5-Hydroxytryptamine1A Receptor-Mediated Increases in Receptor Expression and Activation of Nuclear Factor-κB in Transfected Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells

Abstract

The regulation in expression of human 5-hydroxytryptamine1A(5-HT1A) receptors by agonists and antagonists was studied in a stable transfected Chinese hamster ovary cell line expressing the human 5-HT1A receptor. Receptor density and affinity were measured with [125I]4-(2′-methoxyphenyl)-1-[2′-[N-(2′-pyridinyl)-p-iodobenzamido]ethyl]piperazine ([125I]p-MPPI), a selective antagonist of 5-HT1A receptors. Treatment of Chinese hamster ovary cells with serotonin or the selective agonist (±)-8-hydroxy-N,N-dipropyl-2-aminotetralin stimulated a 2.5-fold increase in receptor density. The antagonists 4-(2′-methoxyphenyl)-1-[2′-[N-(2′-pyridinyl)-p-iodobenzamidoethyl]piperazine, (−)-(S)-pindolol, and spiperone also stimulated up-regulation of receptor expression. Agonist- and antagonist-stimulated up-regulations of receptor expression were mechanistically different. The effect of agonists was inhibited by pertussis toxin, actinomycin D, and cycloheximide. Antagonist-stimulated up-regulation was inhibited by cycloheximide, only partially inhibited by actinomycin D, and not inhibited by pertussis toxin. In the course of identifying potential pathways for coupling of the receptor to activation of transcription, we demonstrated that agonists activate the transcription regulatory factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). Agonists were found to stimulate degradation of the inhibitory subunit, IκBα, and to increase the activity of a NF-κB-dependent CAT reporter gene. In contrast, the antagonist 4-(2′-methoxyphenyl)-1-[2′-[N-(2′-pyridinyl)-p-iodobenzamidoethyl]piperazine neither elicited degradation of Iκ-Bα nor increased reporter activity. Our data suggest that expression of 5-HT1Areceptors can be regulated by both agonists and antagonists and that the agonist but not antagonist stimulation occurs concomitantly with activation of NF-κB.

Footnotes

  • Send reprint requests to: Dr. Daniel S. Cowen, Department of Psychiatry, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 675 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854.

  • 1 Current affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854.

  • 2 Current affiliation: CNS Drug Discovery, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Wallingford, CT 06492.

  • These studies were supported by National Institutes of Health Grants GM51196, MH48125, and MH14654. D.S.C. is a recipient of a NARSAD Young Investigator Award.

  • Abbreviations:
    5-HT
    5-hydroxytryptamine
    CHO
    Chinese hamster ovary
    p-MPPI
    4-(2′-methoxyphenyl)-1-[2′-[N-(2′-pyridinyl)-p-iodobenzamidoethyl]piperazine
    TNF-α
    tumor necrosis factor-α
    PC
    phosphatidylcholine
    PLC
    phospholipase C
    8-OH-DPAT
    (±)-8-hydroxy-N,N-dipropyl-2-aminotetralin
    DMSO
    dimethylsulfoxide
    MAP
    mitogen-activated protein
    NF-κB
    nuclear factor κ-B
    PTX
    pertussis toxin
    CAT
    chloramphenicol acyltransferase
    HIV
    human immunodeficiency virus
    LTR
    long terminal repeat
    CMV
    cytomegalovirus
    IE
    immediate-early
    HEPES
    4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid
    PIPAT
    (R)-(+)-trans-8-hydroxy-2-[N-n-propyl-N-(3′-iodo-2-propenyl)amino]tetralin
    • Received November 15, 1996.
    • Accepted April 8, 1997.
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