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Gastrin and cholecystokinin (CCK) have proven trophic effects on the gut. We have previously demonstrated that these peptides stimulate an early event in cellular proliferation, namely ornithine decarboxylase activity (ODC), in a rat exocrine pancreatic cell line AR4-2J. Furthermore, this effect is mediated through a G/CCKB receptor. Thus, in the present study we sought to examine the signal transduction mechanisms linked to the G/CCKB receptor occupancy. Both gastrin and CCK induced a rapid (maximum at 40 s) increase in inositol triphosphates (InsP3) and diacylglycerol (DAG) formation in a dose-dependent manner (EC50 = 5.6 nM) that quickly returned to baseline. Although InsP3 levels remained at baseline, DAG levels demonstrated a second gradual increase that was maximal at 15 min. CCK/gastrin efficiency to stimulate DAG and InsP3 formation (EC50 = 5.6 nM) could be correlated to the G/CCKB receptor occupancy, suggesting a coupling of this receptor to phospholipase C. To examine the involvement of protein kinase C (PKC) activation in the increase in ODC activity, we stimulated the AR4-2J cells with the phorbol ester TPA and observed an increase in ODC activity with a maximal effect at 100 nM. TPA stimulation of ODC activity was completely abolished by the PKC inhibitor staurosporine (50 nM). However, 50 nM staurosporine inhibited only 65% of the gastrin and CCK induced increase in ODC activity suggesting that a portion of the G/CCKB receptor-mediated increase in ODC activity is PKC independent.

In order to characterize the CCK receptor in guinea-pig pancreas, iodinated CCK-39 was bound to pancreatic membranes and the reversible complex was solubilized using various non-denaturing detergents. In term of recovery of ligand stabilized receptors, the relative potencies were Zwittergent 3-14 greater than CHAPS = CHAPSO greater than digitonin greater than MEGA 10 greater than octyl beta-D-glucopyranoside. The stability of receptor complexes was increased by glycerol. Chromatographic analysis revealed that digitonin was the most efficient detergent for disaggregation of CCK receptor complex since it yielded a 76 kDa component in addition to the large components obtained after solubilization with CHAPS and Zwittergent. Furthermore, CCK receptors were covalently labelled using dissuccinimidyl suberate or UV irradiation of labelled membranes by photoactivable radioiodinated CCK-39 and subsequently solubilized by CHAPS + SDS or by SDS alone. A predominant molecule was characterized by chromatography (76 kDa) and SDS-PAGE (89 kDa). In addition to this component, other components having molecular masses of 130-150 kDa, 57 kDa and 40 kDa were detected by SDS-PAGE. They correspond to minor bands. These bands, except the 40 kDa band, were protected from covalent labelling by the presence of CCK-39 (10(-6) M) during initial incubation. Reduction under beta-mercaptoethanol mainly resulted in the decrease of high molecular weight aggregates (Mr greater than 200 kDa). We concluded that for a given detergent a specific molecular weight pattern of solubilized CCK receptor complex is achieved. The minimal component had a molecular mass of 71-84 kDa according to the method of biochemical analysis used.

The binding of bombesin to its receptors on normal human pancreatic membranes was investigated using high specific activity, radioiodinated bombesin ([125I]-Tyr4-bombesin), prepared by an oxidative method with chloramine-T. Binding was specific, temperature-dependent, saturable, reversible and linearly related to membranes protein concentration. After a 30 min period of incubation with membranes the degradation of the tracer has never been found superior to 20%. Scatchard analysis of binding data was compatible with a single class of binding sites with a high affinity (0.96 nM) and a Bmax of 753 fmol/mg protein. [125I]-Tyr4-bombesin binding to human pancreatic membranes was competitively inhibited by (1-Tyr4-)bombesin, GRP, the nonapeptide of bombesin and litorin but not by unrelated hormones such as somatostatin, CCK, human gastrin, etc. These results describe for the first time the presence of specific receptors for bombesin on human pancreatic membranes. The binding characteristics obtained are comparable with those found in other species.