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1) During orthograde perfusion of rat liver human anaphylatoxin C3a caused an increase in glucose and lactate output and reduction of flow. These effects could be enhanced nearly twofold by co-infusion of the carboxypeptidase inhibitor MERGETPA, which reduced inactivation of C3a to C3adesArg. 2) During retrograde perfusion C3a caused a two- to threefold larger increase in glucose and lactate output and reduction of flow than in orthograde perfusions. These actions tended to be slightly enhanced by MERGETPA. 3) The elimination of C3a plus C3adesArg immunoreactivity during a single liver passage was around 67%, irrespective of the perfusion direction and the presence of the carboxypeptidase inhibitor MERGETPA; however, less C3adesArg and more intact C3a appeared in the perfusate in the presence of MERGETPA in orthograde and retrogade perfusions It is concluded that rat liver inactivated human anaphylatoxin C3a by conversion to C3adesArg and moreover eliminated it by an additional process. The inactivation to C3adesArg seemed to be located predominantly in the proximal periportal region of the liver sinusoid, since C3a was less effective in orthograde perfusions, when C3a first passed the proximal periportal region before reaching the predominant mass of parenchyma as its site of action, than in retrograde perfusions, when it first passed the perivenous area. These data may be evidence for a periportal scavenger mechanism, by which the liver protects itself from systemically released mediators of inflammation that interfere with the local regulation of liver metabolism and hemodynamics.
In perfused rat livers, infusion of prostaglandin F₂α (PGF₂α) or noradrenaline increased glucose and lactate output and reduced flow. Glucagon increased glucose output and decreased lactate output without influence on flow. Infusion of phorbol 13-myristate 14-acetate (PMA) for 20 min prior to these stimuli strongly inhibited the metabolic and hemodynamic effects of noradrenaline, reduced the metabolic actions of PGF₂α but did not alter the effects of glucagon. In isolated rat hepatocytes PGF₂α, noradrenaline and glucagon activated glycogen phosphorylase but only PGF₂α and noradrenaline increased intracellular inositol 1,4,5-1risphosphalc (InsP₃). The noradrenaline- or PGF₂α-elicited activation of glycogen phosphorylase and increase in InsP₃ were largely reduced after preincubation of the cells for 10 min with PMA, whereas the glucagon-mediated enzyme activation was not affected. In contra\t to PMA, the phorbol ester 4a-phorbol 13,14-didecanoate. which does not activate protein kinase C, did not attenuate the PGF₂α- and noradrenaline-elicited stimulation of glucose output, glycogen phosphorylase and InsP, formation. Stimulation of InsP₃ formation by AlF₄⁻, which activates phospholipase C independently of the receptor, was not attenuated by prior incubation with PMA. Plasma membranes purified from isolated hepatocytes had both a high-capacity, low-affinity and a low-capacity, high-affinity binding site for PGF₂α. The Kd of the high-capacity, low-affinity binding site was close to the concentration of PGF₂α that increased glycogen phosphorylase activity halfmaximally. Binding to the high-capacity, low-affinity binding site was enhanced by guanosine 5'- 0-(3-thio)triphosphate (GTP[S]). This high-capacity, low-affinity site might thus represent the receptor. The Bmax and Kd of the high-capacity site, as well as the enhancement by GTP[S] of PGF₂α binding to this site, remained unaffected by PMA pretreatment. It is concluded that, in hepatocytes, activation of protein kinase C by PMA interrupted the InsP₃-mediated signal pathway from PGF₂α via a PGF₂α receptor and phospholipase C to glycogen phosphorylase at a point distal of the receptor prior to phospholipase C.
Prostaglandin (PG)F₂α has previously been shown to increase glucose output from perfused livers and isolated hepatocytes, where it stimulated glycogen phosphorylase via an inositol-trisphosphatedependent signal pathway. In this study, PGF₂α binding sites on hepatocyte plasma membranes, that might represent the putative receptor, were characterized. Binding studies could not be performed with intact hepatocytes, because PGF₂α accumulated within the cells even at 4°C. The intracellular accumulation was an order of magnitude higher than binding to plasma membranes. Purified hepatocyte plasma membranes had a high-affinity/low-capacity and a low-affinity/highcapacity binding'site for PGF₂α. The respective binding constants for the high-affinity site were Kd = 3 nM and Bmax = 6 fmol/mg membrane protein, and for the low-affinity site Kd = 426 nM and Bmax = 245 fmol/mg membrane protein. Specific PGF₂α binding to the low-affinity site, but not to the high-affinity site, could be enhanced most potently by GTP[γS] followed by GDP[ϐS] and GTP, but not by ATP[γS] or GMP. PGF₂α competed most potently with [³H]PGF₂α for specific binding to hepatocyte plasma membranes, followed by PGD₂ and PGE₂. Since the low-affinity PGF₂α-binding site had a Kd in the concentration range in which PG had previously been shown to be half-maximally active, and since this binding site showed a sensitivity to GTP, it is concluded that it might represent the receptor involved in the PGF₂α signal chain in hepatocytes. A biological function of the high-affinity site is currently not known.
Rat hepatocytes have previously been reported to possess prostaglandin E₂ receptors of the EP₃-type (EP₃-receptors) that inhibit glucagonstimulated glycogenolysis by decreasing cAMP. Here, the isolation of a functional EP₃ϐ receptor cDNA clone from a rat hepatocyte cDNA library is reported. This clone can be translated into a 362-amino-acid protein, that displays over 95% homology to the EP₃ϐ receptor from mouse mastocytoma. The amino- and carboxy-terminal region of the protein are least conserved. Transiently transfected HEK 293 cells expressed a single binding site for PGE₂ with an apparent Kd of 15 nM. PGE₂ > PGF₂α > PGD₂ competed for [³H]PGE₂ binding sites as did the EP₃ receptor agonists M&B 28767 = sulprostone > misoprostol but not the EP₁ receptor antagonist SC 19220. In stably transfected CHO cells M&B 28767 > sulprostone = PGE₂ > misoprostol > PGF₂α inhibited the forskolin-elicited cAMP formation. Thus, the characteristics of the EP₃ϐ receptor of rat hepatocytes closely resemble those of the EP₃ϐ receptor of mouse mastocytoma.
Prostaglandin E(2) receptors (EP-Rs) belong to the family of heterotrimeric G protein-coupled ectoreceptors with seven transmembrane domains. They can be subdivided into four subtypes according to their ligand-binding and G protein-coupling specificity: EP1 couple to G(q), EP2 and EP4 to G(s), and EP3 to G(i). The EP4-R, in contrast to the EP3beta-R, shows rapid agonist-induced desensitization. The agonist-induced desensitization depends on the presence of the EP4-R carboxyl-terminal domain, which also confers desensitization in a G(i)-coupled rEP3hEP4 carboxyl-terminal domain receptor hybrid (rEP3hEP4-Ct-R). To elucidate the possible mechanism of this desensitization, in vivo phosphorylation stimulated by activators of second messenger kinases, by prostaglandin E(2), or by the EP3-R agonist M&B28767 was investigated in COS-7 cells expressing FLAG-epitope-tagged rat EP3beta-R (rEP3beta-R), hEP4-R, or rEP3hEP4- Ct-R. Stimulation of protein kinase C with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate led to a slight phosphorylation of the FLAG- rEP3beta-R but to a strong phosphorylation of the FLAG-hEP4-R and the FLAG-rEP3hEP4-Ct-R, which was suppressed by the protein kinase A and protein kinase C inhibitor staurosporine. Prostaglandin E(2) stimulated phosphorylation of the FLAG- hEP4-R in its carboxyl-terminal receptor domain. The EP3-R agonist M&B28767 induced a time- and dose-dependent phosphorylation of the FLAG-rEP3hEP4-Ct-R but not of the FLAG-rEP3beta-R. Agonist-induced phosphorylation of the FLAG- hEP4-R and the FLAG-rEP3hEP4-Ct-R were not inhibited by staurosporine, which implies a role of G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) in agonist-induced receptor phosphorylation. Overexpression of GRKs in FLAG-rEP3hEP4-Ct-R- expressing COS-7 cells augmented the M&B28767-induced receptor phosphorylation and receptor sequestration. These findings indicate that phosphorylation of the carboxyl-terminal hEP4-R domain possibly by GRKs but not by second messenger kinases may be involved in rapid agonist-induced desensitization of the hEP4-R and the rEP3hEP4-Ct-R.
For the five principal prostanoids PGD2, PGE2, PGF2alpha, prostacyclin and thromboxane A2 eight receptors have been identified that belong to the family of G-protein-coupled receptors. They display an overall homology of merely 30%. However, single amino acids in the transmembrane domains such as an Arg in the seventh transmembrane domain are highly conserved. This Arg has been identified as part of the ligand binding pocket. It interacts with the carboxyl group of the prostanoid. The aim of the current study was to analyze the potential role in ligand binding of His-81 in the second transmembrane domain of the rat PGF2alpha receptor, which is conserved among all PGF2alpha receptors from different species. Molecular modeling suggested that this residue is located in close proximity to the ligand binding pocket Arg 291 in the 7th transmembrane domain. The His81 (H) was exchanged by site-directed mutagenesis to Gln (Q), Asp (D), Arg (R), Ala (A) and Gly (G). The receptor molecules were N-terminally extended by a Flag epitope for immunological detection. All mutant proteins were expressed at levels between 50% and 80% of the wild type construct. The H81Q and H81D receptor bound PGF2alpha with 2-fold and 25-fold lower affinity, respectively, than the wild type receptor. Membranes of cells expressing the H81R, H81A or H81G mutants did not bind significant amounts of PGF2alpha. Wild type receptor and H81Q showed a shallow pH optimum for PGF2alpha binding around pH 5.5 with almost no reduction of binding at higher pH. In contrast the H81D mutant bound PGF2alpha with a sharp optimum at pH 4.5, a pH at which the Asp side chain is partially undissociated and may serve as a hydrogen bond donor as do His and Gln at higher pH values. The data indicate that the His-81 in the second transmembrane domain of the PGF2alpha receptor in concert with Arg-291 in the seventh transmembrane domain may be involved in ligand binding, most likely not by ionic interaction with the prostaglandin's carboxyl group but rather as a hydrogen bond donor.
Prostaglandin F(2alpha) (PGF(2alpha)), modulates hepatocyte functions via a heptahelical G(q)-coupled PGF(2alpha)-receptor (FP-R) which in liver is expressed exclusively in hepatocytes. The aim of the present study was to isolate the 5'-flanking region of the rat FP-R gene and to elucidate its basal and IL-6-modulated transcription control function in rat hepatocytes. The 5'-non-translated region of the rat hepatocyte FP-R mRNA differed from the corresponding region in rat fetal astrocyte or corpus luteum. It was encoded by exons 1a and 2 which were separated by a 1. 4 kb intron containing the exons 1b and 1c coding for the 5'-untranslated region of rat fetal astrocyte and corpus luteum FP-R mRNA, respectively. The transcription initiation site in hepatocytes was localized 263 bp upstream of the start ATG by 5'-RACE. A DNA-fragment covering the 5'-flanking region of the rFP-R gene from - 1 of the transcription initiation site to -2590 bp was cloned and sequenced. Its 3'-two thirds had a 65% sequence identity to the mouse FP-R promoter however no homology to the bovine FP-R promoter. In the overlapping sequence most of the putative transcription factor binding sites were conserved between mouse and rat. The rat promoter contained no classical TATA- or CAAT-boxes but putative binding sites for the transcription factors C/EBP, GATA-1, HNF-1, HNF-3beta, SP-1, and USF. Luciferase reporter gene constructs containing portions of the 5'-flanking region were transfected into rat hepatocytes. Luciferase expression ranked -181 >/= -608 < -1418 > -1821 >/= -2590. The strongest transcriptional activity was conferred by the region between -608 and -1418 containing a cluster of potential HNF-1 and HNF-3beta binding sites that might allow the exclusive expression of FP-R mRNA in hepatocytes. The amount of FP-R mRNA and the luciferase expression under control of the -2590 promoter fragment were reduced by IL-6 in hepatocytes. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.
Eight heptahelical receptors have been characterized for prostaglandin (PG) D(2), PGE(2), PGF(2alpha), prostacyclin and thromboxane A(2). They share a sequence identity of 40%. All of them have potential N-glycosylation sites. The current study analysed the role of the two N-glycosylation sites in the rat EP3beta-subtype PGE(2) receptor for protein folding and sorting. The N-glycosylation consensus sequences were eliminated by site-directed mutagenesis and receptors expressed in HEK-293 cells. Both potential N-glycosylation sites were used. Their joint elimination resulted in the synthesis of a receptor protein with full binding competence, biological activity and no reduction of affinity; however, the half-life of the non-glycosylated receptor was slightly reduced. Ligand binding to intact stably transfected cells and confocal laser microscopic immunocytochemistry showed that the glycosylated receptor was correctly inserted into the plasma membrane to a much larger extent than the non-glycosylated receptor, which tended to accumulate in the perinuclear zone of the endoplasmic reticulum. Inhibition of N-glycosylation with tunicamycin resulted in a similar perinuclear distribution of the wild-type receptor. Therefore, glycosylation of the EP3beta receptor seems not to be necessary for correct folding of the receptor protein but for the efficient transport of the receptor protein to the plasma membrane. This contrasts with a previous finding which described a reduction of the affinity for PGE(2) of the EP3alpha receptor by elimination of the distal glycosylation site when the receptor protein was expressed in insect cells.
Prostanoid receptors belong to the class of heptahelical plasma membrane receptors. For the five prostanoids, eight receptor subtypes have been identified. They display an overall sequence similarity of roughly 30%. Based on sequence comparison, single amino acids in different subtypes of different species have previously been identified by site-directed mutagenesis or in hybrid receptors that appear to be essential for ligand binding or G-protein coupling. Based on this information, a series of mutants of the human FP receptor was generated and characterized in ligand- binding and second-messenger-formation studies. It was found that mutation of His-81 to Ala in transmembrane domain 2 and of Arg-291 to Leu in transmembrane domain 7, which are putative interaction partners for the prostanoid's carboxyl group, abolished ligand binding. Mutants in which Ser-263 in transmembrane domain 6 or Asp-300 in transmembrane domain 7 had been replaced by Ala or Gln, respectively, no longer discriminated between prostaglandins PGF(2alpha) and PGD(2). Thus distortion of the topology of transmembrane domains 6 and 7 appears to interfere with the cyclopentane ring selectivity of the receptor. PGF(2alpha)-induced inositol formation was strongly reduced in the mutant Asp-300Gln, inferring a role for this residue in agonist-induced G-protein activation.