Abstract
A(3) adenosine receptors have been proposed to play an important role
in the pathophysiology of cerebral ischemia with a regimen-dependent
nature of the therapeutic effects probably related to receptor desensitization
and down-regulation. Here we studied the agonist-induced internalization
of human A(3) adenosine receptors in transfected Chinese hamster
ovary cells, and then we evaluated the relationship between internalization
and signal desensitization and resensitization. Binding of N(6)-(4-amino-3-(125)Iiodobenzyl)adenosine-5'-N-methyluronamide
to membranes from Chinese hamster ovary cells stably transfected
with the human A(3) adenosine receptor showed a profile typical of
these receptors in other cell lines (K:(D) = 1.3+/-0.08 nM; B(max)
= 400+/-28 fmol/mg of proteins). The iodinated agonist, bound at
4 degrees C to whole transfected cells, was internalized by increasing
the temperature to 37 degrees C with a rate constant of 0.04+/-0.034
min(-1). Agonist-induced internalization of A(3) adenosine receptors
was directly demonstrated by immunogold electron microscopy, which
revealed the localization of these receptors in plasma membranes
and intracellular vesicles. Moreover, short-term exposure of these
cells to the agonist caused rapid desensitization as tested in adenylyl
cyclase assays. Subsequent removal of the agonist led to restoration
of the receptor function and recycling of the receptors to the cell
surface. The rate constant of receptor recycling was 0.02+/-0.0017
min(-1). Blockade of internalization and recycling demonstrated that
internalization did not affect signal desensitization, whereas recycling
of internalized receptors was implicated in the signal resensitization.
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