u-50488 and Neuroblastoma

The selective kappa-opioid agonist trans-(+/-)-3, 4-dichloro-N-methyl-N-[2-(1-pyrrolidinyl) cyclohexyl] benzenacetamidemethansulfonate (U50,488) potentiates both basal and depolarization-evoked [3H]dopamine release from NMB cells. The potentiation of dopamine release by U50,488 is mediated by N-type voltage-dependent calcium channels since it is blocked by omega-conotoxin, and is resistant to pertussis toxin (PTX)-treatment. When the stimulation of release by U50,488 is blocked by the N-channel antagonist omega-conotoxin, an inhibitory effect on dopamine release is revealed, suggesting that stimulatory and inhibitory effects of U50,488 are exerted in parallel.

Topics: 3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer; Analgesics; Calcium Channel Blockers; Calcium Channels, N-Type; Dopamine; Enkephalin, D-Penicillamine (2,5)-; Enkephalin, Leucine; Humans; Neuroblastoma; omega-Conotoxins; Pertussis Toxin; Potassium Cyanide; Receptors, Opioid, kappa; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Virulence Factors, Bordetella

In this work, we have characterized the opioid receptor expressed by the human neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-BE and compared its hydrodynamic behaviour with those of well known opioid receptors: mu-opioid receptor of rabbit cerebellum and delta-opioid receptor of the hybrid cell line NG 108-15. Human neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-BE expresses a substantial amount of opioid receptors (200-300 fmoles/mg of protein). Pharmacological characterization suggests an heterogenous population of receptors and the presence of two delta subtypes which are, at least partially, negatively coupled with adenylate cyclase via a Gi protein. These receptors exist under two different molecular forms and, in this respect, strikingly contrast with the archetypic delta receptors of NG 108-15 hybrid cell line which show only a high molecular weight form and appear more tightly coupled with the G protein. Hydrodynamic behaviour of SK-N-BE opioid receptors is reminiscent of the profile observed with the rabbit cerebellum mu-opioid receptor. This observation is consistent with the presence of two delta-opioid receptors subtypes, one of which exhibiting properties close to those of mu opioid receptors. Taken overall, our results suggest that different types and subtypes of opioid receptors, even if they are coupled to the same inhibitory G protein, are more or less tightly coupled with their transduction proteins and that closely related opioid receptors can form allosterically interacting complexes.

Topics: 3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer; Adenylyl Cyclases; Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Binding, Competitive; Cerebellum; Colforsin; Diprenorphine; Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; Enkephalin, D-Penicillamine (2,5)-; Enkephalins; Etorphine; GTP-Binding Proteins; Guinea Pigs; Humans; Hybrid Cells; Molecular Sequence Data; Morphine; Naloxone; Neoplasm Proteins; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Neuroblastoma; Oligopeptides; Pyrrolidines; Rabbits; Receptors, Opioid; Receptors, Opioid, delta; Receptors, Opioid, mu; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Opioids elicit an increase in the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid NG108-15 cells, which, depending upon growth conditions, results from either Ca2+ influx in differentiated cells or Ca2+ release from internal stores in undifferentiated cells (Jin et al., 1992). In this report we describe fura-2-based digital imaging studies that demonstrate that opioid-evoked Ca2+ release in these cells results from the activation of phospholipase C (PLC) and subsequent mobilization of the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3)-sensitive store. D-Ala2-D-Leu5-enkephalin (DA-DLE) evoked concentration-dependent increases in [Ca2+]i (EC50 approximately equal to 4 nM). The response was blocked by naloxone (1 microM). In single cells, sequential application of selective opioid agonists (10 nM) evoked responses of the rank order DADLE = D-Pen2, D-Pen5-enkephalin (DPDPE) > trans-(+/-) 3,4-dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-[1- pyrrolidinyl]cyclohexyl) benzeneacetamide (U50488) > D-ala2, N-Me-Phe4, Gly5-ol-enkephalin (DAMGO), consistent with activation of a delta-opioid receptor. Forty percent (n = 198) of the cells responded to 100 nM DADLE with a net [Ca2+]i increase of 483 +/- 40 nM. Bradykinin (100 nM) elicited a response in 91% of the cells with a mean net amplitude of 707 +/- 36 nM. The DADLE-evoked responses were not blocked by removal of extracellular Ca2+; instead, they were abolished by treatment with 10 nM thapsigargin, an agent that depletes and prevents refilling of IP3-sensitive Ca2+ stores. A 1 microM concentration of U73122, an aminosteroid inhibitor of PLC, completely blocked the DADLE-evoked [Ca2+]i increase, while an inactive analog, U73433, was without effect. To explore the possible role of G-proteins in mediating opioid-induced [Ca2+]i increases in NG108-15 cells, we pretreated cells with pertussis or cholera toxin; pertussis toxin blocked the opioid-induced response while cholera toxin was without effect, consistent with a Gi- or Go-mediated effect. Activation of the opioid inhibitory pathway previously described for these cells appears to stimulate the phosphoinositide (PI) cascade as well. Including the PI cascade among the multiple second messenger systems modulated by opioids may be key to understanding the biochemical events that underlie acute and chronic opioid action.

Topics: 3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer; Analgesics; Animals; Calcium; Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; Enkephalin, D-Penicillamine (2,5)-; Enkephalin, Leucine-2-Alanine; Enkephalins; Fluorescent Dyes; Fura-2; Glioma; Hybrid Cells; Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate; Kinetics; Mice; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Naloxone; Narcotics; Neuroblastoma; Pyrrolidines; Rats; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Human neuroblastoma cells were tested for the presence of opioid receptors. [3H]Diprenorphine binds to NMB cell membranes with a KD value of 0.46 +/- 0.13 nM and Bmax of 534 +/- 22 fmol/mg protein. The presence of mu, delta, and kappa opioid receptors was tested by displacing [3H]diprenorphine specific binding by the selective agonists DAMGO, DPDPE, and U50,488H, respectively. Using this procedure, the data suggest that the NMB neuroblastoma cells express the three opioid receptor types with the abundance of delta receptors (about 60%) and minor, yet substantial populations of mu and kappa receptors (about 20% each).

Topics: 3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer; Analgesics; Binding, Competitive; Diprenorphine; Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; Enkephalin, D-Penicillamine (2,5)-; Enkephalins; Humans; Kinetics; Neuroblastoma; Pyrrolidines; Receptors, Opioid; Receptors, Opioid, delta; Receptors, Opioid, kappa; Receptors, Opioid, mu; Sensitivity and Specificity; Tritium; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells, which contain both mu- and delta-opioid receptors, were grown under conditions that provided a mu:delta ratio of 1.5:1. Both receptors were down-regulated after 72 hr of exposure to 100 nM etorphine. Selective down-regulation was demonstrated using selective opioid agonists; the mu agonist Tyr-D-Ala2-Gly-(Me)Phe4-Gly-ol down-regulated mu- but not delta-opioid receptors, whereas prolonged exposure to the selective delta agonist D-Pen2,D-Pen5-enkephalin resulted in delta- but not mu-opioid receptor down-regulation. Morphine, which binds mu- as well as delta-opioid receptors, down-regulated both receptor subtypes. NG108-15 cells, which contain delta receptors exclusively, were also tested. NG108-15 cells did not exhibit delta-opioid receptor down-regulation when exposed to morphine. The discrepancy between the effect of chronic morphine treatment on delta receptors in SK-N-SH cells and in NG108-15 cells raised the question of whether the coexistence of mu receptors in the former allowed morphine to down-regulate delta receptors. The role of mu-opioid receptors in morphine-induced delta receptor down-regulation was studied by using the irreversible mu antagonist beta-funaltrexamine. Pretreatment of SK-N-SH cells with beta-funaltrexamine prevented down-regulation of delta receptors in response to chronic exposure to morphine but did not affect down-regulation of delta receptors in response to D-Pen2,D-Pen5-enkephalin. The experimental data indicate that morphine-induced delta-opioid receptor down-regulation is dependent on the presence of functional mu receptors in the same cell.

Topics: 3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer; Analgesics; Down-Regulation; Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; Enkephalin, D-Penicillamine (2,5)-; Enkephalins; Humans; Morphine; Naltrexone; Neuroblastoma; Pyrrolidines; Receptors, Opioid, delta; Receptors, Opioid, mu; Tumor Cells, Cultured

The intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) was measured in single NG108-15 cells using indo-1-based microfluorimetry. In cells differentiated for 6-14 days in serum-free, forskolin (5 microM)-supplemented medium, application of micromolar concentrations of [D-Ala2,D-Leu5]-enkephalin (DADLE) inhibited Ca2+ influx mediated by voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. DADLE, at concentrations ranging from 1 nM to 1 microM, also produced rapid transient increases in [Ca2+]i (EC50 = 10 nM). The [Ca2+]i increases elicited by DADLE did not correlate with the inhibitory effects of the peptide. DADLE-induced [Ca2+]i increases were blocked by naloxone. In single cells, sequential application of selective opioid agonists (30 nM) evoked responses of the rank order DADLE = [D-Pen2,D-Pen5]-enkephalin > (trans)-(+-)-3,4-dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-[1-pyrrolidinyl]cyclohexyl) benzeneacetamide > [D-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4,Gly5-ol]-enkephalin, consistent with activation of a delta-opioid receptor. The response was completely blocked by removal of extracellular Ca2+ or application of 1 microM nitrendipine, indicating that the increase in [Ca2+]i results from Ca2+ influx via dihydropyridine-sensitive, voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. Substitution of N-methyl-D-glucamine for extracellular Na+ or application of 1 microM tetrodotoxin greatly reduced, and in some cases blocked, the DADLE-induced [Ca2+]i increase, consistent with amplification of the response by voltage-gated Na+ channels. The [Ca2+]i increase was mimicked by both dibutyryl-cAMP and phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate. These findings are consistent with a delta-opioid-induced depolarization, possibly mediated by a second messenger, that subsequently recruits voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels. In contrast to differentiated cells, undifferentiated cells responded to DADLE with a modest [Ca2+]i increase that was not sensitive to nitrendipine. In these cells, activation of the same second messenger system may elevate [Ca2+]i by mobilization from intracellular stores rather than influx. In addition to previously described inhibitory coupling to adenylyl cyclase and Ca2+ channels in NG108-15 cells, these results suggest that a novel, excitatory, effector system may also couple to opioid receptors.

Topics: 3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer; Bucladesine; Calcium; Calcium Channels; Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; Enkephalin, D-Penicillamine (2,5)-; Enkephalin, Leucine-2-Alanine; Enkephalins; Glioma; Hybrid Cells; Ion Channel Gating; Narcotics; Neuroblastoma; Phorbol 12,13-Dibutyrate; Pyrrolidines; Receptors, Opioid, delta; Tumor Cells, Cultured