Single amino acid substitution of serine82 to asparagine in first intracellular loop of human cholecystokinin (CCK)-B receptor confers full cyclic AMP responses to CCK and gastrin.

To understand molecular basis of Gs coupling to cholecystokinin (CCK)-A and CCK-B receptor subtypes, we examined cAMP responses in three sets of human CCK receptor mutants expressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK)293 cells. Single or double substitutions of the four nonconserved amino acids in the first intracellular loop of the CCK-BR were made with their CCK-AR counterparts to determine which residues are critical in Gs coupling. Single substitution of Ser82 to Asn, produced maximal cAMP responses comparable with the chimeric CCK-BR containing the entire first intracellular loop of the CCK-AR.

Bombesin-induced gastrin release from canine G cells is stimulated by Ca2+ but not by protein kinase C, and is enhanced by disruption of rho/cytoskeletal pathways.

Isolated canine G cells in primary culture have been used to study calcium, protein kinase C (PKC), and rho/cytoskeletal-dependent intracellular pathways involved in bombesin- stimulated gastrin release. A method to obtain highly purified G cells by culture (64% G cells) after flow cytometry on elutriated fractions of cells from digested canine gastric antral mucosa has been developed. Pretreatment of G cells with thapsigargin (10(-8)-10(-6) M) and release experiments in Ca2+-containing or -depleted media showed that influx of Ca2+ into the cells and not acute release from intracellular stores plays an important role in bombesin-stimulated gastrin release.

Mononuclear cells and cytokines stimulate gastrin release from canine antral cells in primary culture.

Patients with Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis have an increased release of gastrin. The mechanisms by which H. pylori affects the endocrine cells are unclear.

Effects of prostaglandins on gastrin release from canine antral mucosal cells in primary culture.

Evidence in vivo indicates that endogenous and exogenous prostaglandins can alter gastrin secretion. We have used primary cultures containing canine antral G-cells to study the cellular actions of prostaglandins on gastrin secretion, comparing the effects of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and its synthetic analogue enprostil. Enprostil (10(-10)-10(-6) M) inhibited gastrin secretion in response to bombesin, carbachol, and forskolin, the latter a receptor-independent activator of adenylate cyclase.

Paracrine control of gastric epithelial cell growth in culture by transforming growth factor-alpha.

Studying primary cultures of replicating canine oxyntic mucosal cells, we found evidence for modulation of cell growth by endogenous factors. [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA was rapid with cells cultured in medium free of serum or added growth factors, and growth rates of these cultures were markedly dependent on plating density, indicating mitogenic control by soluble endogenous growth factors. Data indicated that endogenous transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) exerted mitogenic control under the following conditions.