The Effects of Structural Alterations in the Polyamine and Amino Acid Moieties of Philanthotoxins on Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Inhibition in the Locust, Schistocerca gregaria

Alterations in the polyamine and amino acid (tyrosine) moieties of philanthotoxin-343 (PhTX-343) were investigated for their effects on the antagonism of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) isolated from the locust (Schistocerca gregaria) mushroom body. Through whole-cell patch-clamp recordings, the philanthotoxin analogues in this study were shown to cause inhibition of the inward current when co-applied with acetylcholine (ACh). PhTX-343 (IC50 = 0.80 μM at −75 mV) antagonised locust nAChRs in a use-dependent manner, suggesting that it acts as an open-channel blocker. The analogue in which both the secondary amine functionalities were replaced with methylene groups (i.e., PhTX-12) was ~6-fold more potent (IC50 (half-maximal inhibitory concentration) = 0.13 μM at −75 mV) than PhTX-343. The analogue containing cyclohexylalanine as a substitute for the tyrosine moiety of PhTX-343 (i.e., Cha-PhTX-343) was also more potent (IC50 = 0.44 μM at −75 mV). A combination of both alterations to PhTX-343 generated the most potent analogue, i.e., Cha-PhTX-12 (IC50 = 1.71 nM at −75 mV). Modulation by PhTX-343 and Cha-PhTX-343 fell into two distinct groups, indicating the presence of two pharmacologically distinct nAChR groups in the locust mushroom body. In the first group, all concentrations of PhTX-343 and Cha-PhTX-343 inhibited responses to ACh. In the second group, application of PhTX-343 or Cha-PhTX-343 at concentrations ≤100 nM caused potentiation, while concentrations ≥1 μM inhibited responses to ACh. Cha-PhTX-12 may have potential to be developed into insecticidal compounds with a novel mode of action.

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Expression of functional nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in neuroepithelial bodies of neonatal hamster lung

AJP Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajplung.00105.2003 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 285 (6) ◽

pp. L1203-L1212 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Xiao Wen Fu ◽

Colin A. Nurse ◽

Suzanne M. Farragher ◽

Ernest Cutz

Keyword(s):

Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors ◽

Acetylcholine Receptors ◽

Respiratory Control ◽

Hill Coefficient ◽

Neuroepithelial Bodies ◽

Patch Clamp Technique ◽

Nicotinic Acetylcholine ◽

Whole Cell Patch Clamp ◽

Inward Currents ◽

Double Label

Pulmonary neuroepithelial bodies (NEB) are presumed airway chemoreceptors involved in respiratory control, especially in the neonate. Nicotine is known to affect both lung development and control of breathing. We report expression of functional nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) in NEB cells of neonatal hamster lung using a combination of morphological and electrophysiological techniques. Nonisotopic in situ hybridization method was used to localize mRNA for the β2-subunit of nAChR in NEB cells. Double-label immunofluorescence confirmed expression of α4-, α7-, and β2-subunits of nAChR in NEB cells. The electrophysiological characteristics of nAChR in NEB cells were studied using the whole cell patch-clamp technique on fresh lung slices. Application of nicotine (∼0.1-100 μM) evoked inward currents that were concentration dependent (EC50 = 3.8 μM; Hill coefficient = 1.1). ACh (100 μM) and nicotine (50 μM) produced two types of currents. In most NEB cells, nicotine-induced currents had a single desensitizing component that was blocked by mecamylamine (50 μM) and dihydro-β-erythroidine (50 μM). In some NEB cells, nicotine-induced current had two components, with fast- and slow-desensitizing kinetics. The fast component was selectively blocked by methyllcaconitine (MLA, 10 nM), whereas both components were inhibited by mecamylamine. Choline (0.5 mM) also induced an inward current that was abolished by 10 nM MLA. These studies suggest that NEB cells in neonatal hamster lung express functional heteromeric α3β2, α4β2, and α7 nAChR and that cholinergic mechanisms could modulate NEB chemoreceptor function under normal and pathological conditions.

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Abstract 5446: Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors activate TBK1 in a β-arrestin-1 dependent manner to promote NSCLC growth.

10.1158/1538-7445.am2013-5446 ◽

2013 ◽

Author(s):

Smitha Pillai ◽

Jonathan Nguyen ◽

Eric Haura ◽

Domenico Coppola ◽

Srikumar Chellappan

Keyword(s):

Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors ◽

Acetylcholine Receptors ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Nicotinic Acetylcholine

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The role of the amino acid residue at α 1:189 in the binding of neuromuscular blocking agents to mouse and human muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

British Journal of Pharmacology ◽

10.1038/sj.bjp.0707156 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 150 (7) ◽

pp. 920-931 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

P G Purohit ◽

R J Tate ◽

E Pow ◽

D Hill ◽

J G Connolly

Keyword(s):

Amino Acid ◽

Amino Acid Residue ◽

Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors ◽

Acetylcholine Receptors ◽

Neuromuscular Blocking ◽

Neuromuscular Blocking Agents ◽

Human Muscle ◽

Nicotinic Acetylcholine ◽

Blocking Agents

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Subunit-dependent Inhibition of Human Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors and Other Ligand-gated Ion Channels by Dissociative Anesthetics Ketamine and Dizocilpine

Anesthesiology ◽

10.1097/00000542-200004000-00033 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 92 (4) ◽

pp. 1144-1153 ◽

Cited By ~ 95

Author(s):

Tomohiro Yamakura ◽

Laura E. Chavez-Noriega ◽

R. Adron Harris

Keyword(s):

Ion Channels ◽

Nmda Receptors ◽

Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors ◽

Acetylcholine Receptors ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors ◽

Glycine Receptors ◽

Nicotinic Acetylcholine ◽

Dissociative Anesthetics ◽

Gated Ion Channels

Unlabelled Background The neuronal mechanisms responsible for dissociative anesthesia remain controversial. N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are inhibited by ketamine and related drugs at concentrations lower than those required for anesthetic effects. Thus, the authors studied whether ligand-gated ion channels other than NMDA receptors might display a sensitivity to ketamine and dizocilpine that is consistent with concentrations required for anesthesia. Methods Heteromeric human neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (hnAChR channels alpha2beta2, alpha2beta4, alpha3beta2, alpha3beta4, alpha4beta2 and alpha4beta4), 5-hydroxytryptamine3 (5-HT3), alpha1beta2gamma2S gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) and alpha1 glycine receptors were expressed in Xenopus oocytes, and effects of ketamine and dizocilpine were studied using the two-electrode voltage-clamp technique. Results Both ketamine and dizocilpine inhibited hnAChRs in a noncompetitive and voltage-dependent manner. Receptors containing beta1 subunits were more sensitive to ketamine and dizocilpine than those containing beta2 subunits. The inhibitor concentration for half-maximal response (IC50) values for ketamine of hnAChRs composed of beta4 subunits were 9.5-29 microM, whereas those of beta2 subunits were 50-92 microM. Conversely, 5-HT3 receptors were inhibited only by concentrations of ketamine and dizocilpine higher than the anesthetic concentrations. This inhibition was mixed (competitive/noncompetitive). GABAA and glycine receptors were very resistant to dissociative anesthetics. Conclusions Human nAChRs are inhibited by ketamine and dizocilpine at concentrations possibly achieved in vivo during anesthesia in a subunit-dependent manner, with beta subunits being more critical than alpha subunits. Conversely, 5-HT3, GABAA, and glycine receptors were relatively insensitive to dissociative anesthetics.

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Activation of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Increases the Frequency of Spontaneous GABAergic IPSCs in Rat Basolateral Amygdala Neurons

Journal of Neurophysiology ◽

10.1152/jn.00974.2004 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 94 (5) ◽

pp. 3081-3091 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Ping Jun Zhu ◽

Randall R. Stewart ◽

J. Michael McIntosh ◽

Forrest F. Weight

Keyword(s):

Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors ◽

Acetylcholine Receptors ◽

Basolateral Amygdala ◽

Bathing Solution ◽

Patch Clamp Recording ◽

Nicotinic Acetylcholine ◽

Whole Cell Patch Clamp ◽

Agonist And Antagonist ◽

Subunit Combination ◽

Conditioned Responses

The basolateral amygdala (BLA) is a critical component of the amygdaloid circuit, which is thought to be involved in fear conditioned responses. Using whole cell patch-clamp recording, we found that activation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) leads to an action potential-dependent increase in the frequency of spontaneous GABAergic currents in principal neurons in the BLA. These spontaneous GABAergic currents were abolished by a low-Ca2+/high-Mg2+ bathing solution, suggesting that they are spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs). Blockade of ionotropic glutamate receptors did not prevent this increased frequency of sIPSCs nor did blockade of α7 nAChRs. Among the nAChR agonists tested, cystisine was more effective at increasing the frequency of the sIPSCs than nicotine or 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenyl piperazinium iodide, consistent with a major contribution of β4 nAChR subunits. The nicotinic antagonist, dihydro-β-erythroidine, was less effective than d-tubocurarine in blocking the increased sIPSC frequency induced by ACh, suggesting that α4-containing nAChR subunits do not play a major role in the ACh-induced increased sIPSC frequency. Although α2/3/4/7 and β2/4 nAChR subunits were found in the BLA by RT-PCR, the agonist and antagonist profiles suggest that the ACh-induced increase in sIPSC frequency involves predominantly α3β4-containing nAChR subunits. Consistent with this, α-conotoxin-AuIB, a nAChR antagonist selective for the α3β4 subunit combination, inhibited the ACh-induced increase in the frequency of sIPSCs. The observations suggest that nicotinic activation increases the frequency of sIPSCs in the BLA by acting mainly on α3β4-containing nicotinic receptors on GABAergic neurons and may play an important role in the modulation of synaptic transmission in the amygdala.

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Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in Glucose Homeostasis: The Acute Hyperglycemic and Chronic Insulin-Sensitive Effects of Nicotine Suggest Dual Opposing Roles of the Receptors in Male Mice

Endocrinology ◽

10.1210/en.2014-1320 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 155 (10) ◽

pp. 3793-3805 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Christine U. Vu ◽

Jawed A. Siddiqui ◽

Paul Wadensweiler ◽

Jiaur R. Gayen ◽

Ennio Avolio ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Insulin Resistance ◽

Insulin Sensitivity ◽

Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors ◽

Acetylcholine Receptors ◽

Nicotine Exposure ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Nicotinic Acetylcholine ◽

Nicotine Treatment ◽

Chronic Nicotine ◽

Chronic Nicotine Treatment

Abstract Cigarette smoking causes insulin resistance. However, nicotine induces anti-inflammation and improves glucose tolerance in insulin-resistant animal models. Here, we determined the effects of nicotine on glucose metabolism in insulin-sensitive C57BL/J6 mice. Acute nicotine administration (30 min) caused fasting hyperglycemia and lowered insulin sensitivity acutely, which depended on the activation of nicotinic-acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and correlated with increased catecholamine secretion, nitric oxide (NO) production, and glycogenolysis. Chlorisondamine, an inhibitor of nAChRs, reduced acute nicotine-induced hyperglycemia. qRT-PCR analysis revealed that the liver and muscle express predominantly β4 > α10 > α3 > α7 and β4 > α10 > β1 > α1 mRNA for nAChR subunits respectively, whereas the adrenal gland expresses β4 > α3 > α7 > α10 mRNA. Chronic nicotine treatment significantly suppressed expression of α3-nAChR (predominant peripheral α-subunit) in liver. Whereas acute nicotine treatment raised plasma norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (Epi) levels, chronic nicotine exposure raised only Epi. Acute nicotine treatment raised both basal and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). After chronic nicotine treatment, basal insulin level was elevated, but GSIS after acute saline or nicotine treatment was blunted. Chronic nicotine exposure caused an increased buildup of NO in plasma and liver, leading to decreased glycogen storage, along with a concomitant suppression of Pepck and G6Pase mRNA, thus preventing hyperglycemia. The insulin-sensitizing effect of chronic nicotine was independent of weight loss. Chronic nicotine treatment enhanced PI-3-kinase activities and increased Akt and glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β phosphorylation in an nAChR-dependent manner coupled with decreased cAMP response element–binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation. The latter effects caused suppression of Pepck and G6Pase gene expression. Thus, nicotine causes both insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity depending on the duration of the treatment.

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Inhibitory Effects of Isoflurane and Nonimmobilizing Halogenated Compounds on Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors

Anesthesiology ◽

10.1097/00000542-200212000-00029 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 97 (6) ◽

pp. 1541-1549 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Takayuki Matsuura ◽

Yoshinori Kamiya ◽

Hideki Itoh ◽

Tomoko Higashi ◽

Yoshitsugu Yamada ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pc12 Cells ◽

Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors ◽

Acetylcholine Receptors ◽

Volatile Anesthetics ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors ◽

Halogenated Compounds ◽

Concentration Dependent Manner ◽

Amnesic Effect ◽

Nicotinic Acetylcholine

Background Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAchRs) are inhibited by low concentrations of volatile anesthetics. However, it is not clear whether this phenomenon contributes to the anesthetic effects of volatile anesthetics. Effects of a volatile anesthetic (isoflurane) and structurally related nonimmobilizers (F6: 1,2-dichlorohexafluorocyclobutane, F8: 2,3-dichlorooctafluorobutane) on the current mediated through neuronal nAchRs were studied. Method This study investigated neuronal nAchRs in PC12 cells and acutely dissociated rat medial habenula (MHb) neurons. Whole cell currents elicited by 30 microm nicotine were recorded in the absence and presence of the halogenated agents. The minimum alveolar concentrations (MACs) for F6 and F8 were predicted from Meyer-Overton correlation. Results All halogenated compounds inhibited the nicotine-induced current in a concentration-dependent manner in PC12 cells. In MHb neurons, while isoflurane and F6 significantly inhibited the nicotine-induced peak current, F8 failed to inhibit it. The peak currents in the presence of isoflurane at 1.7 MAC, of F6 at 2.4 MAC, and of F8 at 2.2 MAC were 12, 31, and 97% of control, respectively. Conclusions Isoflurane, F6, and F8 inhibited ganglion-type nAchRs in PC12 cells independent from their abilities to produce the anesthetic state. In MHb neurons, isoflurane and F6, which lack the immobilizing effect but has the amnesic effect, inhibited nAchRs. Native brain nicotinic receptors in MHb neurons were almost insensitive to F8, which lacks both the immobilizing and the amnesic effect. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that inhibition of nAchRs in MHb neurons is not important for the anesthetic effect but may contribute to the amnesic effect of these agents.

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