphosphate autoradiography indicated a partial agonistic ability of Wf-516 for 5-HT(1A) receptors. This finding has lent support to reports that diverse partial agonists for 5-HT(1A) receptors exert high sensitivity for presynaptic components. Thus, the present PET data suggest a relatively high capacity of presynaptic binding sites for partial agonists. Since our in vitro and ex vivo autoradiographies failed to illustrate these distinct features of Wf-516, in vivo PET imaging is considered to be, thus far, the sole method capable of pharmacokinetically demonstrating the unique actions of Wf-516 and similar new-generation antidepressants.

Kinetic capillary electrophoresis with mass-spectrometry detection (KCE-MS) facilitates label-free solution-based kinetic analysis of protein-small molecule binding.

Tandem tracker: Here we introduce a method for studying the kinetics of protein-small-molecule interactions based on kinetic capillary electrophoresis (KCE) separation and MS detection. Due to the variety of KCE methods and MS modes available, the KCE-MS tandem is a highly versatile platform for label-free, solution-based kinetic studies of affinity interactions.

Engineering an ultra-thermostable ß(1)-adrenoceptor.

Conformational thermostabilisation of G-protein-coupled receptors is a successful strategy for their structure determination. The thermostable mutants tolerate short-chain detergents, such as octylglucoside and nonylglucoside, which are ideal for crystallography, and in addition, the receptors are preferentially in a single conformational state. The first thermostabilised receptor to have its structure determined was the ß(1)-adrenoceptor mutant ß(1)AR-m23 bound to the antagonist cyanopindolol, and recently, additional structures have been determined with agonist bound. Here, we describe further stabilisation of ß(1)AR-m23 by the addition of three thermostabilising mutations (I129V, D322K, and Y343L) to make a mutant receptor that is 31 °C more thermostable than the wild-type receptor in dodecylmaltoside and is 13 °C more thermostable than ß(1)AR-m23 in nonylglucoside. Although a number of thermostabilisation methods were tried, including rational design of disulfide bonds and engineered zinc bridges, the two most successful strategies to improve the thermostability of ß(1)AR-m23 were an engineered salt bridge and leucine scanning mutagenesis. The three additional thermostabilising mutations did not significantly affect the pharmacological properties of ß(1)AR-m23, but the new mutant receptor was significantly more stable in short-chain detergents such as heptylthioglucoside and denaturing detergents such as SDS.

Influence of beta2-adrenoceptor gene polymorphisms on beta2-adrenoceptor expression in human lung.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to establish whether polymorphisms, especially those within the promoter region, of the beta(2)-adrenoceptor gene (ADRB2) influence beta(2)-adrenoceptor expression in human lung. METHODS: The density of beta-adrenoceptors in human lung tissue (n=88) was determined by saturation binding using the radioligand, iodinated cyanopindolol. Discrimination of beta(1)- and beta(2)-adrenoceptors was determined using the highly selective beta(1)-adrenoceptor antagonist, CGP20712A. Genotype was determined at 5 positions of ADRB2 previously reported as polymorphic. Potential influences of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the promoter region (-367, -47) and coding block (46, 79, 491) of ADRB2 on beta(2)-adrenoceptor expression were investigated. RESULTS: The density of beta(2)-adrenoceptors was variable among the 88 lung preparations studied ranging from 17 to 177fmol/mg protein (mean+/-S.E.M., 72+/-4fmol/mg protein). There was no influence of genotype on beta(2)-adrenoceptor expression for any of the polymorphisms studied except at position 491. The polymorphism at position 491C>T, leading to a change from thr to ile at amino acid 164, is uncommon. Preparations genotyped as heterozygous (126+/-15fmol/mg protein; n=5) expressed significantly (P=0.0005) higher levels of beta(2)-adrenoceptor than those that were homozygous (69+/-4fmol/mg protein; n=83). CONCLUSION: With the exception of position 491, these data indicate that polymorphisms of ADRB2 do not influence beta(2)-adrenoceptor expression in human lung.

Cell-based beta2-adrenergic receptor-ligand binding assay using synthesized europium-labeled ligands and time-resolved fluorescence.

High-sensitivity, high-throughput, and user-friendly lanthanide-based assays for receptor-ligand interactions provide an attractive alternative to the traditional radioligand displacement assays. In this study, three small-molecule pindolol ligand derivatives were synthesized and their binding properties were tested in a radioligand displacement assay. The ligand derivatives were further labeled with fluorescent europium(III) chelate for beta(2)-adrenergic receptor-ligand binding assay. The europium-labeled pindolol ligands having no spacer (C0) or a 12-carbon spacer (C12) arm bound to the human beta(2)-adrenergic receptors overexpressed in human embryonic kidney HEK293(i) cells. Europium ligand with a 6-carbon spacer arm (C6) showed no binding. Competitive binding assays were developed with the functional labeled ligands. The IC(50) values for beta(2)-adrenergic antagonist propranolol were 60 and 37 nM, the Z' values were 0.51 and 0.77, and the signal-to-background ratios were 5.5 and 16.0 for C0 and C12, respectively. This study shows that functional time-resolved fluorescent assays can be constructed using fluorescent lanthanide chelates conjugated to small-molecule ligands.

Structure of a beta1-adrenergic G-protein-coupled receptor.

G-protein-coupled receptors have a major role in transmembrane signalling in most eukaryotes and many are important drug targets. Here we report the 2.7 A resolution crystal structure of a beta(1)-adrenergic receptor in complex with the high-affinity antagonist cyanopindolol. The modified turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) receptor was selected to be in its antagonist conformation and its thermostability improved by earlier limited mutagenesis. The ligand-binding pocket comprises 15 side chains from amino acid residues in 4 transmembrane alpha-helices and extracellular loop 2. This loop defines the entrance of the ligand-binding pocket and is stabilized by two disulphide bonds and a sodium ion. Binding of cyanopindolol to the beta(1)-adrenergic receptor and binding of carazolol to the beta(2)-adrenergic receptor involve similar interactions. A short well-defined helix in cytoplasmic loop 2, not observed in either rhodopsin or the beta(2)-adrenergic receptor, directly interacts by means of a tyrosine with the highly conserved DRY motif at the end of helix 3 that is essential for receptor activation.

Analysis of brain adrenergic receptors in dopamine-beta-hydroxylase knockout mice.

The biosynthesis of norepinephrine occurs through a multi-enzymatic pathway that includes the enzyme dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH). Mice with a homozygous deletion of DBH (Dbh-/-) have a selective and complete absence of norepinephrine. The purpose of this study was to assess the expression of alpha-1, alpha-2 and beta adrenergic receptors (alpha1-AR, alpha2-AR and beta-AR) in the postnatal absence of norepinephrine by comparing noradrenergic receptors in Dbh-/- mice with those in Dbh heterozygotes (Dbh+/-), which have normal levels of norepinephrine throughout life. The densities of alpha1-AR, alpha2-AR and beta-AR were assayed with [3H]prazosin, [3H]RX21002 and [125I]-iodo-pindolol autoradiography, respectively. The alpha2-AR agonist high affinity state was examined with [125I]-para-iodoclonidine autoradiography and alpha2-AR functionality by alpha2-AR agonist-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS autoradiography. The density of alpha1-AR in Dbh-/- mice was similar to Dbh+/- mice in most brain regions, with an up-regulation in the hippocampus. Modest decreases in alpha2-AR were found in septum, hippocampus and amygdala, but these were not reflected in alpha2-AR functionality. The density of beta-AR was up-regulated to varying degrees in many brain regions of Dbh-/- mice compared to the heterozygotes. These findings indicate that regulation of noradrenergic receptors by endogenous norepinephrine depends on receptor type and neuroanatomical region.

Pindolol is a potent scavenger of reactive nitrogen species.

Pindolol is an indolic drug that has been shown to enhance and/or accelerate selective serotonin specific reuptake inhibitors (SSRI)-induced antidepressant (AD) effect, even though the respective mechanism is still unclear. It has been demonstrated that inhibition of nitric oxide (*NO) synthesis in CNS produces anxiolytic and AD-like behavioural effects in a variety of animal paradigms. On the other hand, sustained high levels of *NO may be deleterious to CNS, predominantly due to the formation of peroxynitrite anion (ONOO-), which is generated via reaction of *NO with superoxide radical (O2*-). Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to characterize the putative pindolol scavenging effect on *NO, ONOO-, and O2*-, using in vitro non-cellular systems. The obtained results clearly show that pindolol is a potent scavenger of *NO (IC50 of 449+/-33 microM) and ONOO- (IC50 of 131+/-24 microM). Additionally, the scavenging effect of pindolol increased almost 8 times in the presence of 25 mM NaHCO3 (IC50 of 17+/-3 microM), which indicates that pindolol efficiently scavenges reactive species that are produced from the ONOO-/CO2 reaction such as the nitrogen dioxide radical (*NO2) and the carbonate radical anion (CO3*-). These effects may contribute for the reduction of SSRI antidepressant latency that has been attributed to pindolol and may also constitute an additional value for this drug when depression is associated with pro-oxidant neurodegenerative diseases.

HPLC and solubility study of the interaction between pindolol and cyclodextrins.

The complexation with beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) has been investigated using reversed-phase liquid chromatography. The compounds tested have been pindolol and, for comparison purposes, indole and 4-methoxyindole. The retention behaviour has been analysed on a Kromasil 100 C18 column and the mobile phase used was methanol-pH 6 phosphate buffer (15/85v/v) in which beta-CD was incorporated as a mobile phase additive. The decrease in the retention times with increasing concentrations of beta-CD enables the determination of the apparent stability constants of the complexes. In addition, the low solubility of pindolol, a weak base, in pH 12 aqueous solution has been improved by complexation with different cyclodextrins. The solubility enhancements with 1.4 x 10(-2) M beta-, hydroxypropyl-beta, and gamma-CD have been 1.9, 1.8 and 1.4-fold, respectively, with 2.4 x 10(-2) M methyl-beta-CD it was 2.8-fold whilst no effect was observed with alpha-CD. The stability constants of the complexes at pH 12 have been determined from the solubility isotherms.

Evidence for pleiotropic signaling at the mouse beta3-adrenoceptor revealed by SR59230A [3-(2-Ethylphenoxy)-1-[(1,S)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronapth-1-ylamino]-2S-2-propanol oxalate].

This study examines the action of the beta(3)-adrenoceptor antagonist SR59230A [3-(2-ethylphenoxy)-1-[(1,S)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronapth-1-ylamino]-2S-2-propanoloxalate] at cloned mouse beta(3)-adrenoceptors expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO-K1-beta(3)) or endogenously expressed in 3T3-F442A adipocytes or ileum. SR59230A displayed partial agonist properties compared with the beta(3)-adrenoceptor agonist CL316243 [(R,R)-5-[2-[[2-(3-chlorophenyl)-2-hydroxyethyl]-amino]-propyl]1,3-benzodioxole-2,2-dicarboxylate] in CHO-K1-beta(3) with the intrinsic activity increasing with the level of receptor expression. Functional affinity values for SR59230A at each level of receptor expression were in agreement with pK(I) values determined by binding. In cytosensor microphysiometer studies, SR59230A was a full agonist for increases in extracellular acidification rates (ECARs) at all levels of receptor expression, and antagonist actions were measurable only in medium- or low-expressing cells. In 3T3-F442A adipocytes, SR59230A antagonized CL316243-mediated increases of cAMP and had no agonist actions. However, in the cytosensor micro-physiometer, SR59230A (acting via beta(3)-adrenoceptors) was an agonist with an intrinsic activity greater than CL316243. In mouse ileum, SR59230A relaxed smooth muscle, although concentration-response curves were biphasic. Relaxant effects were produced by concentrations that did not affect cAMP levels. Differences in tissue responses to SR59230A were not caused by major differences in expression of Galphas. ECAR responses were not affected by pretreatment of cells with pertussis toxin, indicating that signaling did not involve Gi. Therefore, SR59230A displays agonist and antagonist actions at the mouse beta(3)-adrenoceptor. Because SR59230A only antagonized accumulation of cAMP in 3T3-F442A adipocytes yet in the same cells was an agonist for ECAR, cAMP-independent signaling pathways must mediate part of the agonist actions in the microphysiometer.

Functional responses of human beta1 adrenoceptors with defined haplotypes for the common 389R>G and 49S>G polymorphisms.

OBJECTIVES: The human beta1-adrenoceptor (beta1-AR) is an important therapeutic target for cardiovascular diseases and has two common functional polymorphisms (49S>G and 389R>G). These polymorphisms have only been studied in isolation, however, and not in the context of the four haplotypes (SR, SG, GR and GG) that exist in native beta1-ARs. METHODS: To address this, the function of each of the receptor haplotypes was studied in HEK 293 cells stably transfected with appropriately modified human beta1-adrenoceptor cDNA sequence. RESULTS: The affinity for the beta-adrenoceptor ligand, [125I]-cyanopindolol, was not significantly different across the haplotypes, but a high affinity state for the beta1-AR could only be demonstrated for receptors carrying the 389R substitution. Both basal (GR 36.3 +/- 2.9* vs. SR 16.5 0 +/- 3.6 and GG 31.7 +/- 1.4* vs. SG 15.6 +/- 1.5 pmol/mg protein; *P < 0.001) and maximal (GR 163 +/- 7.6 vs. SR 124 +/- 8.1* and GG 75.0 +/- 1.0 vs. SG 52.4 +/- 1.1* pmol/mg protein; *P < 0.001) isoprenaline-evoked cAMP production was significantly affected by both substitutions. Incubation with isoprenaline (10 microm for 30 min or 20 h) caused increased down-regulation of beta1-ARs in cells expressing GG and GR haplotypes (at 20 h percentage fall respectively -28.1 +/- 5.2 and -38.2 +/- 3.0). CONCLUSIONS: These data highlight important functional differences between the common beta1-AR haplotypes and the need for consideration of haplotypes and not individual genotypes in determining the in-vivo role of these polymorphisms within this important drug target.

Site-directed mutagenesis of the rat beta1-adrenoceptor. Involvement of Tyr356 (7.43) in (+/-)cyanopindolol but not (+/-)[125Iodo]cyanopindolol binding.

To determine the role played by Tyr(356 (7.43)) in the rat beta(1)-adrenoceptor in binding the antagonists (+/-)cyanopindolol (4-[3-(t-butylamino]-3-(2'-cyano-indoloxy)-2-propanolol) and its iodinated analogue (+/-)[(125)Iodo]cyanopindolol (1-(t-butylamino]-3-(2'-cyano-3'-iodo-indoloxy)-2-propanolol), Tyr(356 (7.43)) was mutated to either Phe or Ala and binding affinities determined for wild type and mutant rat beta(1)-adrenoceptors. Our results indicate that Tyr(356 (7.43)) is important for (+/-)cyanopindolol, but not (+/-)[(125)Iodo]cyanopindolol, binding and that (+/-)cyanopindolol adopts a "reverse" binding orientation whereas (+/-)[(125)Iodo]cyanopindolol cannot be accommodated in this binding mode. We define a "reverse" antagonist binding mode as one where the aryloxy moiety interacts with residues on transmembrane helices 1, 2, 3 and 7. The beta(1)-adrenoceptor site-directed mutagenesis results are the first to support a "reverse" antagonist binding orientation and the involvement of Tyr(356 (7.43)) in this binding mode.

Spin trapping study of reactive oxygen species formation during bopindolol peroxidation.

The generation of singlet molecular oxygen ((1)O(2)) and hydroxyl radicals (HO*) during peroxidation of bopindolol in the presence of Co(II) ions was studied using electron spin resonance (ESR) and spectrophotometry methods. 2,2,6,6-Tetramethyl-4-piperidone and 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-1-oxide were used as traps. The spectrophotometry determination of (1)O(2) was based on bleaching of p-nitrosodimethylaniline (RNO), which was caused by the product of the reaction of (1)O(2) with imidazole and was followed by monitoring the decrease in optical density at 440 nm. The effect of (1)O(2) quenchers and oxygen free radical scavengers on the ESR signal and the bleaching of RNO was studied. The data presented here give new evidence for generation of the reactive oxygen species during peroxidation of bopindolol.

Altered expression of autonomic neurotransmitter receptors and proliferative responses in lymphocytes from a chronic mild stress model of depression: effects of fluoxetine.

We studied beta-adrenergic and muscarinic cholinergic receptor (MR) expression and proliferative response in lymphocytes from animals under chronic mild stress (CMS) model of depression (CMS animals). Animals were subjected to CMS (periods of food or water deprivation, changes in lighting conditions, tilted cage, etc.) for 12 weeks. CMS lymphocytes showed an altered mitogen-induced proliferation. CMS-B and -T lymphocytes showed an increment on beta-adrenoceptor number and on intracellular responses to a beta-agonist. CMS-T cells showed higher MR expression and lower cGMP responses than normal lymphocytes. MR were not detectable in normal B cells while CMS-B cells showed both MR expression and cGMP response. Beta and muscarinic stimulation influenced lymphocyte proliferative responses, in accordance with cAMP and cGMP responses. After 12 weeks of the CMS procedure, animals were treated with fluoxetine while the CMS procedure continued. Fluoxetine treatment reverted the alterations induced by CMS. These findings suggest a possible mechanism for the immune alterations found in depressive disorders and for the effect of fluoxetine treatment on immune response.

Regional changes in density of serotonin transporter in the brain of 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B knockout mice, and of serotonin innervation in the 5-HT1B knockout.

5-HT1A knockout (KO) mice display an anxious-like phenotype, whereas 5-HT1B KOs are over-aggressive. To identify serotoninergic correlates of these altered behaviors, autoradiographic measurements of 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B serotonin (5-HT) receptors and transporter (5-HTT) were obtained using the radioligands [3H]8-OH-DPAT, [125I]cyanopindolol and [3H]citalopram, respectively. By comparison to wild-type, density of 5-HT1B receptors was unchanged throughout brain in 5-HT1A KOs, and that of 5-HT1A receptors in 5-HT1B KOs. In contrast, decreases in density of 5-HTT binding were measured in several brain regions of both genotypes. Moreover, 5-HTT binding density was significantly increased in the amygdalo-hippocampal nucleus and ventral hippocampus of the 5-HT1B KOs. Measurements of 5-HT axon length and number of axon varicosities by quantitative 5-HT immunocytochemistry revealed proportional increases in the density of 5-HT innervation in these two regions of 5-HT1B KOs, whereas none of the decreases in 5-HTT binding sites were associated with any such changes. Several conclusions could be drawn from these results: (i) 5-HT1B receptors do not adapt in 5-HT1A KOs, nor do 5-HT1A receptors in 5-HT1B KOs. (ii) 5-HTT is down-regulated in several brain regions of 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B KO mice. (iii) This down-regulation could contribute to the anxious-like phenotype of the 5-HT1A KOs, by reducing 5-HT clearance in several territories of 5-HT innervation. (iv) The 5-HT hyperinnervation in the amygdalo-hippocampal nucleus and ventral hippocampus of 5-HT1B KOs could play a role in their increased aggressiveness, and might also explain their better performance in some cognitive tests. (v) These increases in density of 5-HT innervation provide the first evidence for a negative control of 5-HT neuron growth mediated by 5-HT1B receptors.