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Vol. 54, Issue 6, 1064-1072, December 1998
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia 30912-2300
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Summary |
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Top
Summary
Introduction
Materials & Methods
Results
Discussion
References
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The CB1 cannabinoid receptor antagonist SR 141716A abolished the inhibition of Ca2+ currents by the agonist WIN 55,212-2. However, SR 141716A alone increased Ca2+ currents, with an EC50 of 32 nM, in neurons that had been microinjected with CB1 cRNA. For an antagonist to elicit an effect, some receptors must be tonically active. Evidence for tonically active CB1 receptors was seen as enhanced tonic inhibition of Ca2+ currents. Preincubation with anandamide failed to enhance the effect of SR 141716A, indicating that anandamide did not cause receptor activity. Under Ca2+-free conditions designed to block the Ca2+-dependent formation of anandamide and sn-2-arachidonylglycerol, SR 141716A again increased the Ca2+ current. The Ca2+ current was tonically inhibited in neurons expressing the mutant K192A receptor, which has no affinity for anandamide, demonstrating that this receptor is also tonically active. SR 141716A had no effect on the Ca2+ current in these neurons, but SR 141716A could still antagonize the effect of WIN 55,212-2. Thus, the K192 site is critical for the inverse agonist activity of SR 141716A. SR 141716A appeared to become a neutral antagonist at the K192A mutant receptor. Native cannabinoid receptors were studied in male rat major pelvic ganglion neurons, where it was found that WIN 55,212-2 inhibited and SR 141716A increased Ca2+ currents. Taken together, our results demonstrate that a population of native and cloned CB1 cannabinoid receptors can exist in a tonically active state that can be reversed by SR 141716A, which acts as an inverse agonist.
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Introduction |
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Top
Summary
Introduction
Materials & Methods
Results
Discussion
References
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Cannabinoids
produce a wide range of effects, including analgesia, alterations in
cognition and memory, and regulation of endocrine and immune functions.
Two subtypes of cannabinoid receptors have been cloned, namely the
central nervous system cannabinoid receptor (CB1) and the peripheral
cannabinoid receptor (CB2), and both are members of the G
protein-coupled receptor family (Howlett, 1995
). The discovery of the
selective CB1 cannabinoid receptor antagonist SR 141716A
[N-piperidino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-methyl-3-pyrazolecarboxamide hydrochloride] has provided a useful tool for studying the
physiological properties of the cannabinoid receptor (Rinaldi-Carmona
et al., 1994; Pertwee et al., 1995). The present
study was designed to test whether SR 141716A would antagonize the
ability of the CB1 cannabinoid receptor to inhibit neuronal
Ca2+ channels (Pan et al., 1996;
Twitchell et al., 1997). Here we report that SR 141716A
antagonized the Ca2+ current inhibition induced
by the cannabinoid agonist WIN 55,212-2 [(R)-(+)-[2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-[(morpholinyl)methyl]pyrrolo[1,2,3-de]-1,4-benzoxazin-yl]-(1-naphthalenyl)methanone mesylate] in neurons heterologously expressing either rat or human CB1
receptors and, when applied alone, it increased the
Ca2+ current via a PTX-sensitive pathway. To
determine whether the enhancement of the Ca2+
current also occurred with native cannabinoid receptors, we studied neurons of the male rat major pelvic ganglion. We found that WIN 55,212-2 inhibited and SR 141716A increased the
Ca2+ currents in a subpopulation of sympathetic
neurons from the rat major pelvic ganglion (Zhu et al.,
1995) that natively express cannabinoid receptors.
The experiments reported here with cloned rat CB1, hCB1, and native cannabinoid receptors demonstrate that the cannabinoid receptor can exist in a tonically active state. To determine whether tonic receptor activity is a spontaneous property of the cannabinoid receptor or the result of stimulation by an endogenous agonist, experiments were designed to block the formation of endogenous agonists and to enhance the concentration of an endogenous agonist. The results of these experiments suggest that endogenous agonists are not responsible for tonic receptor activity and that the cannabinoid receptor can spontaneously adopt an active conformational state in the absence of agonists.
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Materials and Methods |
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Summary
Introduction
Materials & Methods
Results
Discussion
References
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Single-neuron preparation.
Single SCG neurons were
dissociated from adult rats using methods previously described (Pan
et al., 1996), with modified Earle's balanced salt solution
containing 0.9 mg/ml collagenase (type D), 0.3 mg/ml trypsin (from
bovine pancreas, lot 13596225-85) (both from Boehringer Mannheim
Biochemicals), and 0.1 mg/ml DNase (type I; Sigma). Male rat major
pelvic ganglion neurons were dissociated using methods previously
described (Zhu et al., 1995), with modified Earle's
balanced salt solution containing 0.9 mg/ml collagenase (type D), 0.1 mg/ml trypsin, and 0.1 mg/ml DNase (type I).
Molecular biological procedures.
The rat brain cannabinoid
receptor cDNA was kindly provided by Dr. Tom I. Bonner (Laboratory of
Cell Biology, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD). The
SKR6 rat CB1 cDNA (5.7 kilobases) contained ~4100 bases of 3'
untranslated sequence. Another clone, SKR14, contained an incomplete
but identical coding sequence with a 3' untranslated sequence that was
~2900 bases shorter than that of SKR6 (Matsuda et al.,
1990). The SKR6 rat CB1 cDNA received from Dr. Bonner was truncated at
the alternative polyadenylation site of SKR14 by making a chimera of
the SKR6 and SKR14 cDNAs and was inserted into the pSP72 vector.
Small-scale preparation of plasmid DNA was accomplished using a
mini-prep kit (Qiagen). Plasmid DNA was linearized with
BamHI (New England Biolabs). Run-off cRNA transcription was
accomplished using the MEGAscript SP6 kit (Ambion), with the addition
of m7G(5')ppp(5')G, as previously described (Pan
et al., 1996). The cRNA was stored in RNase-free water at
80°. Metabotropic glutamate receptor mGluR2 cRNA was prepared as
previously described (Ikeda et al., 1995).
). The hCB1 and K192A cannabinoid
receptors were subcloned into pCI (Promega, Madison, WI) between the
MluI and XbaI restriction sites.
Microinjection.
Microinjection of CB1 cRNA into SCG neurons
was performed with an Eppendorf 5242 microinjector and 5171 micromanipulator system, as previously described (Ikeda et
al., 1995; Pan et al., 1996). RNA was mixed with 0.1%
fluorescein dextran (10,000 molecular weight; Molecular Probes) to give
a final injection concentration of 1.5-2.0 µg/µl, and injections
were confirmed by observing the cells for fluorescence (Nikon B2A
filter). The concentration of mGluR2 cRNA in the injection pipette was
3.0 µg/µl. Microinjection of hCB1 and K192A receptor cDNA into the
nucleus of SCG neurons was accomplished using techniques previously
described (Ikeda, 1996). The plasmid containing the receptor cDNA was
diluted with water to a final injection concentration of approximately
0.1 µg/µl. To identify neurons that were successfully
intranuclearly injected, the cDNA for the S65T mutant of the jellyfish
GFP (Heim et al., 1995) subcloned into pCI was coinjected
with the receptor cDNA. Alternatively, neurons were coinjected with a
commercial plasmid (pEGFP-N1; Clontech, Palo Alto, CA) containing a
red-shifted variant of GFP. Successful injections were confirmed by
observing the cells for GFP fluorescence.
Electrophysiological recording and data analysis.
Ca2+ currents from rat SCG neurons were recorded
at room temperature (22-26°), 16-25 hr after injection, using the
whole-cell variant of the patch-clamp technique (Hamill et
al., 1981), with an Axopatch-1D patch-clamp amplifier (Axon
Instruments). Patch electrode pipettes were pulled from borosilicate
glass capillaries (Corning 7052; Garner Glass Co.) on a P-87
Flaming-Brown micropipette puller (Sutter Instrument Co.). The patch
electrodes were coated with Sylgard 184 (Dow Corning) and fire-polished
on a microforge (Narishige). The pipette resistances ranged from 2 to 4 M
when the pipettes were filled with the internal
solution described below. The cell membrane capacitance and series
resistance were electronically compensated to >80%. The whole-cell
currents were low-pass filtered at 2-5 kHz (3 dB) using the
four-pole Bessel filter of the clamp amplifier.
Ca2+ currents from major pelvic ganglion neurons
were recorded within 24 hr after plating, using similar techniques.
80 mV and were digitized at
200 µsec/point. Results are presented as mean ± standard error
where appropriate. Statistical significance was determined by unpaired
Student's t test or by analysis of variance as needed. The
differences were considered significant at p < 0.05.
Solutions. To isolate Ca2+ currents for whole-cell recordings, cells were bathed in an external solution that contained 140 mM tetraethylammonium methanesulfonate, 10 mM HEPES, 15 mM glucose, 10 mM CaCl2, and 0.0001 mM tetrodotoxin (Calbiochem Corp.), pH 7.4 (adjusted with methanesulfonic acid). The intracellular solution for Ca2+ current recordings consisted of 120 mM N-methyl-D-glucamine, 20 mM tetraethylammonium chloride, 10 mM HEPES, 11 mM EGTA, 1 mM CaCl2, 4 mM MgATP, 0.1 mM Na2GTP, and 14 mM phosphocreatine, pH 7.2 (adjusted with methanesulfonic acid).
To record Ba2+ currents, cells were bathed in an external solution that contained 150 mM tetraethylammonium chloride, 5 mM BaCl2, 10 mM HEPES, 0.1 mM EGTA, 30 mM glucose, and 15 mM sucrose, pH 7.4 (adjusted with tetraethylammonium hydroxide). The intracellular solution for recording the Ba2+ current consisted of 120 mM N-methyl-D-glucamine, 20 mM tetraethylammonium chloride, 10 mM HEPES, 10 mM BAPTA, 4.5 mM MgCl2, 4 mM MgATP, 0.3 mM Na2GTP, 14 mM phosphocreatine, and 0.0001 mM tetrodotoxin, pH 7.2 (adjusted with HCl and tetraethylammonium hydroxide). Drug solutions were applied to single neurons that were patched from a macropipette (10-15-µm tip diameter, type N51A glass; Garner Glass Co.) lowered into the bath. Drug application was terminated by removing the macropipette from the bath, which was superfused with external solution at a rate of approximately 1 ml/min. All compounds were diluted into the external solution from concentrated stock solutions, to their final concentrations, just before use. Stock solutions of 10 mM WIN 55,212-2 mesylate (Research Biochemicals International) and SR 141716A (Sanofi Recherche) were prepared in dimethylsulfoxide. Stock solutions of 10 mM anandamide (Biomol Research Laboratories) were prepared in ethanol. Final concentrations of dimethylsulfoxide or ethanol were <0.01%, which had no effect on the Ca2+ current. Bovine serum albumin (3 µM, fatty acid-free; Sigma) was added to all solutions to prevent nonspecific binding. All stock solutions were stored at20°. In experiments with PTX (List Biological
Laboratories), neurons were incubated overnight with 500 ng/ml PTX
after cRNA injection. In experiments with Gpp(NH)p (Sigma), Gpp(NH)p
was added to the internal solution to a final concentration of 500 µM.
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Results |
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Top
Summary
Introduction
Materials & Methods
Results
Discussion
References
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Antagonist effect of SR 141716A on the inhibition of the
Ca2+ current by the cannabinoid receptor agonist WIN
55,212-2 in SCG neurons microinjected with rat CB1 cannabinoid
receptor cRNA.
Whole-cell Ca2+
currents were recorded from SCG neurons that had been microinjected
with rat CB1 cannabinoid receptor cRNA. As we showed previously (Pan
et al., 1996), the cannabinoid receptor agonist WIN
55,212-2 inhibited the Ca2+ current in SCG
neurons injected with CB1 receptor cRNA. Fig. 1A illustrates the time course of the
effect of WIN 55,212-2 on the Ca2+ current.
Ca2+ currents were elicited by 70-msec
depolarizing voltage steps to +5 mV from a holding potential of 80
mV, every 10 sec, in a SCG neuron that had been previously injected
with CB1 cRNA. Application of 0.1 µM WIN 55,212-2
decreased the Ca2+ current amplitude (Fig.
1A). The current slowly recovered after washout of the drug, to
an amplitude greater than that observed before the application of WIN
55,212-2. Application of 0.1 µM SR 141716A alone
slightly increased the Ca2+ current amplitude
(Fig. 1A). Subsequent application of 0.1 µM WIN 55,212-2
together with 0.1 µM SR 141716A had no effect on the Ca2+ current amplitude. To test whether the
effect of SR 141716A was reversible, WIN 55,212-2 was applied again
after a 5-min washout of SR 141716A. WIN 55,212-2 had no effect on the
Ca2+ current, indicating that the effect of SR
141716A was not reversible over this time course, which is in agreement
with its long duration of action (Rinaldi-Carmona et al.,
1994). SR 141716A significantly inhibited the effect of 0.1 µM WIN 55,212-2. WIN 55,212-2 (0.1 µM)
decreased the Ca2+ current 48.4 ± 4.9%
(n = 5) in the absence of SR 141716A but only 3.5 ± 1.4% (n = 5) in the presence of 0.1 µM SR 141716A (Fig. 1B). The reduction in the response to
WIN 55,212-2 could be the result of desensitization in response to
repeated applications of WIN 55,212-2. However, control experiments
with successive applications of WIN 55,212-2 showed little
desensitization. Fig. 1C shows an experiment in which three
applications of WIN 55,212-2 all inhibited the
Ca2+ current. Therefore, the effect of SR 141716A
is to antagonize the effect of WIN 55,212-2.
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SR 141716A reversal of enhanced tonic inhibition of the
Ca2+ current in neurons expressing the CB1 cannabinoid
receptor.
Ca2+ currents were elicited by a
double-pulse protocol in a SCG neuron injected with rat CB1 receptor
cRNA. The double-pulse protocol consisted of two 25-msec steps to +5
mV. The first step to +5 mV elicited the control
Ca2+ current. The second step to +5 mV was
preceded by a 50-msec step to +80 mV (Fig.
2A, inset). The current
elicited by the second voltage step was facilitated, compared with the
control current elicited by the first voltage step (Fig. 2A).
Application of 0.1 µM SR 141716A alone increased the
control Ca2+ current amplitude while having a
minimal effect on the facilitated Ca2+ current
amplitude. The difference between the amplitudes of the control current
and the facilitated current was greatly reduced after SR 141716A
application. SR 141716A (0.1 µM) increased the control
Ca2+ current 32.9 ± 2.9% in neurons
injected with rat CB1 receptor cRNA (n = 10) (Fig. 2B).
In contrast, SR 141716A changed the Ca2+ current
by only 0.95 ± 0.9% in uninjected neurons (n = 5) (Fig. 2B). This indicates that the effect of SR 141716A is mediated by the CB1 cannabinoid receptor. To further test the idea that the
enhancement of the Ca2+ current by SR 141716A is
mediated through a G protein-coupled receptor, SCG neurons injected
with rat CB1 receptor cRNA were pretreated overnight with 500 ng/ml
PTX. PTX pretreatment completely abolished the enhancement of the
Ca2+ current by SR 141716A (n = 5, 0.76 ± 1.0%) (Fig. 2B). To determine whether the effect of SR
141716A was specific for the CB1 cannabinoid receptor, another
PTX-sensitive G protein-coupled receptor, the mGluR2 metabotropic
glutamate receptor, was heterologously expressed in SCG neurons by
microinjection of mGluR2 cRNA. Expression of mGluR2 receptors was
determined by Ca2+ current inhibition in response
to application of glutamate, as previously reported (Ikeda et
al., 1995). SR 141716A had no effect in neurons expressing the
mGluR2 receptors (n = 5, 0.27 ± 0.9%) (Fig. 2B).
These results demonstrate that the effect of SR 141716A was specific
for the CB1 cannabinoid receptor and was mediated through a
PTX-sensitive G protein.
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; Ikeda, 1991; Ehrlich and Elmslie, 1995).
Because the depolarizing voltage step relieves most of the inhibition of the N-type Ca2+ current in SCG neurons
(Ikeda, 1991), the ratio of the facilitated current (elicited after the
prepulse to +80 mV) to the control current (elicited without a
prepulse) increases with the magnitude of tonic
Ca2+ current inhibition (Ehrlich and Elmslie,
1995). The facilitated/control Ca2+ current ratio
in uninjected SCG neurons was 1.17 ± 0.01 (n = 11), but the ratio was significantly increased to 1.51 ± 0.05 (n = 25) in neurons microinjected with CB1 cRNA (Fig. 3B).
The facilitation ratio in SCG neurons heterologously expressing the mGluR2 receptor was 1.14 ± 0.05 (n = 5) (Fig.
3B), similar to that in uninjected SCG neurons. Thus, in SCG neurons
expressing the CB1 cannabinoid receptor, there was enhanced tonic
inhibition of the Ca2+ current. This increase in
the facilitation ratio in neurons injected with CB1 cRNA was abolished
by overnight pretreatment of the neurons with PTX (n = 9, 1.16 ± 0.02) (Fig. 3B). These results suggest that the
enhanced facilitation ratio is specific for expression of CB1
cannabinoid receptors and is mediated by a population of active
receptors coupled to PTX-sensitive G proteins. To test whether the
effect of SR 141716A resulted from enhanced facilitation, uninjected
neurons were recorded with a patch pipette containing 500 µM Gpp(NH)p, a nonhydrolyzable analogue of GTP. Although
Gpp(NH)p enhanced the facilitation ratio in uninjected neurons
(n = 5, 2.55 ± 0.15) (Fig. 3B), SR 141716A had no
effect on the Ca2+ current (n = 5, 1.2 ± 0.8%) (Fig. 2B).
Modulation of Ca2+ current by cannabinoids in male rat
pelvic ganglion neurons.
To determine whether the enhancement of
the voltage-dependent Ca2+ current by SR 141716A
occurred with native cannabinoid receptors, we examined the effect of
SR 141716A in male rat major pelvic ganglion neurons. The rat major
pelvic ganglia consist of both sympathetic and parasympathetic
postganglionic neurons (Dail, 1992). Electrical stimulation of
sympathetic nerve terminals has been shown to evoke a contractile
response in the vas deferens (Stjärne and Åstrand, 1985). This
contractile response has been shown to be inhibited by cannabinoids by
inhibition of norepinephrine and ATP release from sympathetic nerve
terminals (Stjärne and Åstrand, 1985; Pacheco et al.,
1991; Pertwee et al., 1992; Pertwee and Griffin, 1995; Ishac
et al., 1996). These results suggest that sympathetic
neurons of male major pelvic ganglia might express native cannabinoid
receptors coupled to N-type Ca2+ channels.
Therefore, we sought to study the sympathetic neurons from the male
major pelvic ganglia. To identify the sympathetic neurons of the male
major pelvic ganglia, we took advantage of a study by Zhu et
al. (1995), who found that all neurons from the major pelvic
ganglia that express a low-threshold, T-type Ca2+
current are tyrosine hydroxylase-immunopositive sympathetic neurons. Thus, sympathetic neurons of the male rat major pelvic ganglia could be
easily identified by the presence of the low-threshold, T-type
Ca2+ current. Current-voltage curves were
elicited either by voltage steps from 100 to +80 mV from a holding
potential of 80 mV or by 160-msec voltage ramps from 100 to +80 mV.
Neurons with T-type Ca2+ currents were identified
by the presence of low-threshold currents (Fig.
4A, inset). Neurons identified
as having low-threshold, T-type Ca2+ currents
were then stimulated by the double-pulse protocol to elicit
high-threshold Ca2+ currents. Application of 1 µM WIN 55,212-2 reversibly inhibited the high-threshold
Ca2+ current (Fig. 4A). In 6 of 23 pelvic
ganglion neurons with low-threshold, T-type Ca2+
currents, 1 µM WIN 55,212-2 inhibited the high-threshold
Ca2+ current 26.1 ± 1.8%
(n = 6) (Fig. 4C). Application of 1 µM SR 141716A enhanced the control Ca2+ current
amplitude but had little effect on the facilitated
Ca2+ current, as illustrated in another pelvic
ganglion neuron recorded with the double-pulse protocol (Fig. 4B). The
difference between the control and facilitated current amplitudes was
reduced after SR 141716A application. In 5 of 20 pelvic ganglion
neurons with low-threshold, T-type Ca2+ currents,
SR 141716A (1 µM) increased the high-threshold
Ca2+ current 27.4 ± 6.9%
(n = 5) (Fig. 4C). These results indicate that
sympathetic neurons of the rat major pelvic ganglia have native
cannabinoid receptors that can modulate voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels in a manner similar to that of the
cloned rat brain CB1 cannabinoid receptor heterologously expressed in
SCG neurons.
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Experiments with the mutant K192A hCB1 receptor.
Tonic
inhibition of the Ca2+ current by the CB1
cannabinoid receptor expressed in rat SCG neurons could be the result
of activation of the CB1 receptor by endogenous ligands such as
anandamide (Devane et al., 1992). Mutation of lysine to
alanine at position 192 (K192A) in the third transmembrane domain of
the hCB1 receptor was reported to change the affinity of the CB1
receptor for anandamide and CP 55940, such that they were unable to
compete for [3H]WIN55,212-2 binding. The
affinity of WIN 55,212-2 for the mutant K192A cannabinoid receptor was
only slightly changed; the Kd of the
mutant receptor was twice that of the wild-type hCB1 receptor (Song and
Bonner, 1996). We tested the K192A mutant cannabinoid receptor to
determine whether anandamide could be responsible for the tonic
activity of the CB1 cannabinoid receptor.
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Evidence that the cannabinoid receptor is not activated by an
endogenous ligand present in neuronal cultures.
In our previous
studies we found that anandamide had no effect on the
Ca2+ current in 23 of 33 neurons expressing the
rat CB1 cannabinoid receptor (Pan et al., 1996). Given the
lack of effect of anandamide, it seemed unlikely that anandamide could
be acting as an endogenous agonist under our experimental conditions.
Experiments were designed to test whether anandamide or another
endogenous cannabinoid agonist, 2-AG (Mechoulam et al.,
1995), could be acting as an endogenous ligand of the heterologously
expressed CB1 cannabinoid receptors in the neuronal cultures.
). Production of 2-AG is Ca2+-dependent and is mediated by phospholipase C
and diacylglycerol lipase (Stella et al., 1997). Anandamide
(arachidonoylethanolamide) has been found to be synthesized by two
routes; one involves Ca2+-dependent, hydrolytic
cleavage from a phospholipid precursor (Di Marzo et al.,
1994) and one is Ca2+-independent and involves a
condensation reaction (Devane and Axelrod, 1994; Kruszka and Gross,
1994). Experiments were performed to block the
Ca2+-dependent synthesis of anandamide and 2-AG.
Electrophysiological recordings were performed in solutions without
Ca2+, using Ba2+ as the
charge carrier. The external solution contained 5 mM
Ba2+ and 0.1 mM EGTA, and the
intracellular solution contained 10 mM BAPTA to chelate
intracellular Ca2+ (see Materials and Methods).
SR 141716A increased the Ba2+ current 29.2 ± 7.5% (n = 4), which was not significantly different from the effect of SR 141716A when Ca2+ was used
as the charge carrier (Fig. 5B). The results of these experiments show
that the cannabinoid receptor antagonist SR 141716A can still enhance
current through Ca2+ channels in the absence of
Ca2+.
Because anandamide can be formed enzymatically by condensation of
arachidonic acid with ethanolamine (Devane and Axelrod, 1994; Kruszka
and Gross, 1994), an additional experiment was performed. All of our
experiments were performed with neuronal cultures that were superfused
with extracellular solution for approximately 20 min after the cultures
were removed from the incubator. Endogenous anandamide would have to
remain in the cultures throughout this superfusion with extracellular
solution to function as an agonist. If the cannabinoid receptor
antagonist SR 141716A was acting as a competitive antagonist, then the
effect of SR 141716A should be greater in the presence of additional
anandamide. Neurons were preincubated with anandamide (300 nM) for 20 min, and then SR 141716A (1 µM)
was tested after a 20-min washout of anandamide, to mimic the recording
conditions without supplemental anandamide. SR 141716A increased the
Ca2+ current 29.8 ± 6.5%
(n = 4), which was not significantly different from the
effect of SR 141716A on the Ca2+ current without
anandamide preincubation (Fig. 5B). The results of the experiments
without Ca2+ and with added anandamide suggest
that neither anandamide nor 2-AG is responsible for the activity of the
CB1 cannabinoid receptor.
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Discussion |
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Top
Summary
Introduction
Materials & Methods
Results
Discussion
References
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The pharmacological effects of the CB1 cannabinoid receptor antagonist SR 141716A were studied in preparations of adult neurons that expressed both native and cloned CB1 receptors. SR 141716A antagonized the inhibitory effect of the agonist WIN 55,212-2 on the voltage-dependent Ca2+ current in SCG neurons heterologously expressing the rat CB1 receptor. However, SR 141716A, when given alone, increased the Ca2+ current both in SCG neurons with heterologously expressed CB1 receptors and in pelvic ganglion neurons with native cannabinoid receptors. For an antagonist to have an effect, some receptors must be in an active state. Evidence that CB1 receptors were in a tonically active state was seen as enhanced tonic inhibition of voltage-dependent Ca2+ currents in neurons expressing CB1 receptors. The active state of the receptor could arise through two different mechanisms, 1) activation by an endogenous agonist or 2) adoption of a spontaneously active state. In the former case the effect of SR 141716A would be that of a classical antagonist, whereas in the latter case SR 141716A would be an inverse agonist. Inverse agonists have been recognized recently by their ability to block the signal transduction effects mediated by constitutively active receptors.
To account for the phenomenon of inverse agonism, a two-state receptor
model was proposed (Costa et al., 1992; Chidiac et al., 1994; Samama et al., 1994). In the two-state
receptor model, receptors exist in an equilibrium between inactive (R)
and active (R*) states. Agonists stabilize the R* state, inverse
agonists stabilize the R state, and antagonists have equal preferences for both states. Thus, for an antagonist to be an inverse agonist some
receptors must be in the active R* state.
The CB1 receptor antagonist SR 141716A has been reported to act as an
inverse agonist. Bouaboula et al. (1997) reported that SR
141716A reversed a constitutively active hCB1 receptor, as measured by
adenylyl cyclase and mitogen-activated protein kinase activity. Both SR
141716A and AM630 were reported to be inverse agonists, because they
reduced basal guanosine-5'-O-(3-thio)triphosphate binding in
cells with hCB1 receptors (Landsman et al., 1997; Landsman et al., 1998). Earlier evidence for constitutively active
cannabinoid receptors came from studies on electrically evoked
contractions of the mouse urinary bladder, where SR 141716A alone was
reported to significantly increase contractions (Pertwee and Fernando, 1996). SR 141716A alone has also been reported to potentiate
acetylcholine release from hippocampal slices (Gifford and Ashby, 1996)
and to decrease neuronal firing in the substantia nigra (Tersigni and
Rosenberg, 1996). However, none of those studies, except that by
Bouaboula et al. (1997), addressed the issue of whether the CB1 receptor was being activated by an endogenous ligand. Bouaboula et al. (1997) reported that the EC50
value of SR 141716A was similar to the binding affinity of SR 141716A
and concluded that SR 141716A could not be competing with an endogenous
agonist. A more recent study by MacLennan et al. (1998)
argued that endogenous agonists are not responsible for CB1 cannabinoid
receptor activity, because cannabinol, unlike SR 141716A, had no effect
on basal guanosine-5'-O-(3-thio)triphosphate binding in
cells expressing hCB1 receptors. Our study demonstrates that SR 141716A
is not competing with two endogenous cannabinoid agonists (i.e.,
anandamide and 2-AG) but acts to reverse a tonically active CB1 receptor.
The active state of a G protein-coupled receptor can be assessed in SCG
neurons by the Ca2+ current facilitation ratio.
Facilitation is thought to arise from a voltage-dependent reversal of G
protein-mediated Ca2+ current inhibition (Bean,
1989; Ikeda, 1991; Ehrlich and Elmslie, 1995). Thus, if the cannabinoid
receptor is in an active state, the following two predictions can be
made: 1) the facilitation ratio would be larger in neurons expressing
the cannabinoid receptor than in neurons without the receptor and 2) an
inverse agonist would enhance the Ca2+ current to
a level equal to the maximal amplitude that can be obtained using
voltage to reverse Ca2+ channel inhibition.
Consistent with the first prediction, we found that the facilitation
ratio was larger in SCG neurons expressing CB1 receptors than in
uninjected neurons or in neurons expressing another G protein-coupled
receptor (the mGluR2 metabotropic glutamate receptor). SR 141716A
consistently enhanced the Ca2+ current to equal
the maximal facilitated amplitude, consistent with the second
prediction. Taken together, these results are consistent with the idea
that cannabinoid receptors can adopt an active conformational state.
To test the possibility that the active state of the cannabinoid
receptor is induced by an endogenous agonist, the mutant K192A hCB1
receptor was studied. The K192A receptor has no affinity for anandamide
but has affinity similar to that of the wild-type receptor for WIN
55,212-2 (Song and Bonner, 1996). If anandamide was activating the
wild-type receptor, then the mutant receptor would be expected to be
inactive. SR 141716A would be predicted to have no effect and the
Ca2+ current facilitation ratio would not be
enhanced. In SCG neurons expressing wild-type hCB1 receptors, WIN
55,212-2 decreased and SR 141716A increased the
Ca2+ current. However, in neurons expressing
K192A receptors, WIN 55,212-2 inhibited the Ca2+
current but SR 141716A had no effect. This result is consistent with
the idea that endogenous anandamide could be responsible for activation
of the wild-type CB1 receptor. However, in neurons expressing the K192A
receptor, the Ca2+ current facilitation ratio was
equal to the facilitation ratio in neurons expressing wild-type hCB1
receptors, indicating that the mutant receptor can adopt an active R*
conformational state. Because the K192A mutant cannabinoid receptor is
insensitive to anandamide, the mutant receptor must be spontaneously
active. If the mutant receptor is in an active R* conformational state, then SR 141716A should increase the Ca2+ current
by stabilizing the inactive R conformational state. SR 141716A,
however, had no effect on the Ca2+ current in
neurons expressing the K192A mutant receptor. One possible explanation
is that the K192A mutation alters the ability of the receptor to
transit from the active R* conformational state to the inactive R
state. SR 141716A could still bind to the K192A receptor, because it
antagonized the effect of WIN 55,212-2. Thus, the K192 site appears
critical for SR 141716A action as an inverse agonist. When this site is
mutated, as in the K192A mutant receptor, SR 141716A can no longer act
as an inverse agonist. Instead, SR 141716A appears to behave as a
neutral antagonist. Molecular modeling studies indicate that the lysine
at position 192, referred to as K3.28, is one of several amino acids
that interacts with SR 141716A. As an inverse agonist, SR 141716A would
prefer the inactive R state of the receptor, and interaction with K3.28
might result in the preference of SR 141716A for the R state (Reggio P,
personal communication).
Chin et al. (1998) reported that another mutation, K192E,
altered the ability of the cannabinoid receptor to adopt an active conformational state. They reported that the binding affinities for WIN
55,212-2 were similar with wild-type and mutant receptors, but the
EC50 for inhibition of cAMP was 10-fold greater
with the mutant receptor. These results suggest that the positively
charged lysine in the third transmembrane domain plays a role in
receptor activation. Movement of the third transmembrane domain of the prototypical G protein-coupled receptor rhodopsin has also been shown
to influence receptor activation (Sakmar, 1998). Our results with the
K192A receptor also suggest that this lysine may be critical for
receptor transitions between R* and R states.
Experiments designed to test whether anandamide and 2-AG are
responsible for tonic cannabinoid receptor activity yielded negative results. If endogenous agonists were responsible for tonic receptor activity, then blocking their synthesis should block the effect of SR
141716A. The effect of SR 141716A was not significantly different in
the absence of Ca2+ to block the
Ca2+-dependent synthesis of anandamide (Di Marzo
et al., 1994) and 2-AG (Stella et al., 1997).
However, anandamide has also been reported to be synthesized through a
Ca2+-independent pathway (Devane and Alelrod,
1994; Kruszka and Gross, 1994). Under conditions with an increased
concentration of anandamide, SR 141716A would be predicted to have a
greater effect. We found that the effect of SR 141716A was no different
in neurons supplemented with exogenous anandamide. These experiments
suggest that it is unlikely that these two endogenous ligands are
responsible for tonic CB1 receptor activity. However, the possibility
remains that not all cannabinoid agonists have been discovered.
The results of our experiments in neurons using
Ca2+ channels as effector targets of the
cannabinoid receptor demonstrate that significant populations of both
native and cloned CB1 cannabinoid receptors can exist in a
constitutively active conformational state. SR 141716A acts as an
inverse agonist to enhance the voltage-dependent Ca2+ current by relief of
Ca2+ current inhibition by constitutively active
CB1 receptors, an effect opposite that of the cannabinoid agonist WIN
55,212-2. Inhibition of constitutively active CB1 receptors by SR
141716A has also been reported to inhibit mitogen-activated protein
kinase and enhance forskolin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity
(Bouaboula et al., 1997). Additionally, SR 141716 has been
reported to improve short-term olfactory memory in rodents (Terranova
et al., 1996). Although animal experiments cannot always
predict effects in humans, these memory experiments, together with the
human memory impairment produced by marijuana, suggest that the inverse
agonist effect of SR 141716A might have important therapeutic benefits
in the treatment of human memory impairments.
| |
Acknowledgments |
|---|
We thank Dr. Tom I. Bonner for the rat CB1, hCB1, and K192A cDNA clones, Dr. S. Nakanishi (Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan) for the mGluR2 cDNA clone, Drs. R. Heim and R. Tsien (both from the University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, Ca) for the S65T GFP clone, and Sanofi Recherche (Montpellier, France) for the gift of SR 141716A. We thank Dr. Yu Zhu for performing preliminary experiments with male rat major pelvic ganglion neurons. We also thank Jannie Jones for technical assistance.
| |
Footnotes |
|---|
Received June 17, 1998; Accepted August 20, 1998
1 Current affiliation: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Division of Cardiology, 200 Lothrop St. BST 1744, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2582.
2 Current affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Physiology, Guthrie Research Institute, Sayre, PA 18840.
This work was supported by Grant NS28894 from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health (D.L.L.), Grant DA10350 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health (D.L.L.), and a grant from the American Heart Association-Georgia Affiliate (S.R.I).
Send reprint requests to: Dr. Deborah L. Lewis, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA 30912-2300. E-mail: dlewis{at}mail.mcg.edu
| |
Abbreviations |
|---|
PTX, pertussis toxin;
SCG, superior
cervical ganglion;
EGTA, ethylene glycol bis(
-aminoethyl
ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic
acid;
HEPES, 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid;
BAPTA, 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N'N'-tetraacetic
acid;
Gpp(NH)p, guanylylimidodiphosphate;
2-AG, sn-2-arachidonylglycerol;
GFP, green fluorescent
protein;
hCB1, human CB1.
| |
References |
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Top
Summary
Introduction
Materials & Methods
Results
Discussion
References
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-adrenergic antagonists.
Mol Pharmacol
45:
490-499[Abstract].
subunits.
Nature (Lond)
380:
255-258[Medline].2-adrenergic receptor.
Mol Pharmacol
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) and
facilitated (
) Ca2+ currents in a SCG neuron expressing
CB1 receptors. The double-pulse protocol was repeated every 10 sec, and
the current amplitudes were plotted over the time course of the
experiment. Tonic inhibition of the control Ca2+ current
(point 1) was relieved by a 50-msec depolarizing
prepulse to +80 mV (point 2). Application of 0.1 µM SR 141716A (SR) resulted in an increase
of the control Ca2+ current (point 3) to a
level close to the facilitated current (point 4).
Inset, upper, the double-pulse protocol
used to elicit control (
