• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1275-1281
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• 2005

The $G_{q/11}$ protein-coupled receptors, such as muscarinic (M1 & M3) receptors, have been shown to regulate the release of a soluble amyloid precursor protein (sAPP$\alpha$) produced from $\alpha$-secretase processing. However, there is no direct evidence for the precise characteristics of G proteins, and the signaling mechanism for the regulation of $G_{q/11}$ protein-coupled receptor mediated sAPP$\alpha$ release is not clearly understood. This study examined whether the muscarinic receptor-mediated release of sAPP$\alpha$ is directly regulated by $G\alpha_{q/11}$ proteins. The HEK293 cells were transiently cotransfected with muscarinic M3 receptors and a dominant-negative minigene construct of the G protein $\alpha$ subunit. The sAPP$\alpha$ release in the media was measured using an antibody specific for sAPP. The sAPP$\alpha$ release enhancement induced by muscarinic receptor stimulation was decreased by a $G_{q/11}$ minigene construct, whereas it was not blocked by a control minigene construct (the G$\alpha$ carboxy peptide in random order, G$\alpha_{q}$R) or $G\alpha_{j}$ constructs. This indicated a direct role of the $G\alpha_{q/11}$ protein in the regulation of muscarinic M3 receptor-mediated sAPP$\alpha$ release. We also investigated whether the transactivation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) by a muscarinic agonist could regulate the sAPP$\alpha$ release in SH-SY5Y cells. Pretreatment of a specific EGFR kinase inhibitor, tyrophostin AG1478 (250 nM), blocked the EGF-stimulated sAPP$\alpha$ release, but did not block the oxoM­stimulated sAPP$\alpha$ release. This demonstrated that the transactivation of the EGFR by muscarinic receptor activation was not involved in the muscarinic receptor-mediated sAPP$\alpha$ release.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.642-651
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• 1999

Nonsedating antihistamines do net cause sedation in therapeutic doses because these drugs hardly cross the blood-brain barrier. Since most of the peripheral side dffects of conventional antihistamines are related to their muscarinic receptor blocking action, the present study was performed to investigate whether nonsedating antihistamines interact with the muscarinic receptors and discriminate the muscarinic receptor subtypes in the rat cerebral microsomal fraction which containes both $M_1,{\;}M_2,{\;}M_3{\;}and{\;}M_4$ receptors. Five nonsedating antihistamines at high concentrations inhibited [$^3H$]QNB binding to the muscarinic receptor in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibition curves of these drugs except loratadine which showed positive cooperativity (nH=1.55) were steep (nH=1), indicating interaction with a single homogenous population of the binding sites. Astemizole, clemizole and mequitazine increased the $K_D$ value for [$^3H$]QNB without affecting the binding site concentrations, and this increase in the $K_D$ value resulted from the ability of these drugs to slow [$^3H$]QNB-receptor association. The Ki values of astemizole, clemizole and mequitazine for the inhibition for the inhibition of [$^3H$]QNB binding to muscarinic receptor were 0.58, 5.99 and $0.007{\;}{\mu}M$, respectively. However, loratadine and terfenadine inhibited noncompetitively [$^3H$]QNB binding with the normalized $IC_50$ value of about $2{\;}{\mu}M$. These results demonstrate that; 1) astemizole, clemizole and mequitazine interact directly with the muscarinic receptor at high concentrations; 2) muscarinic receptor blocking potency of these drugs varies widely among drugs; 3) these drugs do not discriminate between muscarinic receptor subtypes.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 1997

The C-terminus ends of the second putative transmembrane domains of both $M_1$ and $M_2$ muscarinic receptors contain a triplet of amino acid residues consisting of leucine (L), tyrosine (Y) and threonine (T). This triplet is repeated as LYT-TYL in $M_1$ receptors at the interface between the second transmembrane domain and the first extracellular loop. Interestingly, however, it is repeated in a transposedfashion (LYT-LYT) in the sequence of $M_2$ receptors. In our previous work, we investigated the possible significance of this unique sequence diversity for determining the distinct differential receptor function at the two receptor subtypes. However, we found mutation of the LYTTYL sequence of $M_1$ receptors to the corresponding $M_2$ receptor LYTLYT sequence demonstrated markedly enhanced the stimulation of phosphoinositide (PI) hydrolysis by carbachol without a change in its coupling to increased cyclic AMP formation. In this work, thus, the enhanced stimulation of PI hydrolysis in the LYTLYT $M_1$ receptor mutant was further investigated. The stimulation of PI hydrolysis by carbachol was enhanced in the mutant $M_1$ receptor, and this change was not due to alterations in the rate of receptor desensitization or sequestration. The observed larger response to carbachol at mutant $M_1$ receptors was also not due to an artifact resulting from selection of CHO cells which express higher levels of G-proteins or phospholipase C. Our data suggest that although the LYTTYL sequence in $M_1$ muscarinic receptors is not involved in determining receptor pharmacology, mutation of the sequence enhanced the coupling of $M_1$ receptors to the stimulation of phospholipase C.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.82 no.1
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• pp.71-80
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• 2019

Background: Efficacy and safety of tiotropium bromide, a muscarinic receptor antagonist, in treatment of asthma have been reported. However, its effect on airway remodeling in chronic asthma of the elderly has not been clearly verified. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of tiotropium and expression of muscarinic receptors as its related mechanism in an aged mouse model of chronic asthma with airway remodeling. Methods: BALB/c female mice age 6 weeks, 9 and 15 months were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) for three months. Tiotropium bromide was administered during the challenge period. Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and pulmonary inflammation were measured. Parameters of airway remodeling, and expression levels of $M_2$ and $M_3$ receptors were examined. Results: Total cell with eosinophils, increased in the OVA groups by age, was decreased significantly after treatment with tiotropium bromide, particularly in the age group of 15 months. AHR and levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13 were decreased, after tiotropium administration. In old aged group of 9- and 15-months-treated groups, hydroxyproline contents and levels of ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin were attenuated. Tiotropium enhanced the expression of $M_2$ but decreased expression of $M_3$ in all aged groups of OVA. Conclusion: Tiotropium bromide had anti-inflammatory and anti-remodeling effects in an aged mouse model of chronic asthma. Its effects seemed to be partly mediated by modulating expression $M_3$ and $M_2$ muscarinic receptors. Tiotropium may be a beneficial treatment option for the elderly with airway remodeling of chronic asthma.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.212-218
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• 1987

Intact brain cell aggregates were dissociated from adult rat brains without cerebellum using a sieving technique. This proparation was used to elucidate the binding characteristics of agonist to muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAchR) in brain. Incubation of cells with carbamylcholine (carbachol) was shown agonist-induced receptor down-regulation depending on the concentration of agonist, not depending on the incubation time. This effect of carbachol was due to a reduction in the maximal binding capacity ($B_{max}$) to the mAchR without decreasing the affinity of the remaining receptors in incubation at 37.deg.C but was not apparent inincubation at $15^{\circ}}C$In addition, it was abolished when the receptors were blocked by atropine. The decline in ($^3H$)N-methylscopolamine (($^3H$)NMS) binding induced by agonist was reflected as a significant reduction in the receptor density with no change in receptor affinity, suggesting that 'true' receptor down-regulation takes place. Moreover, when the receptors were labeled with the lipophilic antagonist ($^3H$) quinuclidinyl benzilate (($^3H$) QNB) insted of the hydrophilic ligand ($^3H$)NMS, the magnitude of the observed receptor down-regulation was significantly lower in case of the former than the latter. This suggested that exposure of intact brain cells to muscarinic agonists might induce a slight degree of accumulation of receptors in intracellular sites before the receptors are actually degraded.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1994.04a
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• pp.290-290
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• 1994

The binding characteristic of oxomemazine to muscarinic receptor in the cerebrum, heart, and ileum were compared to those of pirenzepine to investigate whether oxomemazine could classify the muscarinic receptor subtypes. 〔$^3$H〕Quinucl idinyl benzilate(QNB) identified a single class of muscarinic receptors with apparent K$\sub$D/ value of about 60 pM in three tissues. Analysis of the pirenzepine inhibition curve of 〔$^3$H〕QNB binding to cerebral microsome indicated the presence of two receptor subtypes with high (Ki=16 nM, M$_1$-receptor) and low (Ki=400 nM, M$_2$-receptor) affinity for pirenzepine. Oxomemazine also identified two receptor subtypes with high (Ki=84 nM, On-receptor) and low (Ki=1 4 ${\mu}$M, O$\sub$L/-receptor) affinity in rat cerebral microsome, The percentage population of the M$_1$-and M$_2$-receptors to the total receptors were 61 : 39, and those of the O$\^$H/- and O$\sub$L/-receptors 39 : 61, respectively, However, the Hill coefficients of these two drugs for the inhibition of 〔$^3$H〕QNB binding to the heart and ileum were close to unity which indicated that these drugs bound to a uniform population of receptors in these two tissues. The Ki values for the low affinity sites of pirenzepine and oxomemazine in the cerebrum were similar to those of these drugs in the heart ileum. Both pirenzepine and oxomemazine increased K$\sub$D/ value for 〔$^3$H〕QNB without affecting the binding sites concentration and Hill coefficient for the 〔$^3$H〕QNB binding. Oxomemazine had a 10-fold lower affinity at Ma-receptors than at M$_1$-receptors, and pirenzepine a 8-fold lower affinity at O$\sub$L/-receptors than OH-receptors. Analysis of the shal low competition curves of oxomemazine for the H$_1$ receptors and pirenzepine for the O$\sub$L/-receptors yielded that 69% of the M$_1$-receptors were of the O$\sub$H/-receptors and the remaining 31% of the O$\sub$L/-receptors, and that 29% of the O$\sub$L/-receptors were of the M$_1$-receptors and 71% of the M$_2$-receptors. However, M$_2$ for oxomemazine and O$\sub$H/ for pirenzepine were composed of a uniform population. These results suggest that oxomemazine could discriminatethe muscarnic receptor subtypes and may subclassify the M$_1$-receptors into two subtypes.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.423-428
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• 1998

The ligand binding signals to a wide variety of seven transmembrane cell surface receptors are transduced into intracellular signals through heterotrimeric G-proteins. Recently, there have been reports which show diverse coupling patterns of ligand-activated receptors to the members of Gq family $\alpha$ subunits. In order to shed some light on these complex signal processing networks, interactions between G$\alpha$q family of G protein and neurokinin-2 receptor as well as muscarinic M$_{1}$ receptor, which are considered to be new thearpeutic targets in asthma, were studied. Using washed membranes from Cos-7 cells co-transfected with different G.alpha.q and receptor cDNAs, the receptors were stimulated with various concentrations of carbachol and neurokinin A and the agonist-dependent release of [$^3H$]inositol phosphates through phospholipase C beta-1 activation was measured. Differential coupling of Gaq family of G-protein to muscarinic M$_{1}$ receptor and neurokinin-2 receptor was observed. The neurokinin-2 receptor shows a ligand-mediated response in membranes co-transfected with G$\alpha$q, G$\alpha$11 and G$\alpha$14 but not G$\alpha$16 and the ability of the muscarinic $M_1$ receptor to activate phospholipase C through G$\alpha$/11 but not G$\alpha$14 and G$\alpha$16 was demonstrated. Clearly G$\alpha$/11 can couple $\M_1$ and neurokinin-2 receptor to activate phospholipase C. But, there are differences in the relative coupling of the G$\alpha$14 and G$\alpha$16 subunits to these receptors.

• BMB Reports
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.525-529
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• 1996

Ligand binding properties of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) were characterized by using filtration binding assays. Scatchard analysis using $[^{3}H]N-methylscopolamine$ ($[^{3}H]NMS$) showed that the dissociation constant ($K_d$) and the maximum binding value ($B_{max}$) were $3.3{\pm}0.8{\times}10^{10}$ M and $9.0{\pm}1.1$ fmol/mg protein, respectively. Binding competition experiments indicated that the affinities of C. elegans mAChRs to atropine, scopolamine, and oxotremorine were similar to those of mammalian mAChRs. Pirenzepine binding experiments revealed that the binding pattern of mAChRs in C. elegans closely resembled that of mAChRs in rat brain, suggesting that the receptors consist primarily of Ml subtype. The affinity of mAChRs for oxotrernorine was significantly affected by guanylylimidodiphosphate (Gpp(NH)p), a non hydrolyzable GTP analog, suggesting that mAChRs in C. elegans might be coupled to G proteins. The data presented here indicate the possibility that C. elegans provides a living animal model to study the action mode of the muscarinic cholinergic system.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 1993

Using in vitro autoradiography with a digital autoradiography system and radioreceptor assay, the distribution and the binding characteristics of the muscarinic cholinergic receptors (mAChR) were studied in regions of rat brain. Radioreceptor assay revealed that mAChR could be measured with saturation binding assay in the brain and heart homogenates: No difference in Kd or Bmax of the brain or heart was found between the normal Wistar rats and SHR rats. Specific binding of $^3H$ quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB) increased and saturation was reached by 2 hours after incubation with slide-mounted brain tissue. The distribution of mAChR was heterogeneous along the fields of brain. Affinity (Kd) of mAChR was not different significantly among cortex, hippocampus and caudate-putamen. No difference was found between normal rats and SHR strain. More receptors (Bmax) were found in the cortex and hippocampus than in the caudate-putamen in normal rats. More receptors were found in the cortex and caudate-putamen in SHR rats than in normal rats. Radioreceptor assay and digital autoradiographic analysis of affinity and number of mAChR gave the same results. With the above findings, we concluded that we could use digital autoradiographic system with $^3H$-QNB in the characterization of mAChR of rats and that the cortex and caudate-putamen of SHR strain rats have more receptors than those of normal rats.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.6
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• pp.639-645
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• 1997

The purpose of the present study is to determine the role of muscarinic cholinergic receptors of posterior hypothalamus in the central blood pressure regulation when respiration is controlled. In anesthetized and artificially ventilated rats, vasodepressor response was evoked by injection of L-glutamate(10 nmol) neuroexcitatory amino acid into the posterior hypothalamic area. The injection of $carbachol(0.5{\sim}8\;nmol)$ into the same area induced dose-dependent vasodepressor and bradycardic responses. Pretreatment with atropine(4 nmol) completely blocked the vasodepressor response to carbachol(2 nmol). In contrast, in spontaneously breathing rats, the injection of carbachol(8 nmol) into the posterior hypothalamic area induced the vasopressor and tachycardic responses. These results suggest that the muscarinic cholinergic receptors in the posterior hypothalamic area primarily play an inhibitory role in the central regulation of blood pressure and heart rate.