title: Modulation of glucagon receptor expression and response in transfected human embryonic kidney cells.
abstract: The modulation of glucagon receptor (GR) expression and biological response was investigated in human embryonic kidney cell (HEK-293) clones permanently expressing the GR with different densities. The GR mRNA expression level in these clones was upregulated by cellular cAMP accumulation and presented a good correlation with both the protein expression level and the maximum number of glucagon binding sites. However, the determination of glucagon-induced cAMP accumulation in these cell lines revealed that the enhancement of receptor expression did not lead to a proportional increase in cAMP formation. Under these conditions, the maximum cAMP production induced by NaF and forskolin was not significantly different among selected clones, regardless of the receptor expression level. High receptor-expressing clones showed the greatest susceptibility for agonist-induced desensitization compared with clones with lower GR expression levels. The results of the present study suggest that the GR can recruit non-GR-specific desensitization mechanism(s). Furthermore, the partial inhibition or alteration of the overall cAMP synthesis pathway at the receptor level may be a necessary adaptive step for a cell in response to a massive increase in membrane receptor expression level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia 20037, USA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ikegami
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cypess
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bouscarel
mesh_terms: D015124:8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism*; D003609:Dactinomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005934:Glucagon / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology*; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D018027:Receptors, Glucagon / Q000235:genetics*; D013566:Sympathomimetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018027:Receptors, Glucagon; D013566:Sympathomimetics; D003609:Dactinomycin; D005576:Colforsin; D015124:8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate; D005934:Glucagon; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D007545:Isoproterenol