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Biomedical subjects

Luigi F Agnati

Publications and source records attributed to Luigi F Agnati.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Allosteric modulation of dopamine D2 receptors by homocysteine.

It has been suggested that L-DOPA-induced hyperhomocysteinemia can increase the risk of stroke, heart disease, and dementia and is an additional pathogenetic factor involved in the progression of Parkinson's disease. In Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells stably cotransfected with adenosine A(2A) and dopamine D2 receptors, homocysteine selectively decreased the ability of D2 receptor stimulation to internalize adenosine A(2A)-dopamine D2 receptor complexes. Radioligand-binding experiments in the same cell line demonstrated that homocysteine acts as an allosteric D2 receptor antagonist, by selectively reducing the affinity of D2 receptors for agonists but not for antagonists. Mass spectrometric analysis showed that, by means of an arginine (Arg)-thiol electrostatic interaction, homocysteine forms noncovalent complexes with the two Arg-rich epitopes of the third intracellular loop of the D2 receptor, one of them involved in A(2A)-D2 receptor heteromerization. However, homocysteine was unable to prevent or disrupt A(2A)-D2 receptor heteromerization, as demonstrated with Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) experiments in stably cotransfected HEK cells. The present results could have implications for Parkinson's disease.

Allosteric Regulation↗
PubMed2005

Protection but maintained dysfunction of nigral dopaminergic nerve cell bodies and striatal dopaminergic terminals in MPTP-lesioned mice after acute treatment with the mGluR5 antagonist MPEP.

The mGluR5 antagonist MPEP was used to study the role of mGluR5 in MPTP-induced injury of the nigrostriatal DA neurons. The findings indicate that acute blockade of mGluR5 may result in neuroprotective actions against MPTP neurotoxicity on nigral DA cell bodies and striatal DA terminals using stereological analysis of TH immunoreactivity and microdensitometry. Biochemical analysis showed no restoration of DA levels and metabolism indicating a maintained reduction of DA transmission.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

How receptor mosaics decode transmitter signals. Possible relevance of cooperativity.

It has been demonstrated that receptor-receptor interactions between G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) occur at the plasma-membrane level. It has also been shown that clustering of GPCRs in aggregates or receptor mosaics (RMs) results in the reciprocal modulation of their binding and decoding characteristics. It is hypothesized that cooperativity plays an important part in the decoding of signals processed by RMs of GPCRs. Thus, the binding of the ligand at one receptor alters the likelihood of the same ligand binding at the next site, in the case of RMs, formed by identical receptors and/or by iso-receptors (receptors that bind the same ligand).

Allosteric Regulation↗
PubMed2005

New methods to evaluate colocalization of fluorophores in immunocytochemical preparations as exemplified by a study on A2A and D2 receptors in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

An important aspect of the image analysis of immunocytochemical preparations is the evaluation of colocalization of different molecules. The aim of the present study is to introduce image analysis methods to identify double-labeled locations exhibiting the highest association of two fluorophores and to characterize their pattern of distribution. These methods will be applied to the analysis of the cotrafficking of adenosine A2A and dopamine D2 receptors belonging to the G protein-coupled receptor family and visualized by means of fluorescence immunocytochemistry in Chinese hamster ovary cells after agonist treatment. The present procedures for colocalization have the great advantage that they are, to a large extent, insensitive to the need for a balanced staining with the two fluorophores. Thus, these procedures involve image processing, visualization, and analysis of colocalized events, using a covariance method and a multiply method and the evaluation of the identified colocalization patterns. Moreover, the covariance method offers the possibility of detecting and quantitatively characterizing anticorrelated patterns of intensities, whereas the immediate detection of colocalized clusters with a high concentration of labeling is a possibility offered by the multiply method. The present methods offer a new and sensitive approach to detecting and quantitatively characterizing strongly associated fluorescence events, such as those generated by receptor-receptor interaction, and their distribution patterns in dual-color confocal laser microscopy.

Adenosine A2 Receptor Agonists↗
PubMed2005

Trafficking of adenosine A2A and dopamine D2 receptors.

An interaction between adenosine A2A and dopamine D2 receptors has been demonstrated previously. It is generally found that agonist treatment internalizes receptors, including A2A and D2, whereas less is known of the long-term effects involved in the agonist-mediated trafficking of A2A and D2 receptors. Furthermore, the possible influence of the antagonists on receptor trafficking is still undefined. The present studies focus on the long-term effects of A2A and D2 agonist and D2 antagonist treatments on both A2A and D2 receptor trafficking studied at three different time intervals--3, 15, and 24 h. In addition, with the fluorescence resonance energy transfer technique, formation of heteromeric A2A and D2 receptor complexes was shown in the cotransfected CHO cell line. Confocal microscopy analysis showed that a 3-h treatment with the D2 agonist induced coaggregation of A2A/D2 receptors. These A2A/D2 receptor coaggregates internalized after 15 h with a recruitment of the receptors back to the cell membrane after 24 h. In contrast to the effects of the agonist treatment, a 3-h treatment with the D2-like antagonist raclopride increased both A2A and D2 immunoreactivity, indicating that the D2 antagonist stabilizes the D2 receptor and thereby reduces the internalization of both of the A2A and D2 receptors. Taken together, an activation of either A2A and D2 receptor or blockade of D2 receptors will cause long-lasting changes in A2A and D2 receptor trafficking.

Adenosine↗
PubMed2005

Role of electrostatic interaction in receptor-receptor heteromerization.

Using pull-down and mass spectrometry experiments, we have previously demonstrated that adenosine A2A-dopamine D2 receptor-receptor heteromerization depends on an electrostatic interaction between an Arg-rich epitope from the third intracellular loop of the D2 receptor (217RRRRKR222) and two adjacent Asp residues (DD401-402) or a phosphorylated Ser (pS374) residue in the carboxyl terminus of the A2A receptor. It has been demonstrated recently that a specific region in the carboxyl terminus of the dopamine D1 receptor (L387-L416) and a specific region in the carboxyl terminus of the NR1-1 subunit of the NMDA receptor (E834-S938) are involved in D1-NMDA receptor-receptor heteromerization. Careful perusal of these interacting regions shows the presence of a phosphorylated serine (pS397) and adjacent glutamates (EE404-405) in the D1 receptor, whereas NR1-1 contains three adjacent Arg residues (RRR893-896). These epitopes are highly conserved in all species, a sign that the epitopes are likely to be involved in a physiologically significant activity. If similar epitopes are found to be involved in the formation of receptor heteromers other than A2A-D2 and D1-NMDA, the epitope-epitope electrostatic interaction might represent an important general mechanism underlying receptor- receptor interactions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2005

How proteins come together in the plasma membrane and function in macromolecular assemblies: focus on receptor mosaics.

Some theoretical aspects on structure and function of proteins have been discussed previously. Proteins form multimeric complexes, as they have the capability of binding other proteins (Lego property) resulting in multimeric complexes capable of emergent functions. Multimeric proteins might have either a genomic or a postgenomic origin. Proteins spanning the plasma membrane have been analyzed by considering the effects of the microenvironment in which the protein is embedded. In particular, the different effects of the hydrophilic (extracellular and intracellular) versus the lipophilic (intramembrane) environment have been considered. These aspects have been discussed in the framework of membrane microdomains, in particular, the so-called rafts. In alpha-helix proteins the individual peptide dipoles align to produce a macrodipole crossing the entire membrane. This macrodipole has its positive (extracellular) pole at the N-terminal end of the helix and its negative (intracellular) pole at the C-terminal end. This arrangement has been analyzed in the framework of the counter-ion atmosphere, that is, the formation of a cloud of small ions bearing an opposite charge. Excitable cells reverse their resting potential during the all-or-none action potentials. Hence, the extracellular side of the plasma membrane becomes negative with respect to the intracellular side. This change of polarization affects also the direction and magnitude of the alpha-helix dipole in view of the fact that there is a displacement of the counter ions. The oscillation in the intensity of the dipole caused by the action potentials opens the possibility of an interaction among dipoles by electromagnetic waves.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Computer-assisted image analysis of caveolin-1 involvement in the internalization process of adenosine A2A-dopamine D2 receptor heterodimers.

A functional aspect of horizontal molecular networks has been investigated experimentally, namely the heteromerization between adenosine A2A and dopamine D2 receptors and the possible role of caveolin-1 in the co-trafficking of these molecular complexes. This study has been carried out by means of computer-assisted image analysis procedure of laser images of membrane immunoreactivity of caveolin-1, A2A, D1, and D2 receptors obtained in two clones of Chinese hamster ovary cells one transfected with A2A and dopamine D1 receptors and the other one with A2A and D2 receptors. Cells were treated for 3 h with 10 microM D1 receptor agonist SKF 38393, 50 microM D2-D3 receptor agonist quinpirole, and 200 nM A2A receptor agonist CGS 21680. In A2A-D1-cotransfected cells, caveolin-1 was found to colocalize with both A2A and D1 receptors and treatment with SKF 38393 induced internalization of caveolin-1 and D1 receptors, with a preferential internalization of D1 receptors colocalized with caveolin-1. In A2A-D2-cotransfected cells, caveolin-1 was found to colocalize with both A2A and D2 receptors and either CGS 21680 or quinpirole treatment induced internalization of caveolin-1 and A2A and D2 receptors, with a preferential internalization of A2A and D2 receptors colocalized with caveolin-1. The results suggest that A2A and D2 receptors and caveolin-1 likely interact forming a macrocomplex that internalizes upon agonist treatment. These observations are discussed in the frame of receptor oligomerization and of the possible functional role of caveolin-1 in the process of co-internalization and, hence, in controlling the permanence of receptors at the plasma membrane level (prerequisite for receptor mosaic organization and plastic adjustments) and in the control of receptor desensitization.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Receptor-receptor interactions, receptor mosaics, and basic principles of molecular network organization: possible implications for drug development.

The phenomenon of receptor-receptor interactions was hypothesized by Agnati and Fuxe in the 1980s, and several indirect proofs were provided in the following years by means of in vitro binding experiments and in vivo experiments in physiological and pathological animal models. This paper aims to outline some of the most important features and consequences of this phenomenon in the frame of the structural and functional aspects of molecular networks. In particular, the concepts of receptor mosaic (RM), and of horizontal and vertical molecular networks (HMNs, VMNs, respectively) are illustrated. To discuss some aspects of the functional organization of molecular networks, not only new data on protein-protein interactions but also the biochemical mechanism of cooperativity will be used. On this basis, some theoretical deductions can be drawn that allow a tentative classification of the RMs and the proposal of the extension of the concept of branching point introduced for enzymes to the possible switching role of some RMs in directing signals to various VMNs. Finally, the cooperativity phenomenon and the so-called symmetry rule will be used to introduce a proper mathematical approach that characterizes RMs as to their receptor composition, receptor topography, and order of receptor activation inside the RM. These new data on G protein-coupled receptors and molecular network organization indicate possible new approaches for drug development.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Adenosine A2A and dopamine D2 heteromeric receptor complexes and their function.

The existence of A2A-D2 heteromeric complexes is based on coimmunoprecipitation studies and on fluorescence resonance energy transfer and bioluminescence resonance energy transfer analyses. It has now become possible to show that A2A and D2 receptors also coimmunoprecipitate in striatal tissue, giving evidence for the existence of A2A-D2 heteromeric receptor complexes also in rat striatal tissue. The analysis gives evidence that these heteromers are constitutive, as they are observed in the absence of A2A and D2 agonists. The A2A-D2 heteromers could either be A2A-D2 heterodimers and/or higher-order A2A -D2 hetero-oligomers. In striatal neurons there are probably A2A-D2 heteromeric complexes, together with A2A-D2 homomeric complexes in the neuronal surface membrane. Their stoichiometry in various microdomains will have a major role in determining A2A and D2 signaling in the striatopallidal GABA neurons. Through the use of D2/D1 chimeras, evidence has been obtained that the fifth transmembrane (TM) domain and/or the I3 of the D2 receptor are part of the A2A-D2 receptor interface, where electrostatic epitope-epitope interactions involving the N-terminal part of I3 of the D2 receptor (arginine-rich epitope) play a major role, interacting with the carboxyl terminus of the A2A receptor. Computerized modeling of A2A-D2 heteromers are in line with these findings. It seems likely that A2A receptor-induced reduction of D2 receptor recognition, G protein coupling, and signaling, as well as the existence of A2A-D2 co-trafficking, are the consequence of the existence of an A2A-D2 receptor heteromer. The relevance of A2A-D2 heteromeric receptor complexes for Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia is emphasized as well as for the treatment of these diseases. Finally, recent evidence for the existence of antagonistic A2A-D3 heteromeric receptor complexes in cotransfected cell lines has been summarized.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Partners for adenosine A1 receptors.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are targets for therapy in a variety of neurological diseases. Using adenosine A1 receptors (A1Rs) as paradigm of GPCRs, this review focuses on how protein-protein interactions, from monomers to heteromers, can contribute to hormone/neurotransmitter/neuromodulator regulation. The interaction of A1Rs with other membrane receptors, enzymes, and adaptor and scaffolding proteins is relevant for receptor traffic, internalization, and desensitization, and A1Rs are extremely important in driving signaling through different intracellular pathways. There is even the possibility of linking together GPCR heteromeric complexes with ion channel receptors in a receptor mosaic that might have special integrative value and might constitute the molecular basis for learning and memory.

Adenosine Deaminase↗
PubMed2005

Concluding remarks.

This meeting has well illustrated the state-of-the-art phenomenon of receptor-receptor interactions between heptaspanning membrane receptors (also named G protein-coupled receptors [GPCRs]), as both theoretical aspects and new experimental evidence have been discussed extensively.From a general standpoint the theoretical discussion has enlightened us to the phenomenon of receptor-receptor interactions as a "privileged window," which allows the exploration of some important structural and functional aspects of molecular networks (Agnati et al., this issue). Also, unexpected functions of well-known proteins can be studied, such as beta-arrestins, which are at the interface between horizontal and vertical molecular networks and have a signaling function of their own besides modulating receptor transduction and trafficking (Lefkowitz, this issue). The experimental data have shown that many in vitro approaches are now available to study the structure and function of homo- and hetero-oligomers in cell lines and primary cultures, making possible a major expansion of the field. However, the in vivo approaches to study the role of heteromeric receptor complexes in cell function have been less clear cut. It was discussed, especially by George, that one problem with receptor knockout mice is inter alia that the removal of one receptor will alter the balance of various homomeric and heteromeric receptor complexes in which the deleted receptor participated. In fact, each receptor might participate in a number of heteromeric receptor complexes. An attractive in vivo approach in the receptor-receptor interaction study will be to use knockin mice in which one receptor A (Ra) has been removed and replaced by a mutated A receptor (Ra'). Several different strategies can be considered, and here are some of them. 1. Ra' can still recognize its ligand and signal but does not interact with its usual heteromeric receptor partner B (Rb). Thus, Ra' operates as a monomer and/or homomer. 2. Ra' can still recognize its ligand and interact with Rb, but it cannot signal (e.g., it does not couple to the G protein). Thus, Ra' operates as a modulator protein of Rb. 3. Ra' can still recognize its ligand and signal, but it allosterically affects its heteromeric partner Rb in a different way. Thus, Ra' operates as an unusual modulator of Rb.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

A simple mathematical model of cooperativity in receptor mosaics based on the "symmetry rule".

The phenomenon of receptor-receptor interactions was hypothesized about 20 years ago. It has been demonstrated by now that receptor-receptor interactions between G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) occur at plasma membrane level and result in the reciprocal modulation of their binding characteristics (i.e., cooperativity). One of the most important feature of this phenomenon is the concept of cluster of receptors, or receptor mosaic (RM). However, no proper mathematical approach has still been available to characterize RMs as far as their receptor composition, receptor topography and order of receptor activation inside the RM. This paper tries to fill the gap. A simple mathematical approach to the cooperativity in RMs formed by dimers of identical receptors and/or by iso-receptors is proposed. To this aim the so-called "symmetry rule" has been considered. This approach allows to describe by means of a simple energy function the effects of receptor composition (number of dimers), spatial organisation (respective location of the dimers) and order of activation (order according to which the single receptors are ligated) on the integrative cooperativity (index) of the RMs.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed2004

Adenosine A2A receptor and dopamine D3 receptor interactions: evidence of functional A2A/D3 heteromeric complexes.

Adenosine A(2A) and dopamine D(2) receptors have been shown previously to form heteromeric complexes and interact at the level of agonist binding, G protein coupling, and trafficking. Because dopamine D(2) and D(3) receptors show a high degree of sequence homology, A(2A) and D(3) receptors may also interact in a similar manner. The present studies with confocal microscopy showed that A(2A)-yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) and D(3)-green fluorescent protein 2 (GFP2) receptors colocalize in the plasma membrane. Furthermore, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) analysis demonstrated that A(2A)-YFP and D(3)-GFP2 receptors give a positive FRET efficiency and are thereby likely to exist as heteromeric A(2A)/D(3) receptor complexes. Saturation experiments with [(3)H]dopamine demonstrated that the A(2A) receptor agonist 4-[2-[[6-amino-9(N-ethyl-beta-d-ribofuranuronaminoamidosyl)-9H-purin-2-yl]amino]ethyl]benzenepropanoic acid (CGS-21680) reduced the affinity of the high-affinity agonist binding state of the D(3) receptor for [(3)H]dopamine. The A(2A) and D(2A) receptors seem to interact also at the level of G protein coupling, because the adenosine A(2A) receptor agonist CGS-21680 fully counteracted the D(3) receptor-mediated inhibition of a forskolin-mediated increase in cAMP levels. Taken together, when coexpressed in the same neuron, A(2A) and D(3) receptors seem to form A(2A)/D(3) heteromeric receptor complexes in which A(2A) receptors antagonistically modulate both the affinity and the signaling of the D(3) receptors. D(3) receptor is one of the therapeutic targets for treatment of schizophrenia, and therefore, the A(2A)/D(3) receptor interactions could provide an alternative antischizophrenic treatment.

Adenosine↗
PubMed2004

Combining mass spectrometry and pull-down techniques for the study of receptor heteromerization. Direct epitope-epitope electrostatic interactions between adenosine A2A and dopamine D2 receptors.

Previous results from FRET and BRET experiments and computational analysis (docking simulations) have suggested that a portion of the third intracellular loop (I3) of the human dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) and the C-tail from the human adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) are involved in A2AR-D2R heteromerization. The results of the present studies, using pull-down and mass spectrometry experiments, suggest that A2AR-D2R heteromerization depends on an electrostatic interaction between an Arg-rich epitope from the I3 of the D2R (217RRRRKR222) and two adjacent Asp residues (DD401-402) or a phosphorylated Ser (S374) residue in the C-tail of the A2AR. A GST-fusion protein containing the C-terminal domain of the A2AR (GST-A2ACT) was able to pull down the whole D2R solubilized from D2R-tranfected HEK-293 cells. Second, a peptide corresponding to the Arg-rich I3 region of the D2R (215VLRRRRKRVN224) and bound to Sepharose was able to pull down both GST-A2ACT and the whole A2AR solubilized from A2AR-tranfected HEK-293 cells. Finally, mass spectometry and pull-down data showed that the Arg-rich D2R epitope binds to two different epitopes from the C-terminal part of the A2AR, containing the two adjacent Asp residues or the phosphorylated Ser residue (388HELKGVCPEPPGLDDPLAQDGAVGS412 and 370SAQEpSQGNT378). The present results are the first example of epitope-epitope electrostatic interaction underlying receptor heteromerization, a new, expanding area of protein-protein interactions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2004

Neuroprotective effect of L-DOPA co-administered with the adenosine A2A receptor agonist CGS 21680 in an animal model of Parkinson's disease.

Adenosine A2A receptors are a new target for drug development in Parkinson's disease. Some experimental and clinical data suggest that A2A receptor antagonists can provide symptomatic improvement by potentiating the effects of L-DOPA as well as a decrease in secondary effects such as L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia. L-DOPA-induced behavioral sensitization in unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats is frequently used as an experimental model of L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia. In the present work this model was used to evaluate the effect of the A2A receptor agonist CGS 21680 and the A2A receptor antagonist MSX-3 on L-DOPA-induced behavioral sensitization and 6-hydroxydopamine-induced striatal dopamine denervation. L-DOPA-induced behavioral sensitization was determined as an increase in L-DOPA-induced abnormal involuntary movements and enhancement of apomorphine-induced turning behavior. Striatal dopamine innervation was determined by measuring tyrosine-hydroxylase immunoreactivity. Chronic administration of MSX-3 was not found to be effective at counteracting L-DOPA-induced behavioral sensitization. On the other hand, CGS 21680 completely avoided the development of L-DOPA-induced behavioral sensitization. The analysis of the striatal dopamine innervation showed that L-DOPA-CGS 21680 co-treatment conferred neuroprotection to the toxic effects of 6-hydroxydopamine. This neuroprotective effect was dependent on A2A and D2 receptor stimulation, since it was counteracted by MSX-3 and by the D2 receptor antagonist haloperidol. These results open new therapeutic avenues in early events in Parkinson's disease.

Adenosine↗
PubMed2004

Corticosterone strongly increases the affinity of dorsal raphe 5-HT1A receptors.

The effects of corticosterone (10 mg/kg, s.c., 6 h) on dorsal raphe 5-HT1A autoreceptors have been studied in adrenalectomized rats with or without porcine galanin modulation. Adrenalectomy diminishes 5-HT1A autoreceptors affinity. Corticosterone increases 5-HT1A autoreceptor agonist affinity (+90%, p<0.001) in adrenalectomized rats. Galanin (10 nM) increases dorsal raphe 5-HT1A autoreceptor density (+65%, p<0.05) and its Kd value (+248%, p<0.05) only in adrenalectomized rats treated with corticosterone. Dorsal raphe glucocorticoid receptors activation by corticosterone may therefore lead to an increased signalling of 5-HT1A autoreceptors that may become counteracted by galanin receptor activation. Glucocorticoids, by enhancing dorsal raphe 5-HT1A autoreceptor function, may therefore cause reduced 5-HT neuronal activity and thus lead to a depressive state.

8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin↗