title: The role of transcriptional and translational mechanisms in flumazenil-induced up-regulation of recombinant GABA(A) receptors.
abstract: The aim of this study was to further elucidate the mechanisms involved in adaptive changes of GABA(A) receptors following prolonged exposure to flumazenil, the antagonist of benzodiazepine binding sites on GABA(A) receptors. The effects of prolonged flumazenil treatment were studied on recombinant alpha(1)beta(2)gamma(2S) GABA(A) receptors stably expressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK 293) cells. Using radioligand binding experiments we found enhancement in the maximum number of [(3)H]muscimol labeled binding sites in different preparations of HEK 293 cells. The parallel increase of [(3)H]flunitrazepam binding sites in the membranes was reduced in the presence of actinomycin D and cycloheximide, inhibitors of RNA and protein synthesis, respectively. Chronic flumazenil also raised the steady-state level of mRNA encoding alpha(1) receptor subunit. The results suggest that the up-regulation of GABA(A) receptors, observed after prolonged flumazenil treatment is at least partly due to increased de novo synthesis of receptor proteins at both transcriptional and translational level.
authors.affiliation: Ruder Bosković Institute, Laboratory for Molecular Neuropharmacology, Division of Molecular Medicine, P.O. Box 180, 10002 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jazvinsćak Jembrek
authors.forename: Dubravka
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Svob Strac
authors.forename: Josipa
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vlainić
authors.forename: Danka
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pericić
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D003609:Dactinomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005442:Flumazenil / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005445:Flunitrazepam / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D018757:GABA Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D009118:Muscimol / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D014162:Transfection; D014316:Tritium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D018757:GABA Modulators; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D014316:Tritium; D003609:Dactinomycin; D009118:Muscimol; D005442:Flumazenil; D005445:Flunitrazepam; D003513:Cycloheximide