Ca2+ participates in alpha1B-adrenoceptor-mediated cAMP response in HEK293 cells.

Aim: To investigate the alpha1B-adrenoceptor (alpha1B-AR)-mediated cAMP response and underlying mechanisms in HEK293 cells.

Methods: Full-length cDNA encoding alpha1B-AR was transfected into HEK293 cells using the calcium phosphate precipitation method, and alpha1B-AR expression and cAMP accumulation were determined by using the saturation radioligand binding assay and ion-exchange chromatography, respectively.

Results: Under agonist stimulation, alpha1B-AR mediated cAMP synthesis in HEK293 cells, and blockade by PLC-PKC or tyrosine kinase did not reduce cAMP accumulation induced by NE. Pretreatment with pertussis toxin (PTX) had little effect on basal cAMP accumulation as well as norepinephrine (NE)-stimulated cAMP accumulation. In addition, pretreatment with cholera toxin (CTX) neither mimicked nor blocked the effect induced by NE. The extracellular Ca2+ chelator egtazic acid (EGTA), nonselective Ca2+ channel blocker CdCl2 and calmodulin (CaM) inhibitor W-7 significantly reduced NE-induced cAMP accumulation from 1.59%+/-0.47% to 1.00%+/-0.31%, 0.78%+/-0.23%, and 0.90%+/-0.40%, respectively.

Conclusion: By coupling with a PTX-insensitive G protein, alpha1BAR promotes Ca2+ influx via receptor-dependent Ca2+ channels, then Ca2+ is linked to CaM to form a Ca2+-CaM complex, which stimulates adenylyl cyclase (AC), thereby increasing the cAMP production in HEK293 cell lines.