We used rat pancreatic acini and measured the effects of various agents on digestive enzyme secretion, diacylglycerol (DAG) and the cellular distribution of protein kinase C (PKC) enzyme activity as well as isoforms of PKC determined by quantitative immunoblot analysis. TPA, but not CCK-8, caused translocation of PKC enzyme activity from the cytosol fraction to the membrane fraction. Immunoblot analysis detected PKC-alpha, PKC-delta, PKC-epsilon and PKC-zeta. PKC-beta, PKC-gamma and PKC-eta were not detected. TPA caused translocation of all isoforms from cytosol to membrane, whereas CCK-8 caused translocation of PKC-delta and PKC-epsilon, carbachol caused translocation of PKC-epsilon, and bombesin and secretin caused no detectable translocation of any isoform. Specific receptor antagonists could prevent, as well as reverse completely, the translocation of PKC isoforms caused by CCK-8 or carbachol. Agonists added in sequence with an interposed addition of a specific receptor antagonist caused cycling of PKC-epsilon between cytosol and membrane fractions. Each receptor-mediated agonist that caused translocation of PKC also increased DAG, and with CCK-8 and carbachol cycling of PKC-epsilon between cytosol and membrane was accompanied by corresponding cyclic changes in cellular DAG. CCK-JMV-180, bombesin and secretin increased DAG but did not cause translocation of any PKC isoform. Translocation of a PKC isoform could be accounted for by whether the increased DAG originated from PIP2 (accompanied by translocation) or from phosphatidylcholine (no accompanying translocation). Thus it appeared that DAG, in pancreatic acini, is functionally compartmentalized depending on the source of the lipid. Studies using CCK-8 and CCK-JMV-180 indicated that occupation of the low affinity state of the CCK receptor by either peptide increased DAG from phosphatidylcholine, whereas occupation of the very low affinity state by CCK-8 increased DAG from PIP2 and caused translocation of PKC-delta and PKC-epsilon. TPA stimulated amylase secretion, indicating that activation of PKC can stimulate enzyme secretion; however, with the various receptor-mediated secretagogues there was no consistent, unequivocal correlation between translocation of an isoform of PKC and accompanying changes in enzyme secretion.

OBJECTIVE

Cholecystokinin 2 (CCK-2) receptor overexpression has been demonstrated in a high percentage of medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTC). Analogous to somatostatin receptors, CCK-2 receptors might be viable targets for radionuclide scintigraphy and/or radionuclide therapy. Several CCK-2 receptor-binding radiopeptides have been developed, and some have been carried through into clinical studies. However, these studies are mostly limited and difficult to compare. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of three promising CCK-2 receptor-binding radiopeptides in patients with MTC.

METHODS

(111)In-DOTA-(D: )Asp-Tyr-Nle-Gly-Trp-Nle-Asp-Phe-NH(2) ((111)In-DOTA-CCK), a CCK analogue, and the gastrin-based ligands (99m)Tc-N(4)-Gly-(D: )Glu-(Glu)(5)-Ala-Tyr-Gly-Trp-Met-Asp-Phe-NH(2) ((99m)Tc-demogastrin 2) and (111)In-DOTA-(D: )Glu-Ala-Tyr-Gly-Trp-Met-Asp-Phe-NH(2) ((111)In-DOTA-MG11) were each administered to the same group of six patients. Planar images made at 3-5, 7 and 24 h p.i. were used for comparison of tumour visualisation and renal uptake.

RESULTS

(99m)Tc-demogastrin 2 scintigraphy visualised all known lesions and new lesions in four of six patients. (111)In-DOTA-CCK and (111)In-DOTA-MG11 on the other hand missed several lesions; tumour uptake of these two radiopharmaceuticals was quite low. Comparison of retention of renal activity showed no major differences between the three radiopeptides.

CONCLUSIONS

(99m)Tc-demogastrin 2 scintigraphy appeared most promising as a diagnostic tool in patients with MTC. Further studies are required to evaluate its value in patient management. Direct comparisons of the compounds studied strongly suggests that (111)In-DOTA-CCK and (111)In-DOTA-MG11 have less potential as imaging agents than (99m)Tc-demogastrin 2. These DOTA-linked compounds are considered unlikely to be useful for radionuclide therapy because of low tumour uptake.

The motility of the gut depends on the chemicals contained in the lumen, but the stimuli that modify motility and their relationship to enteric neural pathways are unclear. This study examined local inhibitory reflexes activated by various chemical stimulants applied to the mucosa to characterize effective physiological stimuli and the pathways they excite. Segments of the jejunum were dissected to allow access to the circular muscle on one-half of the preparation while leaving the mucosa intact on the circumferentially adjacent half. Chemicals were transiently applied to the mucosa, and responses were recorded intracellularly in nearby circular muscle cells. The amino acids l-phenylalanine, l-alanine, or l-tryptophan (all 1 mM) evoked inhibitory junction potentials (IJPs; latency 150-300 ms, amplitude 3-8 mV, each n>> 6) that were blocked by TTX and partially blocked by antagonists of P2X receptors and/or a combination of antagonists at 5-HT(3) and 5-HT(4) receptors. The putative mediators 5-HT (10 microM), ATP (1 mM), and CCK-8 (1-10 microM) elicited IJPs mediated via 5-HT(3), P2X, and CCK-B receptors, respectively. Responses were only partially reduced by the effective antagonists. IJPs evoked by electrically stimulating the mucosa were unaffected by antagonists that reduced chemically evoked responses. Both chemically and electrically evoked IJPs were resistant to nicotinic, NK(1), NK(3), alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid, N-methyl-d-aspartate, or CGRP receptor blockade. We conclude that mucosal stimulation by amino acids activates local neural pathways whose pharmacology depends on the nature of the stimulus. Transmitters involved at some synapses in these pathways remain to be identified.

Cholecystokinin (CCK) is a brain-gut peptide; it functions both as a neuropeptide and as a gut hormone. Although the pancreas and the gallbladder were long thought to be the principal peripheral targets of CCK, CCK receptors are found throughout the gut. It is likely that CCK has a physiological role not only in the stimulation of pancreatic and biliary secretions but also in the regulation of gastrointestinal motility. The motor effects of CCK include postprandial inhibition of gastric emptying and inhibition of colonic transit. It is now evident that at least two different receptors, CCK(1) and CCK(2) (formerly CCK-A and CCK-B, respectively), mediate the actions of CCK. Both localization and functional studies suggest that the motor effects of CCK are mediated by CCK(1) receptors in humans. Since CCK is involved in sensory and motor responses to distension in the intestinal tract, it may contribute to the symptoms of constipation, bloating and abdominal pain that are often characteristic of functional gastrointestinal disorders in general and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), in particular. CCK(1) receptor antagonists are therefore currently under development for the treatment of constipation-predominant IBS. Clinical studies suggest that CCK(1) receptor antagonists are effective facilitators of gastric emptying and inhibitors of gallbladder contraction and can accelerate colonic transit time in healthy volunteers and patients with IBS. These drugs are therefore potentially of great value in the treatment of motility disorders such as constipation and constipation-predominant IBS.

[3H]L-365,260, [(3R-(+)-2,3-dihydro-1-methyl-2-oxo-5-phenyl-1H-1,4- benzodiazepin-3-yl)-N'-(3-methylphenyl)urea], a new potent and selective nonpeptide brain cholecystokinin (CCK-B) and gastrin receptor antagonist, bound saturably and reversibly to guinea pig brain membranes. Scatchard analysis indicated a single class of high affinity (Kd = 2.3 nM) binding sites. The binding of [3H]L-365,260 was stereospecific, because unlabeled L-365,260 (an R-enantiomer) was approximately 100 times more potent than its S-enantiomer in displacing binding. The relative potencies of various CCK/gastrin-related peptides and nonpeptide peripheral CCK-A antagonists in displacing [3H]L-365,260 brain binding correlated with their potencies in displacing the binding of 125I-CCK to brain receptors but not their potencies in displacing the peripherally selective CCK-A ligand [3H]L-364,718 from pancreatic receptors. The regional distribution of [3H]L-365,260 binding in various brain areas correlated with 125I-CCK binding. Specific [3H]L-365,260 binding to guinea pig brain membranes was reduced by omission of NaCl but was not affected by omission of MgCl2 or addition of guanosine 5'-(beta-gamma-imido)triphosphate or various pharmacological agents known to interact with other common peptide and nonpeptide receptor systems. [3H]L-365,260 also bound in a specific manner to guinea pig gastric glands but only negligibly to guinea pig or rat pancreas. The binding of [3H]L-365,260 to gastric glands was inhibited by CCK/gastrin antagonists with potencies similar to those for inhibition of 125I-gastrin binding in this tissue. Collectively, the data indicates that [3H]L-365,260 represents a new potent nonpeptide antagonist radioligand suitable for the study of brain CCK-B and gastrin receptors.

BACKGROUND

We newly synthesized YF476 ((R)-1-[2,3-dihydro-2-oxo-1-pivaloylmethyl-5-(2'-pyridyl)-1H-1, 4benzodiazepin-3-yl]-3-(3-methylamino-phenyl)urea) as a gastrin/cholecystokinin-B (CCK-B) receptor antagonist. We investigated the pharmacological profile of YF476 in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS

We examined the binding properties of YF476 to the rat brain, cloned canine and cloned human gastrin/CCK-B receptors, and the effect of YF476 on secretagogue-induced gastric acid secretion in rats and Heidenhain pouch dogs.

RESULTS

YF476 replaced the specific binding of [125I]CCK-8 to the rat brain, cloned canine and cloned human gastrin/CCK-B receptors, with Ki values of 0.068, 0.62 and 0.19 nM, respectively. The affinity of YF476 for rat brain gastrin/CCK-B receptor was 4100-fold higher than that for rat pancreatic CCK-A receptor. In anaesthetized rats, intravenous YF476 inhibited pentagastrin-induced acid secretion with an ED50 value of 0.0086 micromol/kg, but did not affect histamine- and bethanechol-induced acid secretion at a dose of 10 micromol/kg. In Heidenhain pouch dogs, intravenous and oral YF476 inhibited pentagastrin-stimulated gastric acid secretion in a dose-dependent manner with ED50 values of 0.018 and 0.020 micromol/kg, respectively, but did not affect histamine-induced acid secretion.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that YF476 is an extremely potent and highly selective gastrin/CCK-B receptor antagonist, and that the gastrin/CCK-B receptor is not involved in histamine- or bethanechol-induced gastric acid secretion in dogs or rats.

Cholecystokinin-JMV-180 (JMV-180) is an analogue of cholecystokinin C-terminal octapeptide (CCK-8), which has been shown to be an agonist at the proposed CCK pancreatic high-affinity site and a functional antagonist at the pancreatic low-affinity site in rats and to have agonist activity at both high- and low-affinity sites in the mouse. In this study we used JMV-180 to evaluate the potential participation of these two CCK-A sites in the satiety effect of CCK-8 in rats and mice. When tested at doses that ranged from 0.01 to 9.2 mumol/kg, JMV-180 did not reliably affect food intake of solid or liquid test diets in rats. When combined with CCK-8 (3.2 or 8.5 nmol/kg) JMV-180 dose dependently reversed the satiety effect of CCK-8. In contrast to these results in the rat, both JMV-180 (3.7-14.8 mumol/kg) and CCK-8 (1.7-6.8 nmol/kg) dose dependently reduced the intake of 20% sucrose in mice. Both CCK-8- and JMV-180-induced suppression of food intake were attenuated by the CCK-A antagonist MK-329 (24.8 nmol/kg). The results of these studies suggest that agonist activity at sites pharmacologically similar to the CCK pancreatic high-affinity site is not sufficient for expression of CCK satiety, whereas agonist activity at low-affinity-like sites is necessary to reduce food intake. Thus the anorexic activity of CCK appears to be mediated through an interaction with a receptor site pharmacologically similar to the pancreatic low-affinity CCK receptor site.

We tested the hypothesis that the release of PYY by fat confined to the proximal small intestine is dependent on CCK. Using a multi-fistulated model, plasma PYY levels were compared in 6 dogs after 60 mM oleate was perfused into the proximal one-half of the small intestine following i.v. administration of saline or devazepide, a CCK-A antagonist. Plasma PYY increased with fat (P < 0. 05), but plasma PYY level was lower following devazepide at 60 min and 90 min (P < 0.05). We conclude that CCK serves as a foregut signal linking fat in the proximal gut with the release of distal gut PYY.

OBJECTIVE

To study the anti-inflammatory effects of cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK-8) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endotoxic shock (ES) and further investigate its signal transduction pathways involving p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and IkappaB-alpha.

METHODS

Eighty-four rats were divided randomly into four groups: LPS (8 mg.kg(-1), iv) induced ES; CCK-8 (40 microg.kg(-1), iv) pretreatment 10 min before LPS (8 mg.kg(-1)); CCK-8 (40 microg.kg(-1), iv) or normal saline (control) groups. The inflammatory changes of lung and spleen, phagocytic function of alveolar macrophage, quantification of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were investigated in rats by using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, phagocytosis of Candida albicans and differential cell counting. Nitric oxide (NO) production in serum, lung and spleen was measured with the Griess reaction. The mechanism involving p38 MAPK and IkappaB-alpha signal pathways was investigated by Western blot.

RESULTS

Inflammatory changes of lung and spleen induced by LPS were alleviated by CCK-8, the increase of NO induced by LPS in serum, lung and spleen was significantly inhibited and the neutrophil infiltration in BAL was significantly reduced by CCK-8. The number of neutrophils was (52+/-10)X10(6) cells. (-1) in LPS group, while it decreased to (18+/-4)X10(6) cells. (-1) in CCK-8+LPS (P<0.01). The phagocytic rate of CCK-8 group increased to (62.49+/-9.49) %, compared with control group (48.16+/-14.20) %, P<0.05. The phagocytosis rate was (85.14+/-4.64) % in LPS group, which reduced to (59.33+/-3.14) % in CCK-8+LPS group (P<0.01). The results of phagocytosis indexes showed similar changes. CCK-8 may play an important role in increasing the expression of p38 MAPK and decreasing the degradation of IkappaB-alpha in lung and spleen of ES rats.

CONCLUSIONS

CCK-8 can result in anti-inflammatory effects, which may be related to activation of p38 MAPK and inhibition on the degradation of IkappaB-alpha.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to investigate the role of gastrin-17 (G17) on angiogenesis features in gliomas both in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS

The influences of G17 and G17 receptor antagonists were characterized in vitro in terms of angiogenesis on human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) tubulogenesis processes on Matrigel and in vivo with respect to U373 orthotopic glioma xenografts. The influence of phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase, protein kinase C, and nuclear factor-kappaB inhibitors was characterized in vitro on G17-mediated HUVEC tubulogenesis. G17-mediated release of interleukin (IL)-8 from HUVECs and G17-induced modifications in nuclear factor-kappaB DNA binding activity were characterized by means of specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The influence of G17 on E- and P-selectin expression was determined by means of computer-assisted microscopy, whereas the influence of E- and P-selectin on HUVEC migration was approached by means of antisense oligonucleotides. The chemotactic influence of G17 and IL-8 on HUVEC migration was characterized by means of computer-assisted videomicroscopy with Dunn chambers.

RESULTS

Messenger RNAs for cholecystokinin (CCK)A, CCKB, and CCKC receptors were present in HUVECs and microvessels dissected from a human glioblastoma. Whereas G17 significantly increased the levels of angiogenesis in vivo in the U373 experimental glioma model and in vitro in the HUVECs, the CCKB receptor antagonist L365,260 significantly counteracted the G17-mediated proangiogenic effects. G17 chemoattracted HUVECs, whereas IL-8 failed to do so. IL-8 receptor alpha (CXCR1) and IL-8 receptor beta (CXCR2) mRNAs were not detected in these endothelial cells. Gastrin significantly (but only transiently) decreased the level of expression of E-selectin, but not P-selectin, whereas IL-8 increased the expression of E-selectin. Specific antisense oligonucleotides against E- and P-selectin significantly decreased HUVEC tubulogenesis processes in vitro on Matrigel.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study shows that gastrin has marked proangiogenic effects in vivo on experimental gliomas and in vitro on HUVECs. This effect depends in part on the level of E-selectin activation, but not on IL-8 expression/release by HUVECs.

A number of new 1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one-based gastrin/CCK-B receptor antagonists related to the archetypal analogue L-365,260, and more closely to the recently reported compound YM022, have been synthesized and evaluated for biological activity. The compounds were screened for their ability to inhibit the binding of [125I]CCK-8 to gastrin/CCK-B receptors prepared from rat brains and that of [3H]L-364,718 to CCK-A receptors from rat pancreas, and were shown to be potent and selective ligands for the gastrin/CCK-B receptor. Functional studies in vivo demonstrated the compounds to be antagonists of the receptor as evidenced by their ability to inhibit pentagastrin-induced gastric acid secretion in anesthetized rats. More extensive evaluation in vivo included determination of ED50 values in the rat acid secretion model for selected compounds and an examination of the effect of these compounds on pentagastrin-induced gastric acid secretion in Heidenhain pouch dogs following oral and intravenous administration. Two compounds, i.e. (3R)-N-[1-[(tert-butylcarbonyl)methyl]-2,3-dihydro-2-oxo-5-(2-pyri dyl) -1H-1,4-benzodiazepin-3-yl]-N'-[3-(methylamino)phenyl]urea, 15c (YF476), and (3R)-N-[1-[(tert-Butylcarbonyl)methyl]-2,3-dihydro-2-oxo-5- (2-pyridyl)-1H-1,4-benzodiazepin-3-yl]-N'-[3-(dimethylamino)phenyl ]urea hydrochloride, 15d, showed potent dose-dependent effects in both models with the former showing excellent oral bioavailability and an ED50 of 21nmol/kg po in dogs. 15c is currently under clinical investigation for the treatment of gastro-oesophagal reflux disease (GORD).

The effects of different cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor antagonists (devazepide and L365,260) on cocaine or stress-induced reactivation of cocaine conditioned place preference (CPP) were investigated in rats. After receiving alternate injection of cocaine (10 mg/kg) and saline for 8 consecutive days, the rats spent more time in the drug-paired side (cocaine CPP) on day 9. These animals did not show cocaine CPP on day 31 following saline-paired training daily from days 10 to 30 (21-day extinction). However, a single injection of cocaine (10 mg/kg) or 15 min of intermittent footshock could reinstate CPP on day 32 with significant more time spent in the drug-paired side in comparison with that on day 0. Systemic injection of CCK-A receptor antagonists, devazepide (0.1 and 1 mg/kg, i.p.), 30 min before cocaine priming, significantly attenuated cocaine-induced reinstatement of CPP, while CCK-B receptor antagonist, L365,260 (0.1 and 1 mg/kg, i.p.), did not show a similar effect. In contrast, pretreatment with L365,260 (0.1 and 1 mg/kg, i.p.) but not devazepide (0.1 and 1 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly blocked stress-induced reinstatement of CPP. In another experiment, CCK-A or B receptor antagonists were infused into nucleus accumbens or amygdala to determine which brain area are involved in the role of different CCK receptors in stress or drug-induced relapse to cocaine seeking. The results show that infusion of the devazepide (10 microg) into the nucleus accumbens significantly inhibited the cocaine-induced reinstatement of CPP, while infusion of devazepide (1 and 10 microg) into amygdala did not affect cocaine-induced reactivation of CPP. Interestingly, infusion of L365,260 (1 and 10 microg) into both nucleus accumbens or amygdala significantly attenuated or blocked stress-induced reinstatement of CPP. These findings demonstrate that CCK-A and B receptor have different roles in relapse to drug craving and further suggest that the brain areas involved in the CCK receptors on reinstatement of drug seeking are not identical. CCK-B receptor antagonists might be of some value in the treatment and prevention of relapse to stress-induced to drug craving following long-term detoxification.

Cholecystokinin (CCK) is a major regulator of pancreatic acinar cells and was shown previously to be capable of inducing cytoskeletal changes in these cells. In the present study, using NIH3T3 cells stably transfected with CCK-A receptors as a model cell, we demonstrate that CCK can induce actin stress fibers through a G13- and RhoA-dependent mechanism. CCK induced stress fibers within minutes similar to those induced by lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), the active component of serum. The effects of CCK were mimicked by active RhoV14 and blocked by dominant-negative RhoN19, Clostridium botulinum C3 transferase, and the Rho-kinase inhibitor Y-27632. CCK rapidly induced active Rho in cells as shown with a pull-down assay using the Rho binding domain of rhotekin and by a serum response element (SRE)-luciferase reporter assay. To evaluate the G protein mediating the action of CCK, cells were transfected with active alpha-subunits; Galphaalphaalphaq induced stress fibers and in some cases cell rounding. A p115 Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) regulator of G protein signaling (RGS) domain known to interact with G12/13 inhibited active alphaCCK-induced stress fibers, whereas RGS2 and RGS4, which are known to inhibit Gq, had no effect. Cotransfection with plasmids coding for the G protein alpha-subunit carboxy-terminal peptide from alphaalphaCCK, whereas the peptide from alphaq did not. These results show that in NIH3T3 cells bearing CCK-A receptors, CCK activates Rho primarily through G13, leading to rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton.

The aim of this study was to determine the function of the NEAT1/miR-23a-3p/SMC1A axis in cell proliferation and apoptosis in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Microarray analysis was used to screen differentially expressed lncRNAs/miRNAs/mRNAs in primary AML cells. The expression of nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1), miR-23a-3p, and structural maintenance of chromosome 1 alpha (SMC1A) in primary AML cells and THP-1 cells were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). A Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to analyze proliferation. Cell cycle progression and apoptosis were examined by flow cytometry. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and dual-luciferase assays were performed to determine the correlation between miR-23a-3p and NEAT1 or SMC1A. The qRT-PCR illustrated that NEAT1 and SMC1A expression was decreased but that miR-23a-3p expression was increased in primary AML cells and THP-1 cells compared with that in normal cells. The RIP assay and dual-luciferase assay revealed the targeting relationship between miR-23a-3p and NEAT1 or SMC1A. The CCK-8 assay showed that the overexpression of NEAT1 and SMC1A or repression of miR-23a-3p inhibited cell proliferation. Flow cytometry showed that the upregulation of NEAT1 and SMC1A or repression of miR-23a-3p promoted apoptosis and affected the cell cycle. NEAT1 repressed the expression of miR-23a-3p, and therefore promoted SMC1A, which in turn suppressed myeloid leukemia cell proliferation and enhanced apoptosis.

Cholecystokinin (CCK)-A and CCK-B receptors are highly homologous members of the seven transmembrane domain G-protein-coupled receptor superfamily. Genes of both receptors contain five exons and share a similar exon-intron organization. To determine the structural basis of CCK-A receptor (CCK-AR) functionally coupled to Gs, a series of chimeric mutants were constructed by replacing exons of human CCK-B receptor (CCK-BR), from the second to the fifth (last) exon, with human CCK-AR counterparts. Binding and signal transduction properties of wild-type and chimeric receptors were examined in stably transfected HEK-293 cells. Chimeric receptors that maintained high affinity binding to CCK exhibited dose-dependent increases in intracellular calcium mobilization similar to both wild-type receptors. However, only the wild-type CCK-AR and chimeric mutants containing the second exon of CCK-AR were able to mediate significantly greater increases in intracellular cAMP content and adenylyl cyclase activity compared with wild-type CCK-BR. A CCK-BR mutant was further constructed by replacing five amino acids, Gly-Leu-Ser-Arg-(Arg)-Leu, in the first intracellular loop with the corresponding five CCK-AR specific amino acids, Ile-Arg-Asn-Lys-(Arg)-Met. The resultant receptor maintained high affinity binding to both CCK and gastrin and dose-dependent calcium responses similar to wild-type CCK-BR. However, this first intracellular loop mutant also gained positive cAMP responses to both sulfated CCK-8 and gastrin-17 with EC50 values of 8.5 +/- 1 nM and 23 +/- 7 nM, respectively. These data suggest that the first intracellular loop of CCK-AR is essential for coupling to Gs and activation of adenylyl cyclase signal transduction cascade.

The effects of gastrin (G17) on the growth and migration factors of four human melanoma cell lines (HT-144, C32, G-361, and SKMEL-28) were investigated. The expression patterns of cholecystokinin (CCK)(A), CCK(B), and CCK(C) gastrin receptors were investigated in these cells and in seven clinical samples by means of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Melanoma cells appear to express mRNA for CCK(C) receptors, but not for CCK(A) or CCK(B) receptors. Although gastrin does not significantly modify the growth characteristics of the cell lines under study, it significantly modifies their cell migration characteristics. These modifications occur at adhesion level by modifying the expression levels of alpha(v) and beta3 integrins, at motility level by modifying the organization of the actin cytoskeleton, and at invasion level by modifying the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase 14. We recently demonstrated the presence of CCK(B) receptors in mouse endothelial cells involved in glioblastoma neoangiogenesis. Chronic in vivo administration of a selective CCK(B) receptor antagonist to mice bearing xenografts of human C32 melanoma cells significantly decreased levels of neoangiogenesis, resulting in considerable delays in the growth of these C32 xenografts. In conclusion, our study identifies the pleiotropic effects of gastrin on melanoma cell biology.

OBJECTIVE

Cholecystokinin (CCK) is a neuropeptide that exerts numerous effects in the gut. To determine the sites of action of CCK, the distribution and properties of CCK receptor subtypes were studied.

METHODS

CCK receptors were localized by autoradiographic analysis of 125I-CCK binding to frozen sections of the canine upper gastrointestinal tract.

RESULTS

In the cardiac and fundic stomach, CCK-B/gastrin receptors were found in the mucosa and in a subpopulation of neuronal elements in the circular muscle. The antrum expressed CCK-B/gastrin receptors in a few neurons in the circular muscle and in the entire myenteric plexus; no receptors were observed in the antral mucosa or esophagus. The duodenum showed a high concentration of CCK-B/gastrin receptors in the myenteric plexus. The cardiac and fundic basal mucosae expressed CCK-A receptors. Two nonpeptide CCK receptor antagonists were unable to differentiate between the receptor subtypes.

CONCLUSIONS

The differential expression of CCK receptor subtypes in the gastric mucosa provides a morphological basis for the separate regulatory roles of CCK and gastrin in gastric function. CCK-B/gastrin receptor expression in a subset of neurons in gastric circular muscle suggests a novel site of action for CCK and/or gastrin.

OBJECTIVE

Cholecystokinin (CCK) receptors mediate pancreatic secretion and gallbladder contraction. Hitherto, little information on characteristics of CCK receptors in the human pancreas was available. This study identifies CCK receptors in the human pancreas and compares their characteristics with the CCK receptors in the human gallbladder.

METHODS

Visualization and quantification of 125I-Bolton-Hunter sulfated CCK octapeptide (125I-BH-CCK-8) binding to tissue sections of the human pancreas and gallbladder were performed by storage phosphor autoradiography.

RESULTS

Specific bindings for CCK were visualized in pancreatic tissue and the smooth muscle layer of the gallbladder. Binding of 125I-BH-CCK-8 to the pancreas was inhibited by agonists with the affinities (dissociation constant) of CCK (0.11 nmol/L) approximately gastrin (0.15 nmol/L) and by antagonists with the affinities of CCK-B receptor antagonist (L365,260, 0.18 nmol/L)>> CCK-A receptor antagonist (lorglumide, 8.1 nmol/L). In contrast to the pancreas, binding of 125I-BH-CCK-8 to the gallbladder muscle was inhibited with high affinity by CCK-8 and lorglumide but was replaced to a small degree by gastrin and L365,260.

CONCLUSIONS

The sub-types of receptors for CCK in the human pancreas and gallbladder are different. The human pancreas predominantly expresses CCK-B receptors, whereas only CCK-A receptors were localized in the human gallbladder muscle.

Leptin was shown to exhibit similar to cholecystokinin (CCK) cytoprotective activity against acute gastric lesions, but its role in ulcer healing has not been examined. The aims of this study were: (1) to compare the effects of exogenous leptin to those of CCK on the course of healing of chronic gastric ulcers; (2) to study the gene and protein expression of leptin at the ulcer margin during ulcer healing; and (3) to assess the effects of leptin administration on the mucosal gene expression of main growth factor such as transforming growth factor alpha (TGFalpha). Gastric ulcers were produced in rats by the acetic acid method. Rats with ulcers were divided in following treatment groups: (1) vehicle; (2) leptin (10 microg/kg i.p.); (3) CCK (10 microg/kg s.c.); and (4) leptin or CCK with or without tyrphostin A46 (200 microg/kg i.p.), an inhibitor of epidermal growth factor (EGF)-receptor tyrosine kinase or NG-nitro-L-arginine (20 mg/kg i.g.), a blocker of nitric oxide synthase. Animals were euthanized 9 days after ulcer induction. The area of gastric ulcers and the gastric blood flow at the ulcer area were determined. In addition, mucosal biopsy samples were taken from the ulcer area for histological evaluation as well as for the determination of mRNA and protein expression for leptin and constitutive nitric oxide synthase (cNOS) and inducibile nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot, respectively. In addition, the gene expression for TGFalpha was analyzed by RT-PCR. Both leptin and CCK reduced significantly the ulcer area as compared to vehicle-treated group by approximately 50%. The treatment with tyrphostin or N(G)-nitro-L-arginine reversed in part the acceleration of ulcer healing by leptin and CCK. The expression of leptin mRNA and protein was significantly increased at the ulcer edge. The leptin-induced acceleration of ulcer healing was associated with increased expression of transcripts for TGFalpha as well as increased mRNA and protein expression for cNOS and iNOS at the ulcer margin. We conclude that leptin accelerates ulcer healing by mechanisms involving the up-regulation of TGFalpha and increased production of nitric oxide due to up-regulation of cNOS and iNOS in the ulcer area.

125I-Bolton-Hunter sulfated cholecystokinin-8 was used to localize and characterize cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor binding sites in trigeminal and dorsal root ganglia, and in the spinal cord of the rat, rabbit, and monkey. In the rabbit and monkey, a substantial number, 90 +/- 21% and 24 +/- 8%, respectively, of trigeminal and dorsal root ganglion neurons express CCK binding sites. In the spinal cord, the highest concentration of CCK receptors is found in laminae I and II, which is the major termination site of dorsal root ganglia neurons expressing CCK receptor binding sites. Neonatal capsaicin treatment of the rat results in a 70% decline in CCK receptor binding sites in laminae I and II of the spinal cord, indicating that dorsal root ganglia neurons are a major source of CCK receptors in the spinal cord. Pharmacological experiments using selective CCK-A and CCK-B receptor antagonists demonstrate that CCK-B is the prominent CCK receptor subtype in trigeminal and dorsal root ganglia neurons in the rat, rabbit, and monkey. In the rat and rabbit spinal cord, CCK-B binding sites are the prominent subtype, whereas in the monkey cord, CCK-A is the prominent receptor subtype. These results demonstrate that CCK-B receptors are expressed by a substantial percentage of dorsal root ganglion neurons at all spinal levels, and that CCK may antagonize opiate analgesia at the level of the primary afferent neuron itself.

There is increasing evidence for a direct interaction of the enteric nervous and immune system. Receptors for neuropeptides such as VIP, somatostatin, and substance P have been characterised in human immuno-haematopoietic cells but little is known about the functional significance and expression of receptors for cholecystokinin (CCK) on cells of the immune system. There are only few studies that describe the expression of CCK receptors on human leukaemia-derived cell lines but the receptor structure and function in normal leukocytes have not been clearly established. We therefore sought to determine CCK receptor expression, structure, and function in nontransformed human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.Full-length cDNA clones encoding the human CCK-A and CCK-B/gastrin receptor are expressed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy volunteers without haematopoietic malignancy. In addition to wild-type CCK-B/gastrin receptor cDNAs, we isolated a splice variant with an in frame insertion of 69 amino acids within its putative third intracellular receptor loop. Dideoxy sequence analysis revealed that the cDNA of this splice variant comprises exons 1-4 but retains intron 4 (207 bp) in the absence of mutations within the splice donor sites. Transient expression of this splice variant in COS-7 cells reveals wild-type affinity for CCK-8, Gastrin-17, and antagonist L-365,260. Affinity for glycine-extended gastrin-17 was not increased when compared to the wild-type CCK-B/gastrin receptor. In vitro, gastrin decreased 3H-thymidine labelling in phytohaemagglutinin-pretreated mononuclear cells at a half-maximally effective concentration of 1.5 nM. We also isolated a cDNA encoding another splice variant of the CCK-B/gastrin receptor with a 158 bp deletion of the entire exon 4 sequence. We conclude that wild-type transcripts of both CCK receptor subtypes and splice variants of the CCK-B/gastrin receptor are expressed in nontransformed human mononuclear cells and that gastrin exhibits antiproliferative effects.

The present study was performed to determine whether the expression levels of the hypothalamic cholecystokinin (CCK) and its receptors are associated with the responsiveness to high frequency electroacupuncture (EA) analgesia in rats. EA stimulation (100 Hz, 0.5 ms pulse width, 0.2-0.3 mA) was delivered to the Zusanli (ST36) acupoint of male Sprague-Dawley rats for 20 min without anesthetics or holder restraint. The analgesic effect of EA was quantified using a tail flick latency test, and subsequently animals were allocated to responder or non-responder groups. The hypothalamus of rats in each group was dissected and RNA was purified. The mRNA expressions of CCK, and CCK-A and -B receptor were determined by real-time RT-PCR. CCK mRNA levels were not significantly different in the two groups, whereas both CCK-A and -B receptors were significantly more expressed in non-responders. These results suggest that the level of CCK receptor mRNA expression in the hypothalamus, rather than CCK mRNA, has an important relationship with the individual variations to high frequency EA analgesia in rats.

This paper describes the synthesis and structure-activity relationships (SAR) leading to the first rational design of "dipeptoid" analogues of the neuropeptide cholecystokinin (CCK). Compounds [R-(R*,S*)]-4-[2-[3-(1H-indol-3-yl)-2-methyl-1-oxo-2-[(tricyclo [3.3.1.1(3,7)]dec-2-yloxy)carbonyl]amino]propyl]amino]-3- phenylpropyl]-amino]-4-oxo-2-butenoic acid, [R-(R*,R*)]-4-[2-[3-(1H-indol-3-yl)-2-methyl-1-oxo-2-[(tricyclo [3.3.1.1(3,7)]dec-2-oxy)carbonyl]amino]propyl]amino]-1- phenylethyl]amino]-4-oxo-2-butenoic acid, and [R-(R*,R*)]-4-[2-[3-(1H-indol-3-yl)-2-methyl-1-oxo-2-[(tricyclo [3.3.1.1(3,7)]dec-2-yloxy)carbonyl]amino]propyl]amino]-1- phenylethyl]amino]-4-oxobutanoic acid (29d) have CCK-B binding affinities of IC50 = 0.8, 0.7, and 1.7 nM with a CCK-A/CCK-B ratio of 550, 1100, and 2500, respectively. Compound 27 is well-absorbed and is equiactive by the subcutaneous (sc) and intravenous (iv) routes of administration in the Ghosh and Schild test in rats in inhibiting pentagastrin stimulated gastric acid secretion with ED50 = 0.07 (0.01-0.34) mumol/kg. Compound 29d is anxiolytic in mice in the black-white test box over the range 0.0001-30 mg/kg sc, comparable in activity to diazepam over the range 0.125-1 mg/kg ip), and also active in this test when dosed orally over a wide range from 0.0001 to 10 mg/kg.

OBJECTIVE

Cholecystokinin (CCK) acting via CCK(A) receptors and gastrin acting via CCK(B) receptors exert trophic effects on a variety of nontransformed tissues. However, their role as hormonal regulators of pancreatic cancer is controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of activation of CCK(A) and CCK(B) receptors on the growth of human pancreatic cancer cells in vitro.

METHODS

Two human pancreatic cell lines MiaPaca-2 and Panc-1 were transfected stably with both CCK receptor subtypes. Effects of CCK on various growth parameters including DNA synthesis, nuclear labeling, and colony formation were evaluated.

RESULTS

Cells expressing either receptor subtype, but not untransfected cells, bound ligand and mobilized Ca2+ in response to CCK. CCK treatment caused a sustained pronounced inhibition of anchorage-independent growth. Similarly, CCK treatment inhibited anchorage-dependent growth. Receptor activation caused a concentration and time-dependent reduction in [3H]thymidine incorporation and nuclear labeling in cells cultured anchored to a plastic substrate. However, these effects on anchorage-dependent growth were transient, suggesting cellular desensitization.

CONCLUSIONS

These data indicate that both CCK receptor subtypes can mediate growth inhibitory responses in pancreatic cancer cell lines and raise the possibility that CCK exerts a predominant growth inhibitory action on human pancreatic cancer cells.