Adenosine A1 and A2A receptor effects on G‐protein cycling in β‐adrenergic stimulated ventricular membranes

Abstract

In the heart β₁-adrenergic (β1R) and adenosine A₁ (A1R) and A_2A (A2AR) receptors modulate contractile and metabolic function. The interaction between these receptors was investigated at the level of G-protein cycling by determining the effect of receptor agonists on the binding of GTP to G-proteins and displacement of Gα-subunit-bound GDP by GTP. Crude membranes from rat heart or brain were stimulated by agonists for β1R (isoproterenol; ISO), A1R (chlorocyclopentyladenosine, CCPA) and A2AR (CGS-21680; CGS). GTP binding to membranes was increased by ISO (17%), CCPA (6%) and CGS (12%). Binding values observed with incubation using ISO and CCPA together were significantly less than values obtained by the incubation of individual agents alone. With ISO, GTP binding to Gα_s subunits as determined by immunoprecipitation was increased 79% in heart and 87% in brain. These increases were attenuated by CCPA, an effect that was inhibited by CGS. GDP release by membranes was increased 6.9% and 4.6% by ISO and CCPA, respectively. After co-incubation of these agonists, release was increased less than determined by the addition of the individual agent responses. CGS inhibited the reduced release caused by of CCPA. Adenylyl cyclase activity stimulated by ISO was attenuated 33% by CCPA, an effect inhibited by CGS. Together, these results indicate that A1R exert an antiadrenergic action at the level of β1R stimulated G_s-protein cycling and that A2AR reduce this action. J. Cell. Physiol. 213:785–792.