title: Calcineurin regulates homologous desensitization of natriuretic peptide receptor-A and inhibits ANP-induced testosterone production in MA-10 cells.
abstract: Receptor desensitization is a ubiquitous regulatory mechanism that defines the activatable pool of receptors, and thus, the ability of cells to respond to environmental stimuli. In recent years, the molecular mechanisms controlling the desensitization of a variety of receptors have been established. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that underlie desensitization of natriuretic peptide receptors, including natriuretic peptide receptor-A (NPR-A). Here we report that calcineurin (protein phosphatase 2B, PP2B, PPP3C) regulates homologous desensitization of NPR-A in murine Leydig tumor (MA-10) cells. We demonstrate that both pharmacological inhibition of calcineurin activity and siRNA-mediated suppression of calcineurin expression potentiate atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)-induced cGMP synthesis. Treatment of MA-10 cells with inhibitors of other phosphoprotein phosphatases had little or no effect on ANP-induced cGMP accumulation. In addition, overexpression of calcineurin blunts ANP-induced cGMP synthesis. We also present data indicating that the inhibition of calcineurin potentiates ANP-induced testosterone production. To better understand the contribution of calcineurin in the regulation of NPR-A activity, we examined the kinetics of ANP-induced cGMP signals. We observed transient ANP-induced cGMP signals, even in the presence of phosphodiesterase inhibitors. Inhibition of both calcineurin and phosphodiesterase dramatically slowed the decay in the response. These observations are consistent with a model in which calcineurin mediated dephosphorylation and desensitization of NPR-A is associated with significant inhibition of cGMP synthesis. PDE activity hydrolyzes cGMP, thus lowering intracellular cGMP toward the basal level. Taken together, these data suggest that calcineurin plays a previously unrecognized role in the desensitization of NPR-A and, thereby, inhibits ANP-mediated increases in testosterone production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of South Alabama College of Medicine, Mobile, Alabama, United States of America.
authors.forename: Michelle B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Henesy
authors.forename: Andrea L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Britain
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Amable
authors.forename: Richard E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Honkanen
authors.forename: Jackie D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Corbin
authors.forename: Sharron H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: Thomas C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Rich
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019703:Calcineurin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000378:metabolism; D054706:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5 / Q000378:metabolism; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D034622:RNA Interference; D017461:Receptors, Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D013739:Testosterone; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor; D019703:Calcineurin; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases; D054706:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5; D017461:Receptors, Atrial Natriuretic Factor; C091715:atrial natriuretic factor receptor A; D006152:Cyclic GMP