title: Receptor density as a factor governing the efficacy of the dopamine D4 receptor ligands, L-745,870 and U-101958 at human recombinant D4.4 receptors expressed in CHO cells.
abstract: 1. The relationships between the density of dopamine D4.4 receptors and the agonist efficacies of L-745,870 (3-(4-[4-chlorophhenyl]piperazin-1-yl)-methyl-1H-pyrrolo [2, 3-b]pyridine) and U-101958 ((1-benzyl-piperidin-4-yl)-(3-isopropoxy-pyridin-2-yl)-methyl-a min e) were investigated in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, after treatment with the gene expression enhancer, sodium butyrate. 2. In CHO cells expressing D4.4 receptors (CHO/D4 cells), dopamine inhibited forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation (Emax 56+/-1% inhibition, pEC50 7.4+/-0.1, n=10). U-101958 behaved as a partial agonist (39+/-7% the efficacy of dopamine, pEC50 8.1+/-0.3, n=4), whereas L-745,870 had no detectable agonist effect. 3. Receptor density, as estimated by [3H]-spiperone saturation binding was 240+/-30 fmol mg-1 protein (n=8) in CHO/D4 cell homogenates. It reached 560+/-150 (n=6), 1000+/-190 (n=4) and 840+/-120 (n=4) fmol mg-1 protein after treatment with sodium butyrate (5 mM) for 6, 18 and 48 h, respectively. 4. The increase in receptor density was associated with a gradual enhancement of the agonist effects (increased Emax and pEC50 values) of dopamine. The efficacy of U-101958 (relative to dopamine) doubled and L-745,870 was turned into a partial agonist (efficacy 49% relative to dopamine, pEC50 8. 6+/-0.2, n=6, after 48 h treatment with sodium butyrate). These agonist effects of U-101958 and L-745,870 could be antagonized by spiperone (0.1 microM) but not by raclopride (10 microM). 5. The results show that U-101958 and L-745,870 are partial agonists at human dopamine D4.4 receptors expressed in CHO cells. Their efficacy is governed by receptor density. Agonist effects of these two compounds in vivo cannot be excluded under circumstances of increased receptor levels.
authors.affiliation: Nervous System Therapeutic Area, Novartis Pharma Research, Novartis Pharma Inc., CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gazi
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bobirnac
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Danzeisen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schüpbach
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Langenegger
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sommer
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hoyer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tricklebank
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schoeffter
mesh_terms: D000631:Aminopyridines / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002087:Butyrates / Q000494:pharmacology; D016466:CHO Cells; D006224:Cricetinae; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D010880:Piperidines / Q000378:metabolism*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000378:metabolism*; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000378:metabolism*; D011869:Radioligand Assay; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013134:Spiperone / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C099630:3-((4-(4-chlorophenyl)piperazin-1-yl)methyl)-1H-pyrrolo(2,3-b)pyridine; D000631:Aminopyridines; D002087:Butyrates; C493599:DRD4 protein, human; D015259:Dopamine Agents; D008024:Ligands; D010880:Piperidines; D011725:Pyridines; D011758:Pyrroles; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4; C106117:U 101958; D013134:Spiperone; D000242:Cyclic AMP