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p21-activated kinases (PAKs) are highly conserved serine/threonine protein kinases, which are divided into two groups: group-I (PAKs1-3) and group-II (PAKs4-6). In various tissues, Group-II PAKs play important roles in cytoskeletal dynamics and cell growth as well as neoplastic development/progression. However, little is known about Group-II PAK's role in a number of physiological events, including their ability to be activated by gastrointestinal (GI) hormones/neurotransmitters/growth factors (GFs). We used rat pancreatic acini to explore the ability of GI hormones/neurotransmitters/GFs to activate Group-II-PAKs and the signaling cascades involved. Only PAK4 was detected in pancreatic acini. PAK4 was activated by endothelin, secretagogues-stimulating phospholipase C (bombesin, CCK-8, and carbachol), by pancreatic GFs (insulin, insulin-like growth factor 1, hepatocyte growth factor, epidermal growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, and platelet-derived growth factor), and by postreceptor stimulants (12-O-tetradecanoylphobol-13-acetate and A23187 ). CCK-8 activation of PAK4 required both high- and low-affinity CCK 1 -receptor state activation. It was reduced by PKC-, Src-, p44/42-, or p38-inhibition but not with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-inhibitors and only minimally by thapsigargin. A protein kinase D (PKD)-inhibitor completely inhibited CCK-8-stimulated PKD-activation; however, stimulated PAK4 phosphorylation was only inhibited by 60%, demonstrating that it is both PKD-dependent and PKD-independent. PF-3758309 and LCH-7749944, inhibitors of PAK4, decreased CCK-8-stimulated PAK4 activation but not PAK2 activation. Each inhibited ERK1/2 activation and amylase release induced by CCK-8 or bombesin. These results show that PAK4 has an important role in modulating signal cascades activated by a number of GI hormones/neurotransmitters/GFs that have been shown to mediate both physiological/pathological responses in acinar cells. Therefore, in addition to the extensive studies on PAK4 in pancreatic cancer, PAK4 should also be considered an important signaling molecule for pancreatic acinar physiological responses and, in the future, should be investigated for a possible role in pancreatic acinar pathophysiological responses, such as in pancreatitis. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study demonstrates that the only Group-II p21-activated kinase (PAK) in rat pancreatic acinar cells is PAK4, and thus differs from islets/pancreatic cancer. Both gastrointestinal hormones/neurotransmitters stimulating PLC and pancreatic growth factors activate PAK4. With cholecystokinin (CCK), activation is PKC-dependent/-independent, requires both CCK 1 -R affinity states, Src, p42/44, and p38 activation. PAK4 activation is required for CCK-mediated p42/44 activation/amylase release. These results show PAK4 plays an important role in mediating CCK physiological signal cascades and suggest it may be a target in pancreatic acinar diseases besides cancer.

PYK2/CAKbeta is a recently described cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase related to p125 focal adhesion kinase (p125(FAK)) that can be activated by a number of stimuli including growth factors, lipids, and some G protein-coupled receptors. Studies suggest PYK2/CAKbeta may be important for coupling various G protein-coupled receptors to the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade. The hormone neurotransmitter cholecystokinin (CCK) is known to activate both phospholipase C-dependent cascades and MAPK signaling pathways; however, the relationship between these remain unclear. In rat pancreatic acini, CCK-8 (10 nM) rapidly stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of PYK2/CAKbeta by both activation of high affinity and low affinity CCK(A) receptor states. Blockage of CCK-stimulated increases in protein kinase C activity or CCK-stimulated increases in [Ca(2+)](i), inhibited by 40-50% PYK2/CAKbeta but not p125(FAK) tyrosine phosphorylation. Simultaneous blockage of both phospholipase C cascades inhibited PYK2/CAKbeta tyrosine phosphorylation completely and p125(FAK) tyrosine phosphorylation by 50%. CCK-8 stimulated a rapid increase in PYK2/CAKbeta kinase activity assessed by both an in vitro kinase assay and autophosphorylation. Total PYK2/CAKbeta under basal conditions was largely localized (77 +/- 7%) in the membrane fraction, whereas total p125(FAK) was largely localized (86 +/- 3%) in the cytosolic fraction. With CCK stimulation, both p125(FAK) and PYK2/CAKbeta translocated to the plasma membrane. Moreover CCK stimulation causes a rapid formation of both PYK2/CAKbeta-Grb2 and PYK2/CAKbeta-Crk complexes. These results demonstrate that PYK2/CAKbeta and p125(FAK) are regulated differently by CCK(A) receptor stimulation and that PYK2/CAKbeta is probably an important mediator of downstream signals by CCK-8, especially in its ability to activate the MAPK signaling pathway, which possibly mediates CCK growth effects in normal and neoplastic tissues.

Recent studies show CCK stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation (TYR PHOSP) of a number of proteins and evidence from the pancreas and other cellular systems suggest this could be important in mediating some of CCK's growth and secretory effects. In other tissues various neuropeptides such as bombesin can cause tyrosine phosphorylation of p125 focal adhesion kinase (p125FAK) and paxillin which are important in mediating their growth effects. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of CCK in rat pancreatic acini on the TYR PHOSP of these latter proteins. In dispersed rat pancreatic acini, cell lysates were incubated with an anti-phosphotyrosine mAb (PY20) which was immunoprecipitated and then analyzed by Western blotting with anti-phosphotyrosine mAb (4G10), anti-p125FAK mAb or anti-paxillin mAb. CCK-8 at 5 min increased TYR PHOSP of five proteins of molecular weight > 60,000 including a broad M(r) 110-130,000 and M(r) 70-80,000. An increase in TYR PHOSP of both p125FAK and paxillin was detected within 1 min of adding CCK and reached a maximum at 2.5 min with a 9.1 +/- 1.9-fold increase for p125FAK and 3.6 +/- 0.6-fold for paxillin. CCK-8 caused a half-maximal increase in TYR PHOSP of p125FAK at 0.1 nM and paxillin at 0.03 nM. CCK-JMV also stimulated an increase in TYR PHOSP of both proteins, but was only 50% as efficacious as CCK-8. CCK-JMV caused a half-maximal increase at 10 nM and maximal at 1 microM for both proteins. To investigate whether the low affinity CCK receptor state also caused TYR PHOSP of both proteins, increasing concentrations of CCK-JMV were added to a maximally effective CCK-8 concentration (1 nM). Detectable inhibition of CCK-8-stimulated TYR PHOSP occurred with 1 microM CCK-JMV and with 3 microM CCK-JMV the CCK-8-stimulated response was inhibited 50% and was the same as that seen with CCK-JMV alone. These studies demonstrate that in rat pancreatic acini, CCK causes rapid TYR PHOSP of both p125FAK and paxillin. This stimulation is mediated by both the high affinity and low affinity CCK receptor states. This phosphorylation of these proteins could be important in mediating CCK's effect on the cytoskeleton or growth effects as shown for a number of other agents (oncogenes, neuropeptides, integrins).

The ability of cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor antagonists to interact with CCK receptors in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells was investigated. L-365,260, CCK-8, L-364,718, CBZ-CCK(27-32)-NH2 and proglumide analogue 10 inhibited specific 125I-CCK-8 binding to SCLC cells with IC50 values of 0.2, 2, 500, 100,000 and 500,000 nM, respectively. Gastrin-I and CCK-8 elevated the cytosolic Ca2+ when SCLC cells were loaded with Fura 2-AM. L-365,260 inhibited the cytosolic Ca2+ increase caused by 10 nM CCK-8 in a dose-dependent manner. The effects of 10 nM L-365,260 were reversed by high concentrations of CCK-8. These data indicate that L-365,260 functions as a reversible CCK-8 antagonist using SCLC cells.

For inhibition of binding of 125I-Bolton-Hunter-labeled cholecystokinin octapeptide (125I-BH-CCK-8) to guinea pig pancreatic acini, the potencies for agonists were CCK-8 greater than desulfated [des(SO3)] CCK-8 greater than gastrin-17-I greater than pentagastrin greater than CCK-4 and for the antagonists L 364718 greater than proglumide analogue 10 greater than CBZ-CCK-(27-32)-NH2. For all non-sulfated agonists, the curves were biphasic with 20% of the tracer bound to sites with high affinity for these agonists with the following relative potencies: gastrin-17-I greater than pentagastrin greater than des(SO3)CCK-8 much greater than CCK-4; whereas 80% was bound to low-affinity sites with the following potencies: des(SO3)CCK-8 greater than gastrin-17-I = pentagastrin much greater than CCK-4. For L 364718 and proglumide analogue 10, 80% of 125I-BH-CCK-8 was bound to sites with high affinity for these antagonists and 20% to sites with low affinity. Analysis of the dose-inhibition curve for CCK-8 demonstrated two binding sites; however, comparison with the analysis in the presence of 0.1 microM gastrin-17-I suggested three binding sites. The gastrin-17-I dose-inhibition curve was significantly better fit by a three-site model than by a two-site model. The affinities of the various agonists and antagonists for the three sites were compared with their abilities to inhibit binding of 125I-gastrin-I and either stimulate or inhibit CCK-8-stimulated amylase release. These results demonstrate that 125I-BH-CCK-8 binds to three classes of receptors, not two as reported previously. Two classes are CCK-preferring, bind 83% of 125I-BH-CCK-8 at tracer concentrations, and comprise high- and low-affinity CCK-preferring sites that can be distinguished by all agonists but have equally high affinity for L 364718 and proglumide 10. A third class binds 17% of the tracer, cannot be differentiated from high-affinity CCK-preferring receptors by CCK-8, and has low affinities for L 364718 and proglumide 10. Future studies relating binding of 125I-BH-CCK-8 to biological activity or characterization of the CCK receptor by using radiolabeled agonists should consider CCK interaction with three receptors, not two as was done in the past.

In dispersed acini from guinea pig pancreas, cholecystokinin-(27-32)-amide [CCK-(27-32)-NH2] did not stimulate amylase secretion and inhibited the stimulation caused by CCK-(26-33). In dispersed acini from mouse or rat pancreas, CCK-(27-32)-NH2 stimulated amylase secretion. The stimulation of amylase secretion caused by a maximally effective concentration of CCK-(27-32)-NH2 was less than that caused by a maximally effective concentration of cholecystokinin-(26-33), and in contrast to the action of cholecystokinin-(26-33) supramaximal concentrations of CCK-(27-32)-NH2 did not cause submaximal stimulation of amylase secretion. Dibutyryl cGMP and proglumide each inhibited the stimulation of amylase secretion caused by CCK-(27-32)-NH2. CCK-(27-32)-NH2 inhibited binding of 125I-labeled CCK to mouse and rat pancreatic acini. These results indicate that, in mouse and rat pancreatic acini, CCK-(27-32)-NH2 is a partial agonist and that this partial agonist activity is produced by occupation of the CCK receptor by CCK-(27-32)-NH2.

We have prepared (125)I-labeled cholecystokinin and have examined the kinetics, stoichiometry, and chemical specificity with which the labeled peptide binds to dispersed acini from guinea pig pancreas. Binding of (125)I-labeled cholecystokinin was reversible, temperature-dependent, saturable, specific, and localized to the plasma membrane. Each acinar cell possessed approximately 9000 binding sites, and binding of the labeled peptide to these sites could be inhibited by cholecystokinin and structurally related peptides (e.g., gastrin and caerulein) as well as by nonpeptide competitive antagonists of the action of cholecystokinin. Binding was not inhibited by other pancreatic secretagogues such as secretin, vasoactive intestinal peptide, glucagon, physalaemin, eledoisin, kassinin, substance P, carbamoylcholine, litorin, or ranatensin or by bovine pancreatic polypeptide, atropine, neurotensin, leucineenkephalin, methionine-enkephalin, or cyclic somatostatin. With agonists as well as antagonists there was a good correlation between occupation of cholecystokinin binding sites and changes in acinar cell function. With each of six different peptide agonists maximal stimulation of enzyme secretion occurred with 40% receptor occupation and occupation of the remaining 60% caused a progressive decrease in stimulated amylase release. Agonists, but not antagonists, accelerated the dissociation of bound (125)I-labeled cholecystokinin, and these findings suggest that, in pancreatic acini, radiolabeled cholecystokinin binds to at least one class of interacting binding sites whose affinities are influenced by the extent to which these sites are occupied by agonists but not the extent to which they are occupied by antagonists.

COOH-terminal fragments of cholecystokinin varying in length from 1 to 3 amino acids and their NH2-terminal butyloxycarbonyl derivatives were investigated for their ability to interact with the cholecystokinin receptor on dispersed acini from guinea pig pancreas. No fragment stimulated amylase secretion when present alone, but each of the butyloxycarbonyl derivatives and the COOH-terminal tripeptide amide inhibited the stimulation of enzyme secretion by cholecystokinin. In each case the inhibition was surmounted by increasing the concentration of cholecystokinin. Each fragment also inhibited binding of 125I-labeled cholecystokinin, with significant inhibition occurring with 30 microM butyloxycarbonyl tripeptide amide, 0.3 mM butyloxycarbonyl dipeptide amide, 10 mM butyloxycarbonyl phenylalanine amide and 3 mM tripeptide amide of cholecystokinin. In each case, there was a close correlation between the ability of the fragment to inhibit binding of 125I-labeled cholecystokinin and its ability to inhibit cholecystokinin-stimulated amylase release, cholecystokinin-stimulated 45Ca outflux and cholecystokinin-stimulated residual stimulation of amylase secretion. The inhibition of amylase secretion caused by the butyloxycarbonyl tripeptide of cholecystokinin was reversible and specific for those peptides which interact with the cholecystokinin receptor (i.e., cholecystokinin, caerulein, gastrin); it did not inhibit the actions of bombesin, carbachol, physalaemin, vasoactive intestinal peptide, secretin, PHI, ionophore A23187 or 8-bromo cyclic AMP. These results demonstrate that COOH-terminal fragments of cholecystokinin comprise a new class of cholecystokinin receptor antagonists.

The regional distribution of cholecystokinin (CCK) in the rat brain was determined utilizing a radioimmunoassay which detects both gastrin and CCK. CCK concentration is highest in the caudate nucleus (10-14 ng CCK 8 equivalents/mg protein), followed by the cerebral cortex. Within the cerebral cortex, CCK is highest in the cingulate, pyriform, and entorhinal areas. There are substantial CCK concentrations in all other brain regions except pons, medulla and cerebellum. CCK is widely distributed in the hypothalamus, where it is highest in the median eminence and ventromedial nucleus. Considerable CCK-like immunoreactivity is also present in the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland, but is not detectable in anterior and intermediate lobes. Though the antisera used in this study cross-react with gastrin the dominant CCK-like material found in rat brain co-elutes with sulfated CCK 8 and separates from gastrin on Sephadex G-25 and HPLC chromatography.

We investigated the importance of sulfation of gastrin or cholecystokinin (CCK) on influencing their affinity for gastrin or CCK receptors by comparing the abilities of sulfated gastrin-17 (gastrin-17-II), desulfated gastrin-17 (gastrin-17-I), CCK-8 and desulfated CCK-8 [des(SO3)CCK-8] to interact with CCK or gastrin receptors on guinea pig pancreatic acini. For inhibiting binding of 125I-gastrin to gastrin receptors, gastrin-17-II (Kd 0.08 nM) greater than CCK-8 (Kd 0.4 nM) greater than gastrin-17-I (Kd 1.5 nM) greater than des(SO3)CCK-8 (Kd 28 nM). For inhibiting binding of 125I-Bolton Hunter-labeled CCK-8 to CCK receptors the relative potencies were: CCK-8 much greater than des(SO3)CCK-8 = gastrin-17-II greater than gastrin-17-I. Each peptide interacted with both high and low affinity CCK binding sites. The relative abilities of each peptide to interact with high affinity CCK receptors showed a close correlation with their abilities to cause half-maximal stimulation of enzyme secretion. These results demonstrate that, in contrast to older studies, sulfation of both CCK and gastrin increase their affinities for both gastrin and CCK receptors. Moreover, the gastrin receptor is relatively insensitive to the position of the sulfate moiety, whereas the CCK receptor is extremely sensitive to both the presence and exact position of the sulfate moiety.

None of six different tryptophan-modified analogues of the C-terminal octapeptide of cholecystokinin differed from the unaltered peptide in terms of their efficacies for stimulating amylase secretion from dispersed acini prepared from guinea-pig pancreas. Replacement of hydrogen with fluorine in position 5 or 6 on the indole ring of the tryptophan residue did not alter the potency with which the peptide stimulated amylase secretion; however, replacement of hydrogen by fluorine in positions 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the indole ring, or modifying or replacing the indole nitrogen caused a 30- to 300-fold decrease in potency. Changes in the ability of the peptide to inhibit binding of 125I-labeled cholecystokinin. Our findings indicate that reducing the ability of the tryptophan residue to donate electrons produced a greater decrease in the affinity of the peptide for cholecystokinin receptors than did abolishing the ability of tryptophan to form hydrogen bonds, and modification that altered both abilities caused a greater decrease in affinity than did modification of only one ability. Finally, in the tryptophan residues of cholecystokinin octapeptide, tetrafluorination of the indole ring or replacing the indole nitrogen by oxygen reduced the ability of the peptide to cause residual stimulation of enzyme secretion, probably by accelerating the rate at which bound peptide dissociated from its receptors when the acini were washed and resuspended in fresh incubation solution.

Previously, we have found that, in pancreatic acini, butyryl derivatives of cGMP antagonize the action of cholecystokinin by inhibiting binding of the peptide to its membrane receptors. In the present study, we found that derivatives of cAMP and cIMP can also inhibit binding of cholecystokinin as well as its actions on acinar cell function. Moreover, the inhibition caused by cyclic nucleotide derivatives did not require the presence of a butyryl moiety, because certain 8-bromo-cyclic nucleotides also inhibited the interaction of cholecystokinin with its receptors. Cyclic nucleotide derivatives can also increase pancreatic enzyme secretion; however, for the various cyclic nucleotides tested, there was no apparent correlation between their abilities to stimulate enzyme secretion and their abilities to antagonize the actions of cholecystokinin. Finally, cyclic nucleotide derivatives also inhibited binding of 125I-cholecystokinin to antibodies that were specific for the biologically active, C-terminal region of cholecystokinin. Thus, certain cyclic nucleotide derivatives possess a conformational structural which resembles that of the biologically active portion of cholecystokinin, and this structural similarity accounts for the abilities of these nucleotide derivatives to interact with cholecystokinin receptors and, by so doing, to inhibit the action of cholecystokinin on its target tissues.

When pancreatic acini are first incubated with cholecystokinin, washed to remove free cholecystokinin, and then reincubated in fresh incubation solution, there is a significant residual stimulation of amylase secretion. Butyryl derivatives of cyclic GMP can prevent as well as reverse this cholecystokinin-induced residual stimulation. At 37 degrees C the nucleotide-induced reversal is complete within a few minutes, but at 4 degrees C complete reversal requires 90 min of incubation. The ability of butyryl cyclic GMP to reverse cholecystokinin-induced residual stimulation is itself fully reversible, and the nucleotide-induced reversal is accompanied by restoration of full responsiveness to cholecystokinin. The ability of dibutyryl cyclic GMP to reverse cholecystokinin-induced residual stimulation appears to result from the ability of the nucleotide to displace cholecystokinin from its receptors in pancreatic acini.

The three classes of CCK antagonists illustrate the various factors governing affinity of the antagonists for the CCK receptor. The major influence in determining potency of the cyclic nucleotide derivatives, amino acid derivatives and C-terminal fragments of CCK, are hydrophobic forces. In contrast, structural requirements are the major influences in determining potency of the N-terminal fragments of CCK-26-33. The most potent CCK antagonist in each of the three classes is illustrated in Fig. 11. CBZ-CCK-27-32-NH2 is 30 times more potent than N-CBZ-cystine, which is, in turn, slightly more potent than Bt2 cGMP. All these CCK antagonists, however, are relatively weak. For example, CBZ-CCK-27-32-NH2 inhibits binding of 125I-CCK by 50% at a concentration of approximately 5 microM. In contrast, the agonist CCK-26-33 inhibits binding of 125I-CCK by 50% at a concentration of approximately 1 nM. The antagonists remain useful for analyzing those responses that are caused by CCK, though the relatively low potencies of the antagonists may limit their usefulness as antagonists of CCK in vivo systems. This limitation, however, may be only theoretical. For example, proglumide, which requires an in vitro concentration of 0.3 mM to cause half-maximal inhibition of binding of 125I-CCK, can inhibit the actions of CCK and gastrin in animals (Hutchison and Dockray 1980; Stubbs and Stabile 1985) and of gastrin in man (Lamers and Jansen 1983). Nevertheless, the identification of CCK antagonists with greater potency than those hitherto described will facilitate studies of the actions of CCK.

Since 1979 three classes of cholecystokinin receptor antagonists have been described: 1) derivatives of cyclic nucleotides, 2) derivatives of amino acids, and 3) C-terminal fragments or partial sequences of cholecystokinin. These various antagonists share a number of common features, such as their specific, reversible, and competitive actions, but they vary in the potency with which they inhibit the actions of cholecystokinin.

We used dispersed acini prepared from guinea pig pancreas to examine 28 carbobenzoxy (CBZ) amino acids for their abilities to function as cholecystokinin receptor antagonists. All amino acid derivatives tested, except for CBZ-alanine, CBZ-glycine, and N alpha-CBZ-lysine, were able to inhibit the stimulation of amylase secretion caused by the C-terminal octapeptide of cholecystokinin. In general, there was a good correlation between the ability of a carbobenzoxy amino acid to inhibit stimulated amylase secretion and the ability of the amino acid derivative to inhibit binding of 125I-cholecystokinin. The inhibition of cholecystokinin-stimulated amylase secretion was competitive, fully reversible, and specific for those secretagogues that interact with the cholecystokinin receptor. The potencies with which the various carbobenzoxy amino acids inhibited the action of cholecystokinin varied 100-fold and CBZ-cystine was the most potent cholecystokinin receptor antagonist. This variation in potency was primarily but not exclusively a function of the hydrophobicity of the amino acid side chain.

In dispersed acini from guinea pig pancreas, proglumide (DL-4-benzamido-N, N-dipropylglutaramic acid) and benzotript (N-p-chlorobenzoyl-L-tryptophan) caused a rightward shift in the dose--response curve for cholecystokinin-stimulated amylase secretion but did not alter the maximal increase in amylase secretion caused by cholecystokinin. At relatively low concentrations, proglumide did not alter the stimulation of enzyme secretion caused by secretagogues whose effects are mediated by adenosine 3'5'-monophosphate (e.g., vasoactive intestinal peptide or secretin) and did not alter the stimulation of enzyme secretion caused by secretagogues that have a mode of action similar to that of cholecystokinin but act through different receptors (e.g., bombesin, physalaemin, eledoisin, and ionophore A23187). There was a close correlation between the ability of proglumide or benzotript to inhibit binding of 125I-labeled cholecystokinin to its receptors on pancreatic acini and the abilities of these compounds to inhibit the action of cholecystokinin on enzyme secretion and on calcium outflux. These results indicate that proglumide and benzotript are members of a different class of cholecystokinin receptor antagonists.

During a 5-min incubation with increasing concentrations of cholecystokinin, enzyme secretion from pancreatic acini increased, became maximal at 1 nM cholecystokinin, and then decreased progressively to 65% of maximal with concentrations of cholecystokinin above 1 nM. During a 20-min incubation with increasing concentrations of cholecystokinin, enzyme secretion increased, became maximal at 0.3 nM cholecystokinin, and then decreased progressively to 40% of maximal with concentrations of cholecystokinin above 0.3 nM. The configuration of the dose-response curve for cholecystokinin-stimulated enzyme secretion did not change when the incubation time was increased from 20 to 30, 45, or 60 min. Concentrations of cholecystokinin that were supramaximal for stimulating enzyme secretion abolished the stimulation caused by other secretagogues that promote mobilization of cellular calcium (e.g., carbamylcholine, bombesin, physalaemin, or A23187), as well as that caused by secretagogues that elevate cellular cAMP (e.g., vasoactive intestinal peptide or secretin). The submaximal stimulation caused by supramaximal concentrations of cholecystokinin reflects what we have termed "restricted stimulation" of enzyme secretion. Secretion is than the basal rate of release and is "restricted" in the sense that enzyme release is submaximal and cannot be increased by adding another secretagogue.

When dispersed acini from mouse pancreas are first incubated with cholecystokinin octapeptide, washed and then reincubated with no additions there is significant stimulation of amylase secretion during the second incubation (residual stimulation of enzyme secretion). Cholecystokinin-induced residual stimulation of enzyme secretion is modified, but not abolished, by reducing the temperature of the first incubation from 37 degrees C to 4 degrees C. Measurement of binding of 125I-labeled cholecystokinin octapeptide indicated that maximal cholecystokinin induced residual stimulation of enzyme secretion occurs when 12-20% of cholecystokinin receptors are occupied by cholecystokinin octapeptide. Moreover, maximal cholecystokinin-induced residual stimulation of amylase secretion is 25% greater than maximal cholecystokinin-induced direct stimulation of amylase secretion. Cholecystokinin tetrapeptide, which causes the same maximal direct stimulation of amylase secretion as does cholecystokinin octapeptide, causes a maximal residual stimulation of enzyme secretion that is only 30% of that caused by a maximally effective concentration of cholecystokinin octapeptide. Adding dibutyryl cyclic GMP to the second incubation can reverse the residual stimulation caused by adding cholecystokinin to the first incubation. The pattern and extent of the dibutyryl cyclic GMP-induced reversal of residual stimulation varies, depending on the temperature and concentration of cholecystokinin octapeptide in the first incubation. The present results are compatible with the hypothesis that mouse pancreatic acini possess two classes of cholecystokinin receptors. One class has a relatively high affinity for cholecystokinin and produces stimulation of enzyme secretion; the other class has a relatively low affinity for cholecystokinin and produces inhibition of enzyme secretion.

Benzotript, N-p-chlorobenzoyl-L-tryptophan, is a specific cholecystokinin receptor antagonist. In the present study we used dispersed pancreatic acini to examine tryptophan as well as several different N-acyl derivatives of tryptophan for their abilities to function as cholecystokinin receptor antagonists. L-Tryptophan, D-tryptophan as well as each acyl derivative tested inhibited cholecystokinin-stimulated amylase secretion and outflux of 45Ca and there was a good correlation between the ability of a particular agent to inhibit the action of cholecystokinin on acinar function and its ability to inhibit binding of 125I-labeled cholecystokinin to pancreatic acini. Results with butyloxycarbonyl-L-tryptophan indicated that the inhibition of the action of cholecystokinin caused by L-tryptophan and various acyl derivatives is specific, competitive and fully reversible. In functioning as a cholecystokinin receptor antagonist the relative potencies of the agents tested were: carbobenzoxy-L-tryptophan greater than benzotript greater than benzoyl-L-tryptophan = butyloxycarbonyl-L-tryptophan greater than acetyl-L-tryptophan greater than L-tryptophan. In inhibiting the actions of cholecystokinin, native as well as N-acyl derivatives of D-tryptophan were equipotent with the corresponding compound containing L-tryptophan. Although L-tryptophan inhibited the actions of cholecystokinin, L-phenylalanine, L-methionine or L-aspartic acid, even when tested at concentrations as high as 3 mM, did not alter the action of cholecystokinin on pancreatic acini. The antagonism of the actions of cholecystokinin was not restricted to N-acyl derivatives of L-tryptophan because butyloxycarbonyl-L-methionine and butyloxycarbonyl-L-phenylalanine but not butyloxycarbonyl-L-aspartic acid also antagonized the actions of cholecystokinin. These results demonstrate that both the nature of the N-acyl group and the amino acid residue are important determinants of the affinity of the antagonist for the cholecystokinin receptor. For derivatives of L-tryptophan, the more hydrophobic the N-acyl moiety, the greater the affinity of the derivative for the cholecystokinin receptor.

Cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK-OP) was injected into the lateral brain ventricle of chloralose-anesthetized cats while monitoring pulmonary ventilation, mean blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR). Initial values for respiratory minute volume, BP and HR were 436 +/- 32 ml/min, 126 +/- 8 mm Hg and 204 +/- 9 beats/min, respectively. CCK-OP in doses of 8.8 x 10(-13) to 8.8 x 10(-10) M (i.e., 1 to 1000 ng) increased respiratory minute volume by +56 +/- 18 ml/min to +370 +/- 73 ml/min, respectively. This response was due to an increase in tidal volume (P less than .05) with no effect on respiratory rate. Most of these doses increased BP and HR (P less than .05). These responses were mimicked when CCK-OP was administered into and restricted to the lateral and 3rd ventricles, whereas no significant responses occurred with administration into the 4th ventricle. The highest dose of CCK-OP, when given i.v., produced no significant effects. Central nervous system injections (lateral ventricle) of CCK-OP in deafferented animals also produced respiratory and cardiovascular stimulation, but higher doses were required. Central nervous system injections of comparable doses of desulfated CCK-OP or pentagastrin had no effect on respiratory minute volume, BP or HR. Proglumide (0.8 and 8.0 mg), a specific CCK receptor antagonist, prevented both respiratory and cardiovascular effects induced by CCK-OP. These doses of proglumide exerted no antagonism of CO2-induced respiratory stimulation. These data suggest that a specific receptor reacting with CCK-OP may be important for the control of respiration.

When pancreatic acini are first incubated with cholecystokinin, washed to remove free cholecystokinin and then reincubated in fresh incubation solution, there is significant residual stimulation of amylase secretion. This residual stimulation requires relatively high concentrations of the secretagogue, is reversible, and is specific for cholecystokinin. Induction of residual stimulation occurs more rapidly at 37 degrees C (maximal by 1 min) than at 4 degrees C (maximal by 10 min), and, once induced, residual stimulation persists for up to 75 min at 37 degrees C and for more than 90 min at 4 degrees C. The persistent effect of cholecystokinin on enzyme secretion cannot be accounted for by incomplete removal of the secretagogue by the wash procedure or by activation of some intermediate step in the mechanism of action of cholecystokinin that persists after the secretagogue dissociates from its receptors. Instead, cholecystokinin-induced residual stimulation of enzyme secretion appears to result from persistent occupation of cholecystokinin receptors by the secretagogue.

In the C-terminal heptapeptide of cholecystokinin, replacement of the penultimate residue, aspartic acid, by beta-alanine caused a 300-fold decrease in the potency with which the peptide stimulated enzyme secretions, whereas replacement by glutamic acid caused a 1000-fold decrease in potency. The beta-alanine-substituted peptide was approximately ten times more potent when the n terminus was blocked with t-butyloxycarbonyl than when it was blocked with benzyloxycarbonyl, and the glutamic acid-substituted peptide was approximately twice as potent when the N terminus was blocked with t-butyloxycarbonyl than when it was blocked with benzyloxycarbonyl. Changes in the ability of the peptide to stimulate amylase secretion were accompanied by corresponding changes in the ability of the peptide to inhibit binding of 125I-labeled cholecystokinin. The magnitude of stimulation of enzyme secretion caused by a maximally effective peptide concentration was the same with each analogue as it was with the unaltered peptide. Replacing the aspartyl residue by beta-alanine or glutamic acid or replacing the N-terminal t-butyloxycarbonyl moiety by benzyloxycarbonyl caused an equivalent decrease in the ability of the peptide to stimulate enzyme secretion and its ability to cause residual stimulation of enzyme secretion. In contrast, the N-terminal desamino analogue of cholecystokinin heptapeptide was ten times less potent than the unaltered peptide in stimulating amylase secretion, but 100 times less potent than the unaltered peptide in causing residual stimulation of enzyme secretion.

In the C-terminal heptapeptide of cholecystokinin (-Tyr(SO3H)-Met-Gly-Trp-Met-Asp-Phe-NH2), replacing the aspartic acid residue by beta-aspartic acid did not alter the ability of the peptide to cause stimulation, desensitization, or residual stimulation of enzyme secretion from dispersed pancreatic acini. Replacing the tyrosine sulfate residue by hydroxynorleucine sulfate did not alter the ability of the heptapeptide to cause stimulation or desensitization, but caused a 50-fold decrease in the potency with which the peptide caused residual stimulation of enzyme secretion. These findings suggest that a modification of the N-terminal region of cholecystokinin heptapeptide, which does not alter the ability of the peptide to bind to its receptor on pancreatic acini and by so doing cause stimulation and desensitization of enzyme secretion, can increase the rate at which the bound peptide dissociates when the acini are washed and reincubated. This increased dissociation is reflected by a reduction in the potency with which the peptide causes residual stimulation of enzyme secretion.

Thirteen proglumide derivatives that varied in the length of the di-n-alkyl group and in the substitutions on the benzoyl moiety were tested for their ability to interact with guinea pig pancreatic cholecystokinin (CCK) receptors. Each derivative was more potent than proglumide. There was a close correlation between their abilities to inhibit CCK-stimulated amylase release and to inhibit binding of 125I-CCK. For the di-n-alkyl derivatives the relative potency was n-pentyl greater than n-hexyl greater than n-butyl greater than n-propyl. For the benzoyl moiety, adding two electron-withdrawing groups increased potency more than adding a single electron-withdrawing group or adding electron-donating groups. The 3,4-dichloro-di-n-pentyl derivative of proglumide was 1,300 times more potent than proglumide, and its action was specific, competitive, and it functioned as a CCK receptor antagonist in rat, mouse, and guinea pig pancreas. For all proglumide derivatives there was a good correlation (r = 0.84, P less than 0.001) between their abilities to inhibit CCK-stimulated amylase release and that previously reported for their abilities to inhibit CCK-induced gallbladder contraction. However, certain proglumide derivatives had a much higher affinity for the pancreatic CCK receptor than for the CCK receptor mediating gallbladder contraction. For other proglumide derivatives the pattern was reversed. These results demonstrate that both the di-n-alkyl group and the substitution on the benzoyl moiety of proglumide are equally important determinants of affinity and that derivatives such as the di-n-pentyl 3,4-dichloro analogue can be produced that are 1,300 times more potent than proglumide.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

In the present study we examined the kinetics of binding of iodinated COOH-terminal octapeptide of cholecystokinin (125I-CCK-8) to its receptors on dispersed acini prepared from guinea pig pancreas. At 37 degrees C, binding of 125I-CCK-8 reached a steady state after 60 min of incubation. Dissociation of bound 125I-CCK-8 was biphasic, indicating that the labeled peptide binds in two distinct states: a rapidly dissociating state and a slowly dissociating state. Binding of 125I-CCK-8 in the rapidly dissociating state was maximal within 3 min of incubation, did not depend on incubation temperature or cellular energy metabolism, could be stripped by 0.5 M potassium thiocyanate, and showed accelerated dissociation with CCK-8 or dibutyrylguanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (Bt2cGMP). Binding of 125I-CCK-8 in the slowly dissociating state was maximal after 60 min of incubation, was decreased by reducing the incubation temperature or inhibiting cellular energy metabolism, was not stripped by 0.5 M potassium thiocyanate, and did not show accelerated dissociation with CCK-8 or Bt2cGMP. Increasing the concentration of 125I-CCK-8 increased the fraction of radioactivity bound in the rapidly dissociating state. When binding of 125I-CCK-8 reached a steady state, nearly all of the bound radioactivity was in the slowly dissociating state. Computer analysis of the inhibition of 125I-CCK-8 by CCK-8 under experimental conditions where the rapidly dissociating state predominates demonstrated a complete loss of high-affinity binding sites.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Using dispersed acini prepared from guinea pig pancreas, we found that the structural requirements for cholecystokinin-induced stimulation of amylase secretion are the same as those for cholecystokinin-induced desensitization of amylase secretion. 1) The relative potencies with which various C-terminal fragments of cholecystokinin cause stimulation are the same as their relative potencies for causing desensitization. 2) With each fragment tested, desensitization occurs with peptide concentrations that are supramaximal for causing stimulation of amylase secretion. 3) Fragments of cholecystokinin less efficacious in causing supramaximal inhibition of amylase secretion are also less efficacious in causing desensitization of amylase secretion. In contrast, there is no obvious fixed relation between the ability of a cholecystokinin fragment to cause stimulation of enzyme secretion and its ability to cause residual stimulation of enzyme secretion. Cholecystokinin and its C-terminal hexadecapeptide are 25-40% more efficacious than the C-terminal decapeptide, octapeptide, and heptapeptide in causing residual stimulation, and the C-terminal pentapeptide and tetrapeptide caused no detectable residual stimulation. The C-terminal tetrapeptide, however, can prevent as well as reverse the residual stimulation caused by other cholecystokinin fragments, and the ability of the tetrapeptide to prevent cholecystokinin-induced residual stimulation is itself fully reversible.

Recent studies demonstrate that cholecystokinin-like peptides are widely distributed in the CNS as well as in the peripheral nervous system and gastrointestinal tract. Studies with agonists have demonstrated multiple classes of receptors and recently potent receptor antagonists have been described which will distinguish these classes and should allow a better understanding of the role of CCK in various physiological processes. One of the known peripheral physiological functions of CCK is the stimulation of digestive enzymes from pancreatic acinar cells. In recent years the interaction of CCK with pancreatic acinar cells has been extensively studied and significant advances have been made in understanding its cellular basis of action. Robert Jensen and colleagues report on each of these areas.

In dispersed acini from guinea pig pancreas, cholecystokinin-27-32-amide (CCK-27-32-NH2) did not alter amylase secretion but was able to antagonize the stimulation caused by cholecystokinin-related agonists. CCK-27-32-NH2 caused a parallel rightward shift in the dose-response curve for the stimulation of amylase secretion caused by cholecystokinin and inhibited binding of 125I-labeled cholecystokinin to pancreatic acini. These results indicate that CCK-27-32-NH2 is a fully competitive cholecystokinin receptor antagonist. CCK-27-32-NH2 did not alter the rate of dissociation of bound 125I-cholecystokinin from pancreatic acini but was able to reverse the residual stimulation of enzyme secretion caused by first incubating pancreatic acini with a relatively high concentration of cholecystokinin. Compared to other cholecystokinin receptor antagonists, CCK-27-32-NH2 is the most potent antagonist described to date, i.e. 30 times more potent than N2,O2-dibutyryl guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate. These results also indicate that the COOH-terminal phenylalanine residue of cholecystokinin is essential for intrinsic cholecystokinin-like activity but is not essential for binding of the peptide to cholecystokinin receptors in pancreatic acini.

We examined the ability of the recently described 3-(benzoylamino)benzodiazepine analogue L365,260 and the 3-(acylamino)benzodiazepine analogue L364,718 to distinguish gastrin from pancreatic cholecystokinin (CCK) receptors. Neither L365,260 nor L364,718 when present alone (1 microM) caused stimulation of amylase release from guinea pig pancreatic acini or caused contraction of smooth muscle cells from guinea pig stomach. Each analogue inhibited CCK-stimulated amylase release, gastrin-17-I-stimulated smooth muscle contraction, binding of 125I-Bolton-Hunter-cholecystokinin octapeptide (125I-BH-CCK-8) to pancreatic CCK receptors, and binding of 125I-gastrin-17-I to gastrin receptors on pancreatic acini. L365,260, (Ki, 7.3 +/- 0.8 nM) was 50-70 times more potent than L364,718 at inhibiting binding of 125I-gastrin to pancreatic acini or gastrin-stimulated smooth muscle contraction. In contrast, L364,718 (Ki, 4 +/- 1 nM) was 145-200 times more potent than L365,260 at inhibiting binding of 125I-BH-CCK-8 to pancreatic acini or CCK-stimulated amylase release. Neither L364,718 nor L365,260 distinguished between high- and low-affinity CCK binding sites. L365,260 and L364,718 did not inhibit binding of radiolabeled vasoactive intestinal peptide, secretin, bombesin, substance P, or N-methylscopolamine to pancreatic acini. These results demonstrate that, in contrast to other gastrin-CCK receptor antagonists described, L365,260 is a selective gastrin receptor antagonist having an 80-fold higher affinity for gastrin than pancreatic CCK receptor, whereas L364,718 has a 125-fold higher affinity for pancreatic CCK receptors. Because of the selectivity of these two antagonists the involvement of CCK and gastrin in various physiological processes can be differentiated even when both receptors occur on the same cell.

In pancreatic acinar cells, the Src family of kinases (SFK) is involved in the activation of several signaling cascades that are implicated in mediating cellular processes (growth, cytoskeletal changes, apoptosis). However, the role of SFKs in various physiological responses such as enzyme secretion or in pathophysiological processes such as acute pancreatitis is either controversial, unknown, or incompletely understood. To address this, in this study, we investigated the role/mechanisms of SFKs in acute pancreatitis and enzyme release. Enzyme secretion was studied in rat dispersed pancreatic acini, in vitro acute-pancreatitis-like changes induced by supramaximal COOH-terminal octapeptide of cholecystokinin (CCK). SFK involvement assessed using the chemical SFK inhibitor (PP2) with its inactive control, 4-amino-7-phenylpyrazol[ 3,4-d]pyrimidine (PP3), under experimental conditions, markedly inhibiting SFK activation. In CCK-stimulated pancreatic acinar cells, activation occurred of trypsinogen, various MAP kinases (p42/44, JNK), transcription factors (signal transducer and activator of transcription- 3, nuclear factor-κB, activator protein-1), caspases (3, 8, and 9) inducing apoptosis, LDH release reflective of necrosis, and various chemokines secreted (monocyte chemotactic protein-1, macrophage inflammatory protein-1α, regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted). All were inhibited by PP2, not by PP3, except caspase activation leading to apoptosis, which was increased, and trypsin activation, which was unaffected, as was CCK-induced amylase release. These results demonstrate SFK activation is playing a dual role in acute pancreatitis, inhibiting apoptosis and promoting necrosis as well as chemokine/cytokine release inducing inflammation, leading to more severe disease, as well as not affecting secretion. Thus, our studies indicate that SFK is a key mediator of inflammation and pancreatic acinar cell death in acute pancreatitis, suggesting it could be a potential therapeutic target in acute pancreatitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]