title: Stimulation of amylase release by Orexin is mediated by Orexin 2 receptor in AR42J cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Orexins have been demonstrated to have mainly central physiological functions, including regulation of food and water intake, sleep, and arousal. However, little is known about their direct peripheral effects, if any. As a first step toward understanding the role of Orexin in non-neuronal tissues or cells, we initiated studies to examine expression of Orexin receptors (OXR) in an established pancreatic tumor cell line AR42J. Secondly, we wanted to determine whether Orexins, in various molecular forms, are active to stimulate any known pancreatic cell functions in AR42J cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Reverse transcription-PCR analysis was performed to identify the presence of specific Orexin receptor subtypes. Intracellular calcium mobilization and cAMP levels were measured following stimulation by Orexin A and B peptides, their respective C-terminal decapeptide fragments, and hypocretin-2-gly (glycine-extended Orexin B). Release of alpha-amylase was measured in conditioned media after acute stimulation with the set of Orexin peptides for 30 minutes. Cell proliferation was determined by H-thymidine incorporation after 24 hours following treatment with Orexins under serum-free condition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RT-PCR and sequencing results showed that Orexin receptor subtype 2 (OX2R) was the main form expressed in AR42J cells. Orexins stimulated dose-dependent increases in intracellular calcium mobilization with EC50 0.05 nM for Orexin A and 0.1 nM for Orexin B but were unable to stimulate any significant cAMP accumulation or DNA synthesis even at micromolar concentrations. Both Orexin-A and -B, but not hypocretin-2-gly, also stimulated dose-dependent increases in amylase release in the AR42J cells. Orexin-A and -B carboxyl-terminal decapeptides elicited significant but much lower calcium and amylase responses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data demonstrate that OX2R mediates Ca -dependent amylase release in AR42J cells, suggesting that Orexins may have secretory functions in pancreatic tumor cells.
authors.affiliation: Center for Human Nutrition, Department of Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: V L W
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Go
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Reeve
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000681:Amylases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000032:analysis; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D064446:Orexin Receptors; D000068797:Orexins; D010179:Pancreas / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; C000596229:HCRT protein, human; C578626:HCRTR2 protein, human; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D064446:Orexin Receptors; D000068797:Orexins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D000681:Amylases; D002118:Calcium