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Neurotensin (NT) acts through specific G protein-coupled receptors to induce effects in the central nervous system and periphery. In this study we have shown that in the human neuroblastoma cell line CHP 212, an NT agonist, JMV 449, induced high affinity neurotensin receptor (NTR) gene activation. 125I-NT binding of cells challenged with JMV 449 rapidly decreased then reappeared and subsequently stabilized at 50% of the control values after 48 h of agonist exposure. These receptors, which reappeared at the cell surface, are as active as those found in control cells as demonstrated by Ca2+ mobilization. Furthermore, the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene, a known NT target gene, remained activated after prolonged NT agonist exposure in this cell line. In the murine neuroblastoma cell line, N1E-115, NT did not stimulate NTR gene activation but induced NTR mRNA destabilization after long term agonist exposure. In this cell line, NT binding dropped to 15% of control values and remained at this value after agonist treatment. The TH expression, which was originally activated upon NT agonist exposure, decreased to control values after prolonged agonist exposure. These observations combined with the data obtained from a complementary study with HT-29 cells (Souazé, F., Rostène, W., and Forgez, P. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 10087-10094) revealed the crucial role of agonist-induced receptor gene transcription in the maintenance of cell sensitivity. A model for G protein-coupled receptor regulation induced by prolong and intense agonist stimulation is proposed.

The binding of neurotensin (NT) to specific receptors triggers the multiple functions that NT exerts in both periphery and brain. By studying the effect of the concentration and time of NT agonist exposure, two separate regulatory mechanisms were detected for the neurotensin receptor (NTR) gene in human colonic adenocarcinoma cells (HT-29). The incubation of cells for 6 h with the NT agonist, JMV 449, resulted in an increase of 270% in NTR mRNA levels. These changes were the direct result of new NTR gene transcription, as indicated by run-on and half-life experiments. In addition, the transcriptional activation of the NTR gene was dependent on NT-receptor complex internalization and de novo protein synthesis. A second response was detected with prolonged exposure to JMV 449. In this case, a decrease of 70% was detected in NTR mRNA levels. Unlike the initial phase, this change was mediated by a post-transcriptional event as the half-life of NTR mRNA from treated cells decreased by 50% as compared with control cells. NT agonist appears to regulate the synthesis of NTR mRNA. In HT-29 cells, this feedback is exerted by a biphasic response. These phases are apparently independent and mediated by two separate mechanisms.