Acute ethanol treatment modulates delta opioid receptors in N18TG2 cells.
BACKGROUND
The in vitro adaptive responses of delta opiate receptors (DOR) to chronic ethanol treatment have been well documented. The acute effects of ethanol on these receptors are not well characterized beyond its effect on ligand binding. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute effects of clinically relevant concentrations of ethanol (50-200 mm) on the saturation binding kinetics, receptor/ligand internalization, and agonist stimulation of G-protein coupling in N18TG2 cells expressing the Flag epitope-tagged mouse DOR.


METHODS
Confocal microscopy was used to localize Flag epitope-tagged DOR in N18TG2 cells. Saturation binding assays at 4 degrees C and 37 degrees C were conducted in the absence or presence of ethanol on cells not pretreated or pretreated with ethanol for 30 min at 37 degrees C. Highly specific delta agonist, DPDPE ([D-Pen2,D-Pen5]enkephalin), was used in these studies. The effect of ethanol on agonist stimulation of G-protein coupling was examined using [35S]GTPgammaS (guanosine-5'-O-(3-thio)triphosphate) binding to membranes. Agonist-mediated receptor internalization was examined using flow cytometry of cells labeled with the antiserum directed against the Flag epitope, and the ligand internalization was examined using [3H]DPDPE.


RESULTS
Ethanol decreased the binding of the agonist [3H]DPDPE, and not the antagonist [3H]diprenorphine, in a dose-dependent manner. These effects were temperature-dependent. Ethanol reversibly inhibited agonist stimulation of [35S]GTPgammaS binding. In non-pretreated cells, ethanol decreased the rate of receptor/ligand internalization, but this effect was not seen in ethanol pretreated cells. Taken together, these results suggest that pretreatment of N18TG2 cells with ethanol induces compensatory mechanisms that allow the receptor to function efficiently in its presence.


CONCLUSIONS
Acute ethanol decreased the binding, agonist-mediated functional coupling and receptor/ligand internalization in N18TG2 cells expressing epitope-tagged DOR. In these cells, 30-min pretreatment with ethanol was sufficient to reverse these effects.
Gomes
I
I
Departments of Anesthesiology and Pharmacology and Kaplan Cancer Center, New York University Medical Center School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, USA.
Trapaidze
N
N
Turndorf
H
H
Devi
L A
LA
Bansinath
M
M
D000777:Anesthetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020881:Enkephalin, D-Penicillamine (2,5)- / Q000378:metabolism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate) / Q000378:metabolism; D008024:Ligands; D051379:Mice; D017465:Receptors, Opioid, delta / Q000819:agonists / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000777:Anesthetics; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D008024:Ligands; D017465:Receptors, Opioid, delta; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate); D000431:Ethanol; D020881:Enkephalin, D-Penicillamine (2,5)-