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Objectives: We showed previously that cholecystokinin (CCK)-induced 70-kd S6 kinase activation is partly mediated by protein kinase C (PKC) in pancreatic acinar AR42J cells. Here, we examined which isoform of PKC is involved in this process., Methods: AR42J cells were infected with adenovirus vectors carrying the kinase-deficient alpha, delta, and epsilon isoforms of PKC, the dominant-negative form of the 85-kd regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase, and the dominant-negative form of Sos. CCK-induced p70 S6 kinase activation was determined in AR42J cells infected with these adenovirus vectors., Results: CCK-induced p70 S6 kinase activity was significantly reduced in cells overexpressing the dominant-negative p85 subunit of PI 3-kinase but not in cells overexpressing dominant-negative Sos or beta-galactosidase. CCK-induced p70 S6 kinase activity was inhibited in parallel with the expression levels of kinase-deficient PKCalpha, whereas it was unaffected by the expression of kinase-deficient PKCdelta or PKCepsilon., Conclusion: PKCalpha is implicated in CCK-induced activation of p70 S6 kinase in AR42J cells.

Cholecystokinin (CCK), a known mitogen for the exocrine pancreas, is shown to activate 70-kDa S6 kinase in isolated pancreatic acini. In this study, we examined the kinetics and cellular mechanisms of CCK-induced p70 S6 kinase activation in vivo and in vitro. Fasted mice were intraperitoneally injected with 0.01-10 microg/kg CCK analoge cerulein. Cerulein caused a concentration-dependent activation of p70 S6 kinase, with the maximal effect at 1-10 microg/kg. After 1 microg/kg cerulein administration, the kinase activity was increased at 5 min, peaked at 10 min, and subsequently decreased. Cerulein also caused a rapid and transient activation of Src. Prior administration of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor herbimycin A compeletely inhibited cerulein-induced Src activation, while the inhibition of p70 S6 kinase activity was partial. Similar results were obtained with pancreatic acinar cell line AR42J cells. These results suggest that tyrosine kinases, including Src as a possible candidate, are partly implicated in the signaling pathway of CCK-induced p70 S6 kinase activation in the exocrine pancreas.

Exocrine pancreatic secretion stimulated by vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), which acts through the adenylyl cyclase-cAMP pathway, is potentiated by stimulation with other secretagogues such as CCK and carbachol (CCh). However, the potentiating effect is abolished by the same secretagogues at supramaximal concentrations. In the present study, we examined the mechanisms by which supramaximal concentrations of CCK octapeptide (CCK-8) or CCh reduce the VIP-induced potentiation of amylase secretion from isolated rat pancreatic acini. VIP-stimulated amylase secretion was potentiated by submaximal stimulatory concentrations of CCK-8 and CCh but was reduced by the same reagents at higher concentrations. Supramaximal concentrations of CCK-8 or CCh also reduced forskolin-induced potentiation of amylase release but did not reduce that induced by 8-bromo-cAMP. Moreover, supramaximal concentrations of CCK-8 or CCh inhibited VIP-stimulated intracellular cAMP production as well as adenylyl cyclase activity. 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) also reduced the magnitude of the potentiation of amylase release caused by VIP plus CCK-8 or CCh, although TPA itself decreased neither VIP-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity nor intracellular cAMP accumulation. These results indicate that supramaximal concentrations of CCK-8 and CCh reduce the potentiating effect of VIP and forskolin on amylase secretion by inhibiting the adenylyl cyclase activity. In addition, protein kinase C is suggested to be partly implicated in this inhibitory mechanism. The mechanisms that lead to such inhibition may be interlinked but distinct from each other.

The role of glucose in the regulation of plasma cholecystokinin (CCK) level was investigated in healthy control subjects and patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Plasma CCK concentration was determined by a specific and sensitive bioassay and by a highly sensitive and reliable double-antibody radioimmunoassay using OAL-656 as an antiserum. In control subjects, ingestion of Trelan G-75 (1,200 mOsm/L,225 mL), which is equivalent to 75 g glucose as metabolic products, caused a rapid and significant increase in plasma CCK bioactivity from 1.3 +/- 0.2 to a peak of 5.8 +/- 0.6 pmol/L and immunoreactive CCK concentration from 1.2 +/- 0.1 to 4.6 +/- 0.6 pmol/L. Ingestion of 75 g glucose in 225 mL water (33.3% solution) increased plasma CCK bioactivity to a similar degree to that observed following Trelan G-75 (peak response, 4.5 +/- 0.4 pmol/L). The same volume of 0.9% NaCl solution or water failed to increase plasma CCK concentration. A smaller dose of glucose (50 b/150 mL water) increased plasma CCK concentration, although the peak level (3.0 +/- 0.5 pmol/L) was less than that observed following 75 g glucose. In patients with NIDDM, Trelan G-75 ingestion increased CCK concentration, but the peak level was lower, albeit insignificantly, than that of normal subjects. When the maximal increment of plasma CCK above the basal value was compared between control and NIDDM subjects, the differences were statistically significant (NIDDM, 3.6 +/- 0.1 pmol/L; control, 5.0 +/- 0.4; P < .01). However, integrated CCK responses to Trelan G-75 in NIDDM (165.8 +/- 15.5 pmol/120 min) were not significantly different from those in control subjects (189.8 +/- 15.9 pmol/120 min). Peak CCK bioactivity occurred within 10 to 30 minutes of ingestion, preceding the increase in glucose and insulin. These results suggest a possible effect of CCK on insulin release in humans, and that the CCK secretory response to glucose in well-controlled diabetic patients is not significantly altered.

The role of intraduodenal bile in regulation of plasma cholecystokinin (CCK) levels were investigated in patients with obstructive jaundice under external bile diversion and under physiological bile flow into the duodenum by internal bile drainage. Basal plasma CCK levels determined by a specific and sensitive bioassay in patients under external bile drainage (2.2 +/- 0.2 pmol/liter; mean +/- SE) were significantly higher than those in control subjects (1.0 +/- 0.3 pmol/liter). In control subjects, the peak CCK response (6.2 +/- 0.7 pmol/liter) to a test meal was seen at 45 min, whereas that in patients under external bile drainage, it was seen at 20 min after a test meal (17.6 +/- 3.2 pmol/liter; P < 0.01 vs controls). After peak response, plasma CCK levels in controls gradually decreased, but remained significantly elevated during a 3-hr observation period. In patients under bile diversion, the test meal caused a prompt plasma CCK peak, with a transient fall followed by a continuous rise until 180 min postprandially. In six patients, external bile diversion was changed to internal biliary drainage with a stent tube within two weeks to maintain physiological bile flow into the duodenum. Internal bile drainage normalized basal (0.9 +/- 0.2 pmol/liter) as well as meal-stimulated CCK release (peak value: 5.0 +/- 0.8 pmol/liter). These results demonstrate that endogenous bile exerts tonic inhibition on basal and postprandial plasma CCK levels in humans.

In order to clarify the interaction of hormones which exert various effects on the exocrine pancreas, we investigated the effect of cholecystokinin (CCK) and secretin on subsequent insulin binding to pancreatic acini and cultured AR42J cells derived from azaserine-induced acinar cell carcinoma of the pancreas. CCK at concentrations of 100pM-10nM inhibited subsequent 125I-insulin binding to pancreatic acini. 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) inhibited 125I-insulin binding whereas A23187 had little effect, suggesting that the inhibitory effect of CCK is mediated by protein kinase C. On the other hand, 100pM-10nM secretin had no effect on subsequent 125I-insulin binding to pancreatic acini, although higher concentrations of forskolin and 8 bromoadenosine 3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate inhibited 125I-insulin binding. In addition, secretin exerted no potentiating effect on the inhibitory effect of CCK on 125I-insulin binding to pancreatic acini. Based on these results, we further investigated the effect of CCK and TPA on subsequent 125I-insulin binding to AR42J cells. In this carcinoma cell line, inhibitory effect of CCK and TPA on insulin binding was completely abolished. The present results suggest, therefore, that hormonal interaction may play an important role in the regulation of exocrine pancreatic function including acinar cell growth.

Plasma cholecystokinin (CCK) levels in rats with pancreatic insufficiency induced by a single injection of 50 microliters oleic acid into the pancreatic duct were determined by a sensitive and specific bioassay using the isolated rat pancreatic acini. Treatment with oleic acid significantly decreased pancreatic wet weight within 7 days, which lasted until the end of observation (56 days). Histologic examination revealed the destruction of acinar cells and the epithelium of intra- and interlobular ducts. Plasma CCK bioactivity was significantly increased from the pre-treatment values of 0.8 +/- 0.1pM to 5.1 +/- 1.4pM at 24h after oleic acid treatment. After this peak, plasma CCK levels gradually decreased. Even after 56 days, however, plasma CCK levels in oleic acid-treated rats were significantly high compared with those in control rats. In the present study, plasma CCK levels in rats with chronic pancreatitis did not correlate with the progress of pancreatic insufficiency.

Involvement of endogenous cholecystokinin (CCK) in the development of acute pancreatitis induced in rats by closed duodenal loop (CDL) was examined, and the effects of the potent and specific CCK receptor antagonist loxiglumide on this model of acute pancreatitis were evaluated. Plasma CCK bioactivity was markedly elevated 3 and 6 h after onset of acute pancreatitis. A single subcutaneous injection of 50 mg/kg body wt of loxiglumide 30 min before the induction of acute pancreatitis completely eliminated the hypercholecystokinemia. Loxiglumide given 3 h after the induction of acute pancreatitis suppressed plasma CCK bioactivity, which had risen up to 30-fold over basal value (0 h) at 3 h, to nearly the basal level. Loxiglumide pretreatment, in addition, significantly prevented the rise in serum amylase and lipase activity, as well as the increase in ascitic volume. It also ameliorated histological alterations of hemorrhagic and necrotizing pancreatitis. Reduction of plasma CCK bioactivity by loxiglumide after the onset of pancreatitis slowed the rate of progression of pancreatitis. However, pancreatic wet weight and cellular infiltration were not significantly influenced by loxiglumide treatment. These observations suggest that endogenous CCK is not involved in the initiation of acute hemorrhagic and necrotizing pancreatitis induced by CDL, but is involved in the development of pancreatitis in this model.

The effects of proglumide-related cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor antagonists CR 1409 and CR 1392 on CCK-octapeptide (CCK-8)-stimulated immunoreactive insulin (IRI) release and exocrine secretion were examined simultaneously in the isolated perfused rat pancreas. The CR 1409, at concentrations of 10-100 nM, significantly inhibited CCK-8 (100 pM) stimulation on IRI release but failed to inhibit the stimulatory effect of CCK-8 on both pancreatic juice flow and protein secretion. Increasing concentrations of CR 1409 inhibited both CCK-8-stimulated IRI release and exocrine secretion. Half-maximal inhibition was observed with approximately 2 nM for IRI release and 1 microM for protein secretion. When a higher dose (1 nM) of CCK-8 was used, the inhibitory effect of 10 nM CR 1409 on CCK-8-stimulated IRI release was abolished, whereas 10 microM CR 1409 retained significant inhibitory effect. Furthermore, 1 microM carbachol-induced IRI release was not altered by the addition of 10 microM CR 1409. The CR 1392 also had an inhibitory effect on both CCK-8-stimulated IRI release and exocrine secretion. The concentration of CR 1392 that caused half-maximal inhibition of CCK-8-stimulated IRI release was 300 times lower than that of exocrine secretion. In addition, 1 microM carbachol-stimulated IRI release was not altered by 100 microM CR 1392. Thus, the inhibitory effects of CR 1409 and CR 1392 on IRI release were mediated through the interaction at the CCK receptor and were more potent than those on juice and protein secretion. This study suggests, therefore, that CCK receptors on B cells might be different from those on acinar cells in terms of their relative affinities for antagonists.

We evaluated the effects of a new cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor antagonist, loxiglumide, in a model of mild pancreatitis induced by repeated injections of cerulein and in a severe necrotizing form of pancreatitis induced by retrograde ductal injection of sodium taurocholate (NaTc) in rats. A single subcutaneous injection or oral administration of 50 mg/kg of body weight of loxiglumide almost completely reduced the increases of serum amylase activity and pancreatic wet weight, and caused histologic improvements of the cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis when given 30 min before the first cerulein injection. Loxiglumide was also effective in reducing the elevated serum amylase activity, pancreatic wet weight, and histologic alterations even when administered after the induction of acute pancreatitis. However, loxiglumide offered no apparent beneficial effects when given 30 min before and 3 h after the induction of acute pancreatitis by NaTc as determined by changes in serum amylase activity, pancreatic wet weight, and histology. These results do not necessarily suggest that CCK is not important in the pathogenesis of pancreatitis, but do suggest that the sole blockade of peripheral CCK receptors is ineffective against NaTc-induced severe necrotizing pancreatitis.

D,L-4-(3,4-dichlorobenzoylamino)-5-(N-3-methoxypropyl-pentylami no)-5- oxopentanoic acid (CR 1505; loxiglumide) is a newly developed analog of proglumide. We examined the inhibitory effects of loxiglumide on pancreatic exocrine function in the isolated pancreatic acini and the isolated perfused pancreata of rats. Loxiglumide inhibited cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8)-stimulated amylase release and, similarly, binding of [125I]CCK-8 to isolated rat pancreatic acini. Loxiglumide was about 3000 times more potent than the reference substance proglumide, but was about 1000 times less potent than L-364,718, another new CCK antagonist having benzodiazepine ring, in inhibiting CCK-8-stimulated amylase release. The inhibitory effect of loxiglumide displayed competitive kinetics and was specific for CCK in that the effects of other receptor secretagogues or agents bypassing receptors were not altered. The inhibitory effect of loxiglumide was fully reversible in isolated acini. However, the pancreata perfused with 10 microM loxiglumide for 20 min did not respond to CCK-8 for more than 20 min even after the removal of loxiglumide infusion. In contrast, an immediate increase in pancreatic exocrine secretion was observed after proglumide removal. Loxiglumide appeared to be bound to the receptors on acinar cells in a slowly dissociating state. These results indicate that loxiglumide acts as a potent, competitive, and specific CCK antagonist on the exocrine pancreas and, because of its prolonged inhibitory action, may be useful as a therapeutic agent in pancreatic disease.

A single dose of synthetic cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK8, 5 micrograms/kg) in a depot carrier was injected subcutaneously into rats 2 and 14 h before the removal of the pancreas and the preparation of isolated pancreatic acini. CCK8 treatment induced no significant change in body weight or total amount of pancreatic DNA, but pancreatic weight, total pancreatic protein and amylase, and the concentration of amylase and total protein relative to DNA were significantly decreased. In acini prepared from CCK8-pretreated rats, responsiveness to maximal and supramaximal concentrations of CCK8 was significantly increased, irrespective of whether the amount of amylase released was expressed relative to DNA or calculated as a percentage of the acinar content. The dose-response curves for CCK8 were similarly shaped in both CCK8-pretreated and control rats but shifted threefold toward higher concentrations of CCK8 2 or 14 h after CCK8 treatment. Specific 125I-CCK binding was significantly increased only for high-affinity binding sites. Although these observations suggest that alterations in pancreatic amylase release could be due to changes at the cholecystokinin receptor, the secretory responsiveness to maximal and supramaximal concentrations of carbachol was also increased without any change in the sensitivity. Moreover, in contrast to the cholecystokinin receptor, there was no change in the number of muscarinic receptors or in their affinity for either agonists or antagonists measured with [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The effects of proglumide analogue. CR 1392, on pancreatic exocrine secretion were studied in the isolated pancreatic acini and the isolated perfused pancreata of rats. In the isolated acini, CR 1392 caused a parallel rightward shift of the dose-response curve for amylase secretion stimulated by cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8). CR 1392 inhibited maximally stimulated amylase release by CCK-8 (100 pM) in a concentration-dependent manner, with a half maximal inhibition (ID50) at 8.0 +/- 0.6 microM. CR 1409, another proglumide analogue, also caused a concentration-dependent inhibition (ID50: 3.2 +/- 0.4 microM). Although CR 1409 was about 2.5-fold more potent than CR 1392 in inhibiting the stimulated amylase release, 1 mM CR 1409 caused 107.4 +/- 0.9% increase in amylase release, suggesting acinar cell damage. CR 1392 (1 mM) also caused 19.9 +/- 2.3% increase in amylase release, but was less toxic than CR 1409. The antagonism produced by CR 1392 was selective for CCK and had no effect on amylase release stimulated by other receptor secretagogues or by agents bypassing receptors. CR 1392 added 20 min after the CCK-8 stimulation rapidly abolished pancreatic exocrine secretion in both isolated acini and isolated perfused pancreas. Although the inhibitory effect of CR 1392 was fully reversible in the isolated acini, the pancreata perfused with 100 microM CR 1392 for 20 min did not respond to the subsequent stimulation with CCK-8 for more than 20 min. These results indicate that CR 1392 is a potent, competitive, specific and long acting antagonist of CCK in rat pancreas.

In the present study we have examined the abilities of cholecystokinin-(26-33)-amide [CCK-(26-33)-NH2, CCK-8], nonsulfated CCK-(26-33)-NH2 (desulfated CCK-8), CCK-(30-33)-NH2 (CCK-4), CCK-(26-33)-OH (deamidated CCK-8), and succinyl CCK-(27-31)-NH2 (Suc-Des-Asp6,Phe7-CCK-7) to stimulate exocrine pancreatic secretion from both isolated pancreatic acini and isolated perfused pancreas. We have also compared this action with their ability to cause insulin release. The modification of either the N- or C-terminal amino acid residues of CCK-8 decreased in potency, but the magnitude of the stimulation of enzyme secretion caused by a maximally effective peptide concentration was the same. The minimal effective concentration of CCK-8, desulfated CCK-8, and CCK-4 for insulin release from the isolated rat pancreas in the presence of 8.3 mM glucose was the same as that for pancreatic exocrine secretion. In contrast, the concentrations of deamidated CCK-8 and Suc-Des-Asp6,Phe7-CCK-7 required to produce insulin release were 5-10 times higher than those required to cause stimulation of pancreatic enzyme and juice secretion. It is concluded therefore that the N-terminal 4-amino acid residues or the C-terminal 2-amino acid residues of CCK-8 are not essential for biological activity but do contribute to its potency. In addition, the C-terminal 2-amino acid residues and an amide group in the C-terminal phenylalanine residue of CCK-8 appear to be important determinants of the insulin-releasing activity of the CCK peptides.

The effect of a new proglumide derivative, loxiglumide (DL-4-(3,4-dichloro-benzoyl-amino)-5-(N-3-methoxy-propyl-pentylamino+ ++)-5-oxo-pentanic acid; CR 1505), on binding of 125I-CCK-8 and amylase release stimulated by CCK-8 was investigated in isolated rat pancreatic acini. Loxiglumide inhibited CCK-8-stimulated amylase release and binding of 125I-CCK-8 to rat pancreatic acini in a dose-dependent manner. Loxiglumide caused a concentration-dependent rightward shift of the dose-response curve for CCK-8-stimulated amylase release without altering the maximal response. Schild plots showed a slope of 0.82 and pA2 value of 7.05. The inhibitory effect of loxiglumide on amylase release was reversible. Loxiglumide significantly inhibited amylase release in response to CCK-8, caerulein and gastrin-I. However, loxiglumide had no effect on amylase release stimulated by other receptor secretagogues (bombesin, carbamylcholine, secretion and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide) or by agents bypassing receptors (A23187 and TPA). These results indicate that loxiglumide acts as a potent, competitive and specific CCK antagonist on the pancreatic acini.

Isolated rat pancreatic acini were most sensitive and responsive when stimulated directly with cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) without preincubation. Both the responsiveness and sensitivity of acini to CCK-8 decreased time dependently with prolonged preincubation. When acini were stimulated with CCK-8 following pulse labeling with radioactive leucine, old protein was discharged together with newly synthesized (labeled) protein. However, the sensitivity and responsiveness of these acini for release of labeled protein were primarily reduced with preincubation, indicating that newly synthesized protein was contributing to the time-dependent loss of sensitivity and responsiveness. Then isolated acini were treated with 300 microM cycloheximide for 2 h. This treatment prevented the decreases in the sensitivity and responsiveness of amylase release to CCK-8 stimulation and made these alterations in one series of experiments negligible. Using these acini, a sensitive and specific bioassay for the measurement of CCK in human and rat plasma was developed.

Cholecystokinin (CCK) is a well-characterized gastrointestinal hormone which is released into the general circulation after meals. Targets for CCK include not only the gallbladder and the exocrine pancreas but also the endocrine pancreas. In this paper, we review the role of CCK from the perspective of the entero-insular axis, where CCK seems to function as one component of incretin and can raise insulin release synergistically with other incretin components. CCK also increases the sensitivity of B cells to subsequent glucose stimulation. At present, the role of CCK as incretin in disease states is uncertain. The pathophysiological role of CCK is likely to be revealed using CCK-specific radioimmunoassay and bioassay techniques and CCK receptor antagonists.

The effects of hydrocortisone treatment on the secretory abilities of pancreatic acini to various secretagogues were studied. Rats were given subcutaneous injections of hydrocortisone at doses of 1.25, 2.5, or 5.0 mg/kg body wt once daily for 7 days. Hydrocortisone led to a small dose-dependent increase in pancreatic wet weight per 100 g body wt, which was associated with an increase in both total protein and DNA contents. In acini prepared from hydrocortisone-treated rats, both the responsiveness and the sensitivity to cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) was increased. The concentration dependence of cellular Ca2+ mobilization in response to CCK-8 was also shifted to lower concentrations in acini from hydrocortisone-treated rats compared with control rat acini. In vivo administration of hydrocortisone caused a significant increase in the affinity of 125I-CCK-8 binding to high-affinity receptors. The secretory responsiveness to carbamylcholine and bombesin, but not to secretin, was also increased but without any change in the sensitivity. Moreover, the hydrocortisone treatment increased the secretory responsiveness of acini to the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 and the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate but did not to an adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate analogue, 8-bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate. The present observations suggest that in vivo glucocorticoid administration affects both the CCK receptors and a postreceptor loci.

We developed a specific and sensitive bioassay for measuring plasma cholecystokinin (CCK) in human and investigated CCK response after a test meal in patients with chronic pancreatitis. Treatment with cycloheximide increased the sensitivity and responsiveness of isolated rat pancreatic acini to CCK-octapeptide (CCK-8) and thus plasma levels of CCK-8 as low was 0.17 pM were detectable. Fasting plasma CCK levels in normal subjects as CCK-8 equivalents were 0.75 +/- 0.25 pM and rose to a peak of 6.2 +/- 0.68 pM at 45 min after a test meal consisting of 400 ml milk and 2 boiled eggs. Basal and stimulated plasma levels of CCK-8 in patients with non-calcified chronic pancreatitis were significantly higher than those in normal subjects. In contrast, postprandial responses of plasma CCK-8 in patients with calcified chronic pancreatitis was significantly low compared to those in control subjects, although basal plasma levels were not significantly different from those in controls.