Characterization of angiotensin II (AT2) binding sites in R3T3 cells

Binding sites for angiotensin II were found, in a line of Swiss 3T3 cells (designated as R3T3 cells), that were insensitive to Dup 753 and dithiothreitol yet were sensitive to PD 123319, making them members of the AT2 class of angiotensin II binding sites. These binding sites appeared not to be coupled to guanine nucleotide-binding proteins, and affinity labeling experiments revealed a specifically labeled protein with an apparent molecular weight of about 100,000. Treatment of cells with angiotensin II revealed no perturbation of common signaling pathways, including stimulation of phosphatidylinositol turnover, effects on levels of cAMP, tyrosine kinase activity, and release of arachidonic acid. Also, angiotensin II or PD 123319 had no effect on cell growth, mitogenesis, or hypertrophy or on mitogenesis or hypertrophy stimulated by several growth factors. These results show that the AT2 binding site is quite distinct from the AT1 site in terms of molecular weight, binding properties, and coupling to second messenger systems. Although the significance of this novel angiotensin II binding site remains obscure, the identification of cell lines selectively expressing it should greatly aid in the understanding of its regulation and function.