Modulation of histamine H(2) receptor signalling by G-protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 and 3

To evaluate the role of G-protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRK) in the desensitization of the histamine H(2) receptor, the H(2) receptor was transiently cotransfected with GRK2, 3, 5 or 6 in COS-7 cells and the cyclic AMP levels in response to histamine were studied. Coexpression of the H(2) receptor with GRK2 and 3 significantly decreased both the basal cyclic AMP levels and the cyclic AMP response to 100 microM histamine. Moreover, preincubation with 100 microM histamine desensitized the H(2) receptor response to 53+/-8%. Coexpression of GRK2 and 3 increased the H(2) receptor desensitization to 27+/-4% and 24+/-4% respectively. No effect on either cyclic AMP response or desensitization was found when GRK5, GRK6 or dominant negative mutants of GRK2 or 3 (GRK2K(220)R and GRK3K(220)R) were coexpressed. To study the role of the C-terminal tail in the GRK-mediated desensitization of the H(2) receptor, three truncations of C-tail were constructed: H(2)T295, H(2)T307 and H(2)T341. H(2)T307 and 341 H(2)T341 expressed and responded normally to 100 microM histamine. The interaction of the H(2) receptor with GRK2 and 3 was also not altered upon truncation of the C-terminal tail. These findings strongly suggest a role of GRK2 and 3 in the desensitization of the H(2) receptor. Furthermore, the finding that C-terminal truncations of the H(2) receptor did not abolish the effect of GRK2 and 3 suggests that the C-terminus is not involved in the GRK mediated desensitization of the histamine H(2) receptor.