title: Cloning and pharmacological characterization of the cat urotensin-II receptor (UT).
abstract: Urotensin-II (U-II), acting through its G-protein-coupled receptor, UT, is a possible contributor to hypertension. Variable functional responses to U-II, both within and between species studied to date, complicate the characterization of UT antagonists. In the cat, however, U-II causes systemic hypertension and constricts arterial segments isolated from several vascular beds. The purpose of this study was to clone and pharmacologically characterize cat recombinant UT to determine whether this system represents a model for characterizing UT antagonists. Cloned cat UT displayed 74% identity to primate UT, and 77% identity to rodent UT. [(125)I] hU-II bound in a saturable manner to a single site on recombinant cat UT with high affinity (K(D) 288+/-13pM) and high density (B(max) 747+/-66fmol/mg protein). U-II isopeptides displayed equipotent, high affinity binding to cat UT (K(i) 1.8-5.3nM). Cat UT was coupled to intracellular [Ca(2+)] release (EC(50) 0.6+/-0.2nM) and total inositol phosphate (IP) formation (EC(50) 0.4+/-0.1nM). Protein kinase C activation desensitized cat, but not human, UT-mediated IP formation. UT mRNA expression was detected in cat blood vessels, trachea, lung, and kidney, where the medulla (K(D) 815+/-34) and cortex and (K(D) 316+/-39pM) displayed high affinity binding for human U-II (hU-II). The cat urotensin-II receptor represents a suitable in vitro model to examine the role of the U-II/UT system in the etiology of hypertension, assisting in the evaluation of the UT antagonists to help treat cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Biology and Thrombosis Department, Cardiovascular and Urogenital Center for Excellence in Drug Discovery, GlaxoSmithKline, 709 Swedeland Rd, UW2510, King of Prussia, PA 19406, USA. Nambi.Aiyar@gsk.com
authors.forename: Nambi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aiyar
authors.forename: Douglas G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Johns
authors.forename: Zhaohui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ao
authors.forename: Jyoti
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Disa
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Behm
authors.forename: James J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Foley
authors.forename: Peter T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Buckley
authors.forename: Henry M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Sarau
authors.forename: Harjeet K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: van-der-Keyl
authors.forename: Nabil A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Elshourbagy
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Douglas
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000502:physiology; D002415:Cats; D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D006801:Humans; D007295:Inositol Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009928:Organ Specificity; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D007295:Inositol Phosphates; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D011994:Recombinant Proteins