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Identification and characterization of functional angiotensin II receptors in human neuroblastoma cells

M Maggi1, G Finetti, A Cioni

  • 1Department of Clinical Physiopathology, University of Florence, Italy.

Regulatory Peptides
|April 14, 1995
PubMed

Insights

Angiotensin II (AII) AT1 receptors were identified in human neuroblastoma cells using binding and signaling studies. These findings suggest AII plays a role in neural crest-derived tissues beyond cell growth.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Endocrinology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Neuroblastoma cells, derived from neural crest, are a significant area of research.
  • Angiotensin II (AII) is a peptide hormone with diverse physiological roles, including in the nervous system.
  • Understanding AII receptor expression in neuroblastoma is crucial for elucidating its function in neural development and disease.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence and characteristics of AII receptors in human neuroblastoma cell lines.
  • To determine the functional implications of AII receptor expression in these cells.
  • To explore the potential role of AII in neuroblastoma biology.

Main Methods:

  • Radioligand binding assays using [125I](Sar-1,Ile-8)AII.
  • Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) assays to assess G-protein coupled receptor activity.
  • Intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) mobilization studies.
  • Mathematical modeling of competition binding curves.
  • Treatment with pertussis toxin, retinoic acid, and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP).

Main Results:

  • High-affinity, low-capacity AII binding sites, identified as AT1 receptors, were found in approximately half of the studied neuroblastoma cell lines.
  • AII binding correlated with AII-induced inhibition of VIP-stimulated cAMP levels and AII-evoked [Ca2+]i transients.
  • AT1 receptor density was not altered by pertussis toxin or retinoic acid but was increased by VIP.
  • AII did not stimulate DNA synthesis in neuroblastoma cells.

Conclusions:

  • Human neuroblastoma cells express functional AT1 receptors.
  • AII signaling in neuroblastoma cells does not appear to be primarily mitogenic.
  • Neuroblastoma cells provide a valuable model for studying AII function in neural crest-derived tissues.

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