Enkephalin activates the phospholipase C/Ca2+ system through cross-talk between opioid receptors and P2-purinergic or bradykinin receptors in NG 108-15 cells: A permissive role for pertussis toxin-sensitive G-proteins

Abstract

In an NG108-15 neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid cell suspension, extracellular ATP (via P2-purinergic receptors) and bradykinin stimulated Ins(1,4,5)P3 formation, which was accompanied by an increase in the cystosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+](i)). Leucine enkephalin (EK) also slightly increased [Ca2+](i) in the absence, but not in the presence, of apyrase, which hydrolyses extracellular ATP and ADP to AMP. When the cells were stimulated by P2-agonists or bradykinin prior to the application of EK, EK induces a remarkable rise in [Ca2+](i). This P2-agonist- or bradykinin-assisted EK action was also observed in single cells on a coverslip. A decrease in the extracellular Ca2+ concentration only slightly lowered the EK-induced rise in [Ca2+](i), but treatment of the cells with thapsigargin, an agent which depletes Ca2+ in the Ins(1,4,5)P3-sensitive pool, almost completely abolished EK action. The observed permissive stimulation by EK of Ins(1,4,5)P3 formation induced by a P2-agonist or bradykinin may be a primary event for the EK-induced [Ca2+](i) rise. These actions of EK were antagonized by naloxone and completely reversed by prior treatment of the cells with pertussis toxin, whereas the toxin hardly affected the actions of P2-agonists and bradykinin themselves. Thus EK can induce phospholipase C activation and subsequent Ca2+ mobilization, provided that the cells have been previously or are simultaneously stimulated by endogenous adenine nucleotides or by externally applied P2-agonists or bradykinin. In this cross-talk mechanism between opioid receptors and these Ca2+-mobilizing agonist receptors, pertussis toxin-sensitive G-proteins play a permissive role.