diprenorphine and Glioma

Acute mu opioid application has been shown to activate extracellular signal-related kinases (ERKs) in various non-neural cell lines. However, ERK activation in neuronal cells following acute morphine treatment is more questionable. Moreover, the ERK activation phenomenon observed in vivo after withdrawal of chronic opioids has never been demonstrated in vitro. The goal of this study was to determine if mu agonist treatment induced ERK activation acutely or after withdrawal of chronic opioids in one glial and three neuronal cell lines. We found that acute application of opioids was not able to activate ERK in neuronal cell lines but was able to activate ERK in a glial cell line. In another set of experiments, cells were chronically treated with escalating doses of a mu opioid agonist. After 8 days, the agonist was removed from the media and naloxone applied. Acute ERK activation was not seen in any tested cell line after agonist removal. These findings suggest that opioids may acutely activate ERK in non-neuronal cells, and that the acute ERK activation observed in some brain regions during opioid withdrawal in vivo might be mediated by indirect effects on neuronal cells.

Topics: Animals; Blotting, Western; Cell Line, Tumor; Diprenorphine; Drug Administration Schedule; Enzyme Activation; Fentanyl; Glioma; Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate); Humans; Ligands; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Narcotics; Neuroblastoma; Neuroglia; Neurons; Radioligand Assay; Rats; Time Factors

The influence of membrane microviscosity on mu-opioid agonist and antagonist binding, as well as agonist efficacy, was examined in membranes prepared from SH-SY5Y cells and from a C6 glioma cell line stably expressing the rat mu-opioid receptor (C6mu). Addition of cholesteryl hemisuccinate (CHS) to cell membranes increased membrane microviscosity and reduced the inhibitory effect of sodium and guanine nucleotides on the affinity of the full agonists sufentanil and [D-Ala2,N-MePhe4,Gly-ol5]enkephalin (DAMGO) for the mu-opioid receptor. Binding of the antagonists [3H]naltrexone and [3H]diprenorphine and the partial agonist nalbuphine was unaffected by CHS. The effect of CHS on agonist binding was reversed by subsequent addition of cis-vaccenic acid, suggesting that the effect of CHS is the result of increased membrane microviscosity and not a specific sterol-receptor interaction. CHS addition increased the potency of DAMGO to stimulate guanosine-5'-O-(3-[35S]thio)triphosphate binding by fourfold, whereas the potency of nalbuphine was unaffected. However, nalbuphine efficacy relative to that of the full agonist DAMGO was strongly increased in CHS-treated membranes compared with that in control membranes. Membrane rigidification also resulted in an increased efficacy for the partial agonists meperidine, profadol, and butorphanol relative to that of DAMGO as measured by agonist-stimulated GTPase activity in control and CHS-modified membranes. These findings support a regulatory role for membrane microviscosity in receptor-mediated G protein activation.

Topics: Animals; Cell Line; Cell Membrane; Cholesterol Esters; Diprenorphine; Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; Enkephalins; Glioma; Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate); Membrane Fluidity; Nalbuphine; Naltrexone; Narcotic Antagonists; Narcotics; Neuroblastoma; Protein Conformation; Rats; Receptors, Opioid, mu; Sodium Chloride; Sufentanil; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Viscosity

The wild-type delta opioid receptor (DOR) and a carboxyl terminus-truncated mutant DOR lacking the last 31 amino acids (DOR-T) were expressed in neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid NG108-15 cells to investigate the role of the carboxyl terminus of DOR in agonist-dependent receptor phosphorylation. Stimulation of the cells with delta specific agonists significantly induced DOR phosphorylation whereas no phosphorylation of DOR-T was detected under the same conditions. Neither overexpression of G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRK2 or GRK5) nor activation of protein kinase C promoted agonist-induced phosphorylation of DOR-T, in contrast to their strong stimulatory effect on the agonist-dependent phosphorylation of DOR. Furthermore, DOR-T failed to be internalized after agonist stimulation, probably due to its inability to be phosphorylated. Our results indicate that the carboxyl terminus of DOR is required for agonist-dependent receptor phosphorylation and the phosphorylation site(s) of DOR is likely located at its carboxyl terminus.

Topics: Animals; Diprenorphine; Epitopes; Glioma; Mice; Neuroblastoma; Opioid Peptides; Phosphorylation; Protein Kinase C; Rats; Receptors, Opioid, delta; Transfection; Tumor Cells, Cultured

gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and morphine induce a number of similar effects. Moreover, the effects they elicit can be reversed by the opiate antagonist naloxone (NX), suggesting that GHB may produce at least some of its central effects by acting as an opiate agonist. The present study considered this possibility by examining the effect of GHB on mu, delta, and kappa-opioid receptor binding in concentrations of 1 nM-0.1 mM. GHB was inactive in each instance, at every dose examined. GHB is consequently not a direct opiate receptor agonist. It is also unlikely to be an indirect (enkephalin or dynorphin release-stimulating) agonist. The mechanism of action involved whereby NX can reverse the effects of GHB must therefore not involve opioid mechanisms; at least not directly.

Topics: Adjuvants, Anesthesia; Analgesics; Animals; Diprenorphine; Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; Enkephalins; Etorphine; Glioma; Guinea Pigs; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Narcotics; Neuroblastoma; Receptors, Opioid; Receptors, Opioid, delta; Receptors, Opioid, kappa; Receptors, Opioid, mu; Sodium Oxybate; Tritium; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Evidence is presented for occurrence of opiate alkaloid-selective, opioid-peptide-insensitive receptor binding sites, labeled with [3H]morphine, in primary cultures of cat microglia and cat astrocytes, as well as on highly purified preparations of rat Kupffer cells. These receptors have been designated mu3 on the basis of their close similarity to receptors first found to be present on human peripheral blood monocytes. Exposure of the microglia to morphine and etorphine caused marked quantifiable changes in cellular morphology, including assumption of a more rounded shape and retraction of cytoplasmic processes; in contrast, several opioid peptides were without effect on morphology. The effects of morphine on microglial morphology were blocked by the opiate antagonist naloxone. These effects of drugs on morphology were as predicted for action via the mu3 receptor. Opiate alkaloid binding sites previously detected on the rat C6 glioma cell line were also characterized here as of the mu3 receptor subtype. It is proposed that mu3 receptors have broad distribution in different macrophage cell types of bone marrow lineage, including microglia and Kupffer cells. Furthermore, these receptors are not restricted to cells of bone marrow lineage, since they are also present on astrocytes.

Topics: Alkaloids; Animals; Astrocytes; Binding Sites; Cats; Cells, Cultured; Diprenorphine; Glioma; Kupffer Cells; Microglia; Morphine; Rats; Receptors, Opioid, mu; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Polyclonal antibodies were raised against a purified opioid receptor from bovine brain (Cho, et. al., 1986), and shown to inhibit 3H-diprenorphine binding to this receptor in a dose-dependent fashion. These antibodies were then used to characterize opioid-binding material present in rat brain and in NG108-15 neuroblastoma-glioma hybrid cells. Western blot analysis revealed that the antibodies reacted with a single species of 58,000 molecular weight in rat brain membranes; this closely corresponds in size to the bovine opioid receptor used to raise the antibodies. In contrast, the polyclonal antibodies reacted with a 45,000 molecular weight species in NG108-15 neuroblastoma-glioma hybrid cells; moreover, this band was specifically reduced in NG108-15 cells in which opioid receptors had been down-regulated by incubation with D-ala2-D-leu5-enkephalin for 24 hours. Thus at least two distinct opioid receptor molecules have been identified, which have antigenic similarities.

Topics: Animals; Antibodies; Antibody Specificity; Brain Chemistry; Cattle; Cell Membrane; Diprenorphine; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Glioma; Hybrid Cells; Immunization; Immunosorbent Techniques; Neuroblastoma; Rabbits; Rats; Receptors, Opioid

Opioid receptor activity in neuroblastoma x glioma NG108-15 hybrid cell membranes was attenuated by acid phosphatase purified by high performance liquid chromatography and devoid of protease activity. Treatment of membranes with this phosphatase decreased opioid inhibition of adenylate cyclase and this effect was potentiated by the presence of the opioid agonist during the phosphatase treatment. Phosphatase treatment did not affect the number of opioid receptors but it did alter the distribution of receptors among affinity states, by increasing the percentage of receptors in the low affinity state. The similarities between these effects and desensitization of the opioid receptor, during chronic opioid treatment, are discussed.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Animals; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cyclic AMP; Diprenorphine; Enkephalin, Leucine; Enkephalin, Leucine-2-Alanine; Etorphine; Glioma; Guanfacine; Guanidines; Hybrid Cells; Neuroblastoma; Phenylacetates; Receptors, Opioid

Ethanol inhibits opioid peptide binding to the delta-opioid receptor. When neuroblastoma x glioma NG108-15 hybrid cells are grown with 25-200 mM ethanol, opioid receptor density increases up to 2-fold without a change in receptor affinity. Since changes in neurotransmitter receptor density may be important in neuronal adaptations to ethanol, we investigated the underlying mechanisms and functional consequences of this phenomenon. The opiate antagonist, naloxone, also increased opioid receptor number, but produced a smaller effect than ethanol with greater fractional inhibition of binding; long term enhancement of binding by ethanol is therefore not a simple function of acute receptor inhibition. Ethanol did not inhibit receptor down-regulation by etorphine, an opiate agonist, and therefore is not likely to increase receptor expression through interference with tonic down-regulation by endogenous opioid peptides. Ethanol increased opioid receptor expression in NG108-15 cells treated with actinomycin D, but not cycloheximide; hence, normal protein synthesis, but not DNA transcription, may be required for this response. The opioid receptors induced in ethanol-treated cells were subject to normal up-regulation by naloxone, down-regulation by etorphine, and acute inhibition of agonist binding by Na+. Etorphine maximally inhibits cyclic AMP accumulation in NG108-15 cells with only fractional occupancy of opioid receptors. Chronic ethanol exposure increased the receptor reserve for this response, resulting in a 3.5-fold increase in the potency of etorphine for inhibiting phenylisopropyladenosine-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation. Neuronal adaptation to ethanol may involve changes in the density of receptors that regulate cellular levels of cyclic AMP.

Topics: Cell Line; Cyclic AMP; Cycloheximide; Dactinomycin; Diprenorphine; DNA; Enkephalin, Leucine; Enkephalin, Leucine-2-Alanine; Ethanol; Etorphine; Glioma; Hybridomas; Naloxone; Neuroblastoma; Phenylisopropyladenosine; Receptors, Opioid; Receptors, Opioid, delta; Sodium; Transcription, Genetic

A subclone of NG108-15 neuroblastoma-glioma hybrid cells was used to study the intracellular distribution of opioid receptors. Subcellular organelles were separated on self-generating Percoll-sucrose gradients and the enzymes beta-glucuronidase, galactosyltransferase, 5'-nucleotidase, and glucose-6-phosphatase were used as markers to localize the various structures. Analysis of the receptor distribution from untreated cells shows that the plasma membranes contained the highest receptor density, but a significant portion of the opioid binding sites was unevenly distributed between the lysosomes, microsomes, and Golgi elements. The enzyme markers indicated that appearance of opioid receptors in these intracellular structures does not result merely from contamination with plasma membranes. About 11% of the receptors appeared in a fraction lighter than plasma membranes. The antilysosomal agent chloroquine altered the intracellular compartmentation of the receptors, possibly by blocking their translocation in the cells. Leu-enkephalin induced time-dependent loss of receptors from all four intracellular compartments examined, but a kinetic analysis showed that the rate of receptor loss in these fractions was not identical. Thus, the percent of receptors appearing in the lysosomal fraction that could still bind [3H]D-Ala2-D-Leu5-enkephalin in vitro was increased on treatment with Leu-enkephalin. As an additional approach to follow the intracellular fate of the receptors, cells were labeled with [3H]diprenorphine, chased with various unlabeled opiates, and the distribution of 3H-ligand-receptors in the cells was monitored. Leu-enkephalin and etorphine altered the distribution of receptor-bound [3H]diprenorphine between the plasma membranes, lysosomes, and Golgi elements, whereas morphine had no such effect. The study sheds light on the role of intracellular structures in the metabolism of opioid receptors in untreated and opioid-treated cells.

Topics: Animals; Cell Line; Cell Membrane; Centrifugation, Density Gradient; Chloroquine; Diprenorphine; Enkephalin, Leucine; Enkephalin, Leucine-2-Alanine; Etorphine; Glioma; Golgi Apparatus; Kinetics; Lysosomes; Microsomes; Neuroblastoma; Receptors, Opioid

The molecular mechanism of opiate receptor down-regulation and desensitization was investigated by studying the effects of cycloheximide and tunicamycin on opiate receptor activities in neuroblastoma X glioma NG108-15 hybrid cells. Cycloheximide inhibited [35S]methionine and [3H]-glucosamine incorporation by hybrid cells, while tunicamycin inhibited [3H]glucosamine incorporation only. Exposing hybrid cells to these two agents did not alter the viability of the cell. Treatment of NG108-15 cells with cycloheximide or tunicamycin produced a decrease in [3H]diprenorphine binding dependent on both time and concentrations of inhibitors, with no measurable modification in the ability of etorphine to regulate intracellular cyclic AMP production. Cycloheximide attenuated [3H]-diprenorphine binding by decreasing both the number of sites, Bmax, and the affinity of the receptor, Kd. Tunicamycin treatment produced a decrease in Bmax with no apparent alteration in Kd values. Cycloheximide and tunicamycin did not potentiate the rate or magnitude of etorphine-induced down-regulation or desensitization of opiate receptor in NG108-15 cells. Furthermore, there was an apparent antagonism in cycloheximide action on receptor down-regulation. The reappearance of opiate binding sites after agonist removal was affected by these two inhibitors. Cycloheximide and tunicamycin eliminated the increase in [3H]diprenorphine binding in the chronic etorphine-treated cells after agonist removal. These two inhibitors did not alter the resensitization of hybrid cells to etorphine. Thus, the site of opiate agonist action to induce receptor down-regulation and desensitization is not at the site of protein synthesis or protein glycosylation. These data substantiate previously reported observations that receptor down-regulation and receptor desensitization are two different cellular adaptation processes.

Topics: Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors; Cyclic AMP; Cycloheximide; Diprenorphine; Etorphine; Glioma; Glucosamine; Humans; Hybrid Cells; Neuroblastoma; Proteins; Receptors, Opioid; Tritium; Tunicamycin

The existence of multiple affinity states for the opiate receptor in neuroblastoma x glioma NG108-15 hybrid cells has been demonstrated by competition binding studies with tritiated diprenorphine and [D-Ala2, D-Leu5]enkephalin (DADLE). In the presence of 10 mM Mg2+, all receptors exist in a high affinity state with Kd = 1.88 +/- 0.16 nM. Addition of 10 microM guanyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate (Gpp(NH)p) decreased the affinity of DADLE to Kd = 8.08 +/- 0.93 nM. However, in the presence of 100 mM Na+, which is required for opiate inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity, analysis of competition binding data revealed three sites: the first, consisting of 17.5% of total receptor population has a Kd = 0.38 +/- 0.18 nM; the second, 50.6% of the population, has a Kd = 6.8 +/- 2.2 nM; and the third, 31.9% of the population, has a Kd of 410 +/- 110 nM. Thus, in the presence of sodium, a high affinity complex between receptor (R), GTP binding component (Ni), and ligand (L) was formed which was different from that formed in the absence of sodium. These multiple affinity states of receptor in the hybrid cells are agonist-specific, and the percentage of total opiate receptor in high affinity state is relatively constant in various concentrations of Na+. Multiple affinity states of opiate receptor can be demonstrated further by Scatchard analysis of saturation binding studies with [3H]DADLE. In the presence of Mg2+, or Gpp(NH)p, analysis of [3H]DADLE binding demonstrates that opiate receptor can exist in a single affinity state, with apparent Kd values of [3H]DADLE in 10 mM Mg2+ = 1.75 +/- 0.28 nM and in 10 microM Gpp(NH)p = 0.85 +/- 0.12 nM. There is a reduction of Bmax value from 0.19 +/- 0.02 nM in the presence of Mg2+ to 0.14 +/- 0.03 nM in the presence of Gpp(NH)p. In the presence of 100 mM Na+, Scatchard analysis of saturation binding of [3H]DADLE reveals nonlinear plots; two-site analysis of the curves yields Kd = 0.43 +/- 0.09 and 7.9 +/- 3.2 nM. These Kd values are analogous to that obtained with competition binding studies. Again, this conversion of single site binding Scatchard plots to multiple sites binding plots in the presence of Na+ is restricted to 3H-agonist binding only.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Topics: Animals; Binding, Competitive; Cell Line; Diprenorphine; Enkephalin, Leucine; Enkephalin, Leucine-2-Alanine; Glioma; Guanylyl Imidodiphosphate; Hybrid Cells; Kinetics; Magnesium; Neuroblastoma; Receptors, Opioid; Sodium

Opioid receptor binding and opioid-mediated inhibition of cAMP accumulation were studied simultaneously in intact NG108-15 cells. The dose-response curves for the biological response were suggestive of positive cooperativity and systematically occurred at lower ligand concentrations than those for the binding of [3H] [D-Ala2, D-Leu5]enkephalin (DADLE), which were instead shallow and suggestive of a site heterogeneity or of a cooperative phenomenon. Computer modeling of the binding isotherms revealed that the data are best described assuming two binding sites with different affinities for the agonist; the mean ratio between the DADLE concentrations yielding half-maximal occupancy of the high affinity site and half-maximal response was 1.5, but it was 36 when the fractional occupancy of the sum of the two sites was considered. On examining several opioids, no direct correlation was found between high affinity site and biological response; however, several agonists displayed different affinities for the two sites, while the antagonist naloxone and the partial agonist diprenorphine bound to them with identical affinities. Furthermore, naloxone exhibited a good agreement between half-maximal receptor occupancy and Ki in blocking the agonist response. Thus, the binding heterogeneity detectable in intact cells is agonist-specific, and suggests rather that the sites are states of an identical receptor population. When [3H]diprenorphine was used to label the opioid receptors, the competition curves for DADLE were consistent with the existence of an additional, very low affinity state undetectable by direct binding with labeled agonist and, again, not discriminated by naloxone. Multiple affinity states of the opioid receptor in intact cells may reflect its interaction with the effector system in the plasma membrane.

Topics: Adenylyl Cyclases; Animals; Cell Line; Cyclic AMP; Diprenorphine; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Enkephalin, Leucine; Enkephalin, Leucine-2-Alanine; Etorphine; Glioma; Hybrid Cells; Kinetics; Ligands; Morphine; Naloxone; Neuroblastoma; Neurons; Receptors, Opioid; Receptors, Opioid, delta

Pretreatment of intact NG108-15 cells with pertussis toxin suppresses opioid inhibition of cyclic AMP accumulation mediated by the inhibitory guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory protein, Ni, which apparently also mediates the inhibitory nucleotide effects on opioid against binding. The toxin treatment had no effect on opioid agonist binding measured in NG108-15 cell membranes without sodium present. However, the toxin potentiated the inhibitory effect of sodium on agonist binding, leading to an agonist-specific reduction of opioid receptor affinity in the presence of sodium in the binding reaction. The potency of the stable GTP analog, GTP gamma S, to reduce agonist binding in the presence of sodium was little changed in membranes prepared from pertussis toxin-treated cells compared to control membranes, whereas the potency of the stable GDP analog, GDP beta S, was magnified. The data indicate that ADP-ribosylation of Ni by pertussis toxin potentiates sodium regulation of opioid agonist binding and that the communication between Ni and opioid receptors is not lost by the covalent modification of Ni.

Topics: Animals; Bacterial Toxins; Cell Line; Diprenorphine; Enkephalin, Leucine; Enkephalin, Leucine-2-Alanine; Glioma; Guanine Nucleotides; Hybrid Cells; Mice; Morphinans; Neuroblastoma; Pertussis Toxin; Rats; Receptors, Opioid; Sodium; Virulence Factors, Bordetella

Topics: Chromatography, Affinity; Diprenorphine; Glioma; Hybrid Cells; Naloxone; Neuroblastoma; Neurons; Receptors, Opioid

Topics: Adenylyl Cyclases; Binding, Competitive; Cyclic AMP; Diprenorphine; Endorphins; Glioma; Humans; Hybrid Cells; Kinetics; Narcotics; Neuroblastoma; Receptors, Opioid

Treatment of NG108-15 cells with 1 nM or 10 nM etorphine for 24 hr produced an identical magnitude of compensatory increase in prostaglandin E1-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. Activity of etorphine was retained, albeit reduced, in NG108-15 cells treated with 1 nM etorphine but not in cells treated with 10 nM etorphine. Exposure to 100 microM morphine for 72 hr produced a complete loss of morphine and levorphanol but not Leu5-enkephalin activity in NG108-15 hybrid cells. Apparently, the loss of opiate activity involves a multiple-step process. Short-term incubation with 10 nM etorphine (less than 3 hr) produced loss of opiate activity with minimal alteration in [3H]diprenorphine specific binding. Long-term exposure to 10 nM etorphine (greater than or equal to 24 hr) produced down-regulation of the receptor. A mechanism similar to that of beta-adrenergic receptor desensitization may be involved in opiate receptor desensitization in NG108-15 cells.

Topics: Adenylyl Cyclases; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Diprenorphine; Glioma; Humans; Hybrid Cells; Kinetics; Morphine; Narcotics; Neoplasms, Experimental; Neuroblastoma; Receptors, Opioid

The guanine nucleotides GDP, GTP, and guanosine-5'-(beta, gamma-imido)triphosphate inhibit binding of opiates and opioid peptides to receptors solubilized from membranes of neuroblastoma X glioma NG108-15 hybrid cells. The inhibition reflects decreased affinity of receptors for opioid ligands. Whereas in membranes, only opioid agonist binding is sensitive to guanine nucleotide inhibition, both agonist and antagonist binding is reduced in the case of soluble receptors. Furthermore, soluble receptors are more sensitive to the effects of guanine nucleotides than are membrane-bound receptors. These observations are consistent with the suggestion that solubilized receptors may be complexes of an opiate binding protein and a guanine nucleotide-sensitive regulatory component.

Topics: Animals; Cell Line; Cell Membrane; Diprenorphine; Etorphine; Glioma; Guanine Nucleotides; Guanosine Diphosphate; Guanosine Triphosphate; Guanylyl Imidodiphosphate; Hybrid Cells; Kinetics; Mice; Morphinans; Neuroblastoma; Rats; Receptors, Opioid