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G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), G proteins and adenylyl cyclase (AC) comprise one of the most studied transmembrane cell signaling pathways. However, it is unknown whether the ligand-dependent interactions between these signaling molecules are based on random collisions or the rearrangement of pre-coupled elements in a macromolecular complex. Furthermore, it remains controversial whether a GPCR homodimer coupled to a single heterotrimeric G protein constitutes a common functional unit. Using a peptide-based approach, we here report evidence for the existence of functional pre-coupled complexes of heteromers of adenosine A2A receptor and dopamine D2 receptor homodimers coupled to their cognate Gs and Gi proteins and to subtype 5 AC. We also demonstrate that this macromolecular complex provides the necessary frame for the canonical Gs-Gi interactions at the AC level, sustaining the ability of a Gi-coupled GPCR to counteract AC activation mediated by a Gs-coupled GPCR., It is unclear whether GPCRs, G proteins and adenylyl cyclase (AC) associate through random collisions or defined pre-coupling mechanisms. Using a peptide-based approach, the authors show that heteromers of adenosine A2A and dopamine D2 receptors form pre-coupled complexes with their cognate G proteins and AC5.

Release of the neuropeptides corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and orexin-A in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) play an important role in stress-induced cocaine-seeking behavior. We provide evidence for pharmacologically significant interactions between CRF and orexin-A that depend on oligomerization of CRF1receptor (CRF1R) and orexin OX1receptors (OX1R). CRF1R–OX1R heteromers are the conduits of a negative crosstalk between orexin-A and CRF as demonstrated in transfected cells and rat VTA, in which they significantly modulate dendritic dopamine release. The cocaine target σ1receptor (σ1R) also associates with the CRF1R–OX1R heteromer. Cocaine binding to the σ1R–CRF1R–OX1R complex promotes a long-term disruption of the orexin-A–CRF negative crosstalk. Through this mechanism, cocaine sensitizes VTA cells to the excitatory effects of both CRF and orexin-A, thus providing a mechanism by which stress induces cocaine seeking.

Background G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) heteromeric complexes have distinct properties from homomeric GPCRs, giving rise to new receptor functionalities. Adenosine receptors (A1R or A2AR) can form A1R-A2AR heteromers (A1-A2AHet), and their activation leads to canonical G-protein-dependent (adenylate cyclase mediated) and -independent (β-arrestin mediated) signaling. Adenosine has different affinities for A1R and A2AR, allowing the heteromeric receptor to detect its concentration by integrating the downstream Gi- and Gs-dependent signals. cAMP accumulation and β-arrestin recruitment assays have shown that, within the complex, activation of A2AR impedes signaling via A1R. Results We examined the mechanism by which A1-A2AHet integrates Gi- and Gs-dependent signals. A1R blockade by A2AR in the A1-A2AHet is not observed in the absence of A2AR activation by agonists, in the absence of the C-terminal domain of A2AR, or in the presence of synthetic peptides that disrupt the heteromer interface of A1-A2AHet, indicating that signaling mediated by A1R and A2AR is controlled by both Gi and Gs proteins. Conclusions We identified a new mechanism of signal transduction that implies a cross-communication between Gi and Gs proteins guided by the C-terminal tail of the A2AR. This mechanism provides the molecular basis for the operation of the A1-A2AHet as an adenosine concentration-sensing device that modulates the signals originating at both A1R and A2AR.

Background G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) heteromeric complexes have distinct properties from homomeric GPCRs, giving rise to new receptor functionalities. Adenosine receptors (A1R or A2AR) can form A1R-A2AR heteromers (A1-A2AHet), and their activation leads to canonical G-protein-dependent (adenylate cyclase mediated) and -independent (β-arrestin mediated) signaling. Adenosine has different affinities for A1R and A2AR, allowing the heteromeric receptor to detect its concentration by integrating the downstream Gi- and Gs-dependent signals. cAMP accumulation and β-arrestin recruitment assays have shown that, within the complex, activation of A2AR impedes signaling via A1R. Results We examined the mechanism by which A1-A2AHet integrates Gi- and Gs-dependent signals. A1R blockade by A2AR in the A1-A2AHet is not observed in the absence of A2AR activation by agonists, in the absence of the C-terminal domain of A2AR, or in the presence of synthetic peptides that disrupt the heteromer interface of A1-A2AHet, indicating that signaling mediated by A1R and A2AR is controlled by both Gi and Gs proteins. Conclusions We identified a new mechanism of signal transduction that implies a cross-communication between Gi and Gs proteins guided by the C-terminal tail of the A2AR. This mechanism provides the molecular basis for the operation of the A1-A2AHet as an adenosine concentration-sensing device that modulates the signals originating at both A1R and A2AR. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12915-018-0491-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The central adenosine system and adenosine receptors play a fundamental role in the modulation of dopaminergic neurotransmission. This is mostly achieved by the strategic co-localization of different adenosine and dopamine receptor subtypes in the two populations of striatal efferent neurons, striatonigral and striatopallidal, that give rise to the direct and indirect striatal efferent pathways, respectively. With optogenetic techniques it has been possible to dissect a differential role of the direct and indirect pathways in mediating “Go” responses upon exposure to reward-related stimuli and “NoGo” responses upon exposure to non-rewarded or aversive-related stimuli, respectively, which depends on their different connecting output structures and their differential expression of dopamine and adenosine receptor subtypes. The striatopallidal neuron selectively expresses dopamine D2 receptors (D2R) and adenosine A2A receptors (A2AR), and numerous experiments using multiple genetic and pharmacological in vitro, in situ and in vivo approaches, demonstrate they can form A2AR-D2R heteromers. It was initially assumed that different pharmacological interactions between dopamine and adenosine receptor ligands indicated the existence of different subpopulations of A2AR and D2R in the striatopallidal neuron. However, as elaborated in the present essay, most evidence now indicates that all interactions can be explained with a predominant population of striatal A2AR-D2R heteromers forming complexes with adenylyl cyclase subtype 5 (AC5). The A2AR-D2R heteromer has a tetrameric structure, with two homodimers, which allows not only multiple allosteric interactions between different orthosteric ligands, agonists, and antagonists, but also the canonical Gs-Gi antagonistic interaction at the level of AC5. We present a model of the function of the A2AR-D2R heterotetramer-AC5 complex, which acts as an integrative device of adenosine and dopamine signals that determine the excitability and gene expression of the striatopallidal neurons. The model can explain most behavioral effects of A2AR and D2R ligands, including the psychostimulant effects of caffeine. The model is also discussed in the context of different functional striatal compartments, mainly the dorsal and the ventral striatum. The current accumulated knowledge of the biochemical properties of the A2AR-D2R heterotetramer-AC5 complex offers new therapeutic possibilities for Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, SUD and other neuropsychiatric disorders with dysfunction of dorsal or ventral striatopallidal neurons.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder causing progressive memory loss and cognitive dysfunction. Anti-AD strategies targeting cell receptors consider them as isolated units. However, many cell surface receptors cooperate and physically contact each other forming complexes having different biochemical properties than individual receptors. We here report the discovery of dopamine D1, histamine H3, and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor heteromers in heterologous systems and in rodent brain cortex. Heteromers were detected by co-immunoprecipitation and in situ proximity ligation assays (PLA) in the rat cortex where H3 receptor agonists, via negative cross-talk, and H3 receptor antagonists, via cross-antagonism, decreased D1 receptor agonist signaling determined by ERK1/2 or Akt phosphorylation, and counteracted D1 receptor-mediated excitotoxic cell death. Both D1 and H3 receptor antagonists also counteracted NMDA toxicity suggesting a complex interaction between NMDA receptors and D1-H3 receptor heteromer function. Likely due to heteromerization, H3 receptors act as allosteric regulator for D1 and NMDA receptors. By bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET), we demonstrated that D1 or H3 receptors form heteromers with NR1A/NR2B NMDA receptor subunits. D1-H3-NMDA receptor complexes were confirmed by BRET combined with fluorescence complementation. The endogenous expression of complexes in mouse cortex was determined by PLA and similar expression was observed in wild-type and APP/PS1 mice. Consistent with allosteric receptor-receptor interactions within the complex, H3 receptor antagonists reduced NMDA or D1 receptor-mediated excitotoxic cell death in cortical organotypic cultures. Moreover, H3 receptor antagonists reverted the toxicity induced by s1-42-amyloid peptide. Thus, histamine H3 receptors in D1-H3-NMDA heteroreceptor complexes arise as promising targets to prevent neurodegeneration.

The dopamine D1 receptor-D3 receptor (D1R-D3R) heteromer is being considered as a potential therapeutic target for neuropsychiatric disorders. Previous studies suggested that this heteromer could be involved in the ability of D3R agonists to potentiate locomotor activation induced by D1R agonists. It has also been postulated that its overexpression plays a role in L-dopa-induced dyskinesia and in drug addiction. However, little is known about its biochemical properties. By combining bioluminescence resonance energy transfer, bimolecular complementation techniques, and cell-signaling experiments in transfected cells, evidence was obtained for a tetrameric stoichiometry of the D1R-D3R heteromer, constituted by two interacting D1R and D3R homodimers coupled to Gs and Gi proteins, respectively. Coactivation of both receptors led to the canonical negative interaction at the level of adenylyl cyclase signaling, to a strong recruitment of β-arrestin-1, and to a positive cross talk of D1R and D3R agonists at the level of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling. Furthermore, D1R or D3R antagonists counteracted β-arrestin-1 recruitment and MAPK activation induced by D3R and D1R agonists, respectively (cross-antagonism). Positive cross talk and cross-antagonism at the MAPK level were counteracted by specific synthetic peptides with amino acid sequences corresponding to D1R transmembrane (TM) domains TM5 and TM6, which also selectively modified the quaternary structure of the D1R-D3R heteromer, as demonstrated by complementation of hemiproteins of yellow fluorescence protein fused to D1R and D3R. These results demonstrate functional selectivity of allosteric modulations within the D1R-D3R heteromer, which can be involved with the reported behavioral synergism of D1R and D3R agonists.

Interest in adenosine deaminase (ADA) in the context of medicine has mainly focused on its enzymatic activity. This is justified by the importance of the reaction catalyzed by ADA not only for the intracellular purine metabolism, but also for the extracellular purine metabolism as well, because of its capacity as a regulator of the concentration of extracellular adenosine that is able to activate adenosine receptors (ARs). In recent years, other important roles have been described for ADA. One of these, with special relevance in immunology, is the capacity of ADA to act as a costimulator, promoting T-cell proliferation and differentiation mainly by interacting with the differentiation cluster CD26. Another role is the ability of ADA to act as an allosteric modulator of ARs. These receptors have very general physiological implications, particularly in the neurological system where they play an important role. Thus, ADA, being a single chain protein, performs more than one function, consistent with the definition of a moonlighting protein. Although ADA has never been associated with moonlighting proteins, here we consider ADA as an example of this family of multifunctional proteins. In this review, we discuss the different roles of ADA and their pathological implications. We propose a mechanism by which some of their moonlighting functions can be coordinated. We also suggest that drugs modulating ADA properties may act as modulators of the moonlighting functions of ADA, giving them additional potential medical interest.

Using bioluminescence resonance energy transfer and proximity ligation assays, we obtained the first direct evidence that adenosine A₁ receptors (A₁Rs) form homomers not only in cell cultures but also in brain cortex. By radioligand binding experiments in the absence or in the presence of the A₁Rs allosteric modulator, adenosine deaminase, and by using the two-state dimer receptor model to fit binding data, we demonstrated that the protomer-protomer interactions in the A₁R homomers account for some of the pharmacological characteristics of agonist and antagonist binding to A₁Rs. These pharmacological properties include the appearance of cooperativity in agonist binding, the change from a biphasic saturation curve to a monophasic curve in self-competition experiments and the molecular cross-talk detected when two different specific molecules bind to the receptor. In this last case, we discovered that caffeine binding to one protomer increases the agonist affinity for the other protomer in the A₁R homomer, a pharmacological characteristic that correlates with the low caffeine concentrations-induced activation of agonist-promoted A₁R signaling. This pharmacological property can explain the biphasic effects reported at low and high concentration of caffeine on locomotor activity.

Caffeine induces locomotor activation by its ability to block adenosine receptors. Caffeine is metabolized to several methylxanthines, with paraxanthine being the main metabolite in humans. In this study we show that in rats paraxanthine has a stronger locomotor activating effect than caffeine or the two other main metabolites of caffeine, theophylline and theobromine. As previously described for caffeine, the locomotor activating doses of paraxanthine more efficiently counteract the locomotor depressant effects of an adenosine A1 than an adenosine A2A receptor agonist. In drug discrimination experiments in rats trained to discriminate a maximal locomotor activating dose of caffeine, paraxanthine, unlike theoph- ylline, generalized poorly to caffeine suggesting the existence of additional mechanisms other than adenosine antagonism in the behavioral effects of paraxanthine. Pretreatment with the nitric oxide inhibitor N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) reduced the locomotor activating effects of par- axanthine, but not caffeine. On the other hand, pretreatment with the selective cGMP-preferring phosphodiesterase PDE9 inhibitor BAY 73-6691, increased locomotor activity induced by caffeine, but not paraxanthine. Ex vivo experiments demonstrated that paraxanthine, but not caffeine, can induce cGMP accumulation in the rat striatum. Finally, in vivo microdialysis experiments showed that para- xanthine, but not caffeine, significantly increases extracellular levels of dopamine in the dorsolateral striatum, which was blocked by L-NAME. These findings indicate that inhibition of cGMP-preferring PDE is involved in the locomotor activating effects of the acute administration of paraxanthine. The present results demonstrate a unique psychostimulant profile of paraxanthine, which might contribute to the reinforcing effects of caffeine in humans. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

The neuropeptide galanin has been shown to interact with the opioid system. More specifically, galanin counteracts the behavioral effects of the systemic administration of μ-opioid receptor (MOR) agonists. Yet the mechanism responsible for this galanin–opioid interaction has remained elusive. Using biophysical techniques in mammalian transfected cells, we found evidence for selective heteromerization of MOR and the galanin receptor subtype Gal1 (Gal1R). Also in transfected cells, a synthetic peptide selectively disrupted MOR–Gal1R heteromerization as well as specific interactions between MOR and Gal1R ligands: a negative cross talk, by which galanin counteracted MAPK activation induced by the endogenous MOR agonist endomorphin-1, and a cross-antagonism, by which a MOR antagonist counteracted MAPK activation induced by galanin. These specific interactions, which represented biochemical properties of the MOR-Gal1R heteromer, could then be identifiedin situin slices of rat ventral tegmental area (VTA) with MAPK activation and two additional cell signaling pathways, AKT and CREB phosphorylation. Furthermore,in vivomicrodialysis experiments showed that the disruptive peptide selectively counteracted the ability of galanin to block the dendritic dopamine release in the rat VTA induced by local infusion of endomorphin-1, demonstrating a key role of MOR-Gal1R heteromers localized in the VTA in the direct control of dopamine cell function and their ability to mediate antagonistic interactions between MOR and Gal1R ligands. The results also indicate that MOR-Gal1R heteromers should be viewed as targets for the treatment of opioid use disorders.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTThe μ-opioid receptor (MOR) localized in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) plays a key role in the reinforcing and addictive properties of opioids. With parallelin vitroexperiments in mammalian transfected cells andin situandin vivoexperiments in rat VTA, we demonstrate that a significant population of these MORs form functional heteromers with the galanin receptor subtype Gal1 (Gal1R), which modulate the activity of the VTA dopaminergic neurons. The MOR-Gal1R heteromer can explain previous results showing antagonistic galanin–opioid interactions and offers a new therapeutic target for the treatment of opioid use disorder.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder causing progressive memory loss and cognitive dysfunction. Anti-AD strategies targeting cell receptors consider them as isolated units. However, many cell surface receptors cooperate and physically contact each other forming complexes having different biochemical properties than individual receptors. We here report the discovery of dopamine D

The enzyme adenosine deaminase (ADA) is a multifunctional protein that can both degrade adenosine and bind extracellularly to adenosine receptors, acting as an allosteric modulator regulating the hormonal effects of adenosine. The molecular regions of ADA responsible for the latter are unknown. In this work, alanine scanning mutagenesis of various ADA amino acid stretches, selected through in silico docking experiments, allowed us to identify regions of the enzyme responsible for modulating both its catalytic activity and its ability to modulate agonist binding to A and A adenosine receptors (AR and AR). The combination of computational and in vitro experiments show that the structural gate to the catalytic site; i.e., the α-1 helix containing residues L58-I72 and the loop containing residues A184-I188 of ADA, were important to maintain both the catalytic efficiency of the enzyme and its action as an allosteric modulator of the adenosine receptors. These data are consistent with a predicted supramolecular assembly, in which ADA bridges AR and CD26 and are in line with the notion that the interaction of ADA with adenosine receptors has an important role in the immunosynapse. We propose that it is the ADA open form, but not the closed one, that is responsible for the functional interaction with A₁R and A₂AR.

G protein-coupled receptor oligomerization is a concept which is changing the understanding of classical pharmacology. Both, oligomerization and functional interaction between adenosine A 2A, dopamine D 2 and metabotropic glutamate type 5 receptors have been demonstrated in the striatum. However, the transcriptional consequences of receptors co-activation are still unexplored. We aim here to determine the changes in gene expression of striatal primary cultured neurons upon isolated or simultaneous receptor activation. Interestingly, we found that 95 genes of the total analyzed (15,866 transcripts and variants) changed their expression in response to simultaneous stimulation of all three receptors. Among these genes, we focused on the β-synuclein (β-Syn) gene ( SCNB) . Quantitative PCR verified the magnitude and direction of change in expression of SCNB . Since β-Syn belongs to the homologous synuclein family and may be considered a natural regulator of α-synuclein (α-Syn), it has been proposed that β-Syn might act protectively against α-Syn neuropathology.

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent a diverse protein family of receptors that transduce signals from the extracellular surrounding to intracellular signaling molecules evoking various cellular responses. It is now widely accepted that GPCRs are expressed and function as dimers or most probably as oligomers of more than two receptor protomers. The heteromer has different biochemical and pharmacological characteristics from the monomers, which increases the functional responses of GPCRs. GPCRs are involved in many diseases, and are also the target of around half of all modern medicinal drugs. In the case of Parkinson's disease, a degenerative process caused by gradual disappearance of dopaminergic nigrostriatal neurons, it is suspected that the targets for treatment should be dopamine-receptor-containing heteromers. Technologies based on the use of fluorescent- or luminescent-fused receptors and adaptations of resonance energy transfer (RET) techniques have been useful in investigating the functional inter-relationships between receptors in a heteromer. In this study functional recombinant adenosine A 2A -Rluc, dopamine D 2 -GFP 2 and histamine H 3 -YFP receptor fusion proteins were successfully cloned and characterized, producing the essential basis for heteromerization studies between these receptors. This might provide a better insight into their pharmacological and functional inter-relationships in the brain and enable the design and evaluation of new therapeutic strategies for Parkinson's disease.

By interacting with CD26 on the CD4+ T cell surface and with the AdoR A2B on the DC surface, ADA triggers a costimulatory signal for human T cells. The aim of this study was to know whether ADA-mediated costimulation plays a role in the differentiation of T cells. The results show that irrespective of its enzymatic activity and dependent on TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-6 action, ADA enhanced the differentiation of CD4+CD45RA+CD45RO– naïve T cells toward CD4+CD25+CD45RO+ Teffs and CD4+CD45RA–CD45RO+ memory T cells. Furthermore, ADA potentiated generation of CD4+CD25highFoxp3+ Tregs by a mechanism that seems to be mainly dependent on the enzymatic activity of ADA. Interestingly, an ADA-mediated increase on Teff, memory T cell, and Treg generation occurred, not only in cocultures from healthy individuals but also from HIV-infected patients. These data suggest that ADA is a relevant modulator of CD4+ T cell differentiation, even in cells from immunologically compromised individuals.

Adenosine and endocannabinoids are very ubiquitous non-classical neurotransmitters that exert a modulatory role on the transmission of other more ‘classical’ neurotransmitters. In this review we will focus on their common role as modulators of dopamine and glutamate neurotransmission in the striatum, the main input structure of the basal ganglia. We will pay particular attention to the role of adenosine A2A receptors and cannabinoid CB1 receptors. Experimental results suggest that presynaptic CB1 receptors interacting with A2A receptors in cortico-striatal glutamatergic terminals that make synaptic contact with dynorphinergic medium-sized spiny neurons (MSNs) are involved in the motor-depressant and addictive effects of cannabinoids. On the other hand, postsynaptic CB1 receptors interacting with A2A and D2 receptors in the dendritic spines of enkephalinergic MSNs and postsynaptic CB1 receptors in the dendritic spines of dynorphinergic MSN are probably involved in the cataleptogenic effects of cannabinoids. These receptor interactions most probably depend on the existence of a variety of heteromers of A2A, CB1 and D2 receptors in different elements of striatal spine modules. Drugs selective for the different striatal A2A and CB1 receptor heteromers could be used for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders and drug addiction and they could provide effective drugs with fewer side effects than currently used drugs. This article is part of a themed issue on Cannabinoids. To view the editorial for this themed issue visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1476-5381.2010.00831.x

The adenosine A(2A)-dopamine D(2) receptor heteromer is one of the most studied receptor heteromers. It has important implications for basal ganglia function and pathology. Recent studies using Bioluminescence and Sequential Resonance Energy Transfer techniques shed light on the role of Ca(2+) in the modulation of the quaternary structure of the A(2A)-D(2) receptor heteromer, which was found to depend on the binding of calmodulin (CaM) to the carboxy-terminus of the A(2A) receptor in the A(2A)-D(2) receptor heteromer. Importantly, the changes in quaternary structure correlate with changes in function. A Ca(2+)/CaM-dependent modulation of MAPK signaling upon agonist treatment could be observed in cells expressing A(2A)-D(2) receptor heteromers. These studies provide a first example of a Ca(2+)-mediated modulation of the quaternary structure and function of a receptor heteromer.

Background and purpose: Functional interactions between the G protein-coupled dopamine D1 and histamine H3 receptors have been described in the brain. In the present study we investigated the existence of D1–H3 receptor heteromers and their biochemical characteristics. Experimental approach: D1–H3 receptor heteromerization was studied in mammalian transfected cells with Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer and binding assays. Furthermore, signalling through mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and adenylyl cyclase pathways was studied in co-transfected cells and compared with cells transfected with either D1 or H3 receptors. Key results: Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer and binding assays confirmed that D1 and H3 receptors can heteromerize. Activation of histamine H3 receptors did not lead to signalling towards the MAPK pathway unless dopamine D1 receptors were co-expressed. Also, dopamine D1 receptors, usually coupled to Gs proteins and leading to increases in cAMP, did not couple to Gs but to Gi in co-transfected cells. Furthermore, signalling via each receptor was blocked not only by a selective antagonist but also by an antagonist of the partner receptor. Conclusions and implications: D1–H3 receptor heteromers constitute unique devices that can direct dopaminergic and histaminergic signalling towards the MAPK pathway in a Gs-independent and Gi-dependent manner. An antagonist of one of the receptor units in the D1–H3 receptor heteromer can induce conformational changes in the other receptor unit and block specific signals originating in the heteromer. This gives rise to unsuspected therapeutic potentials for G protein-coupled receptor antagonists.

The introduction of two concepts, “local module” and “receptor heteromer”, facilitates the understanding of the role of interactions between different neurotransmitters in the brain. In artificial cell systems, cannabinoid CB1 receptors form receptor heteromers with dopamine D2, adenosine A2A and μ opioid receptors. There is indirect but compelling evidence for the existence of the same CB1 receptor heteromers in striatal local modules centered in the dendritic spines of striatal GABAergic efferent neurons, particularly at a postsynaptic location. Their analysis provides new clues for the role of endocannabinoids in striatal function, which cannot only be considered as retrograde signals that inhibit neurotransmitter release. Recent studies using a new method to detect heteromerization of more than two proteins, which consists of sequential BRET–FRET (SRET) analysis, has demonstrated that CB1, D2 and A2A receptors can form heterotrimers in transfected cells. It is likely that functional CB1–A2A–D2 receptor heteromers can be found where they are highly co-expressed, in the dendritic spines of GABAergic enkephalinergic neurons. The functional properties of these multiple receptor heteromers and their role in striatal function need to be determined.

G protein-coupled receptors are known to form homo-and heteromers at the plasma membrane, but the molecular properties of these oligomers are relatively unknown. Here, we show a method that allows the diffusion of G protein-coupled receptors oligomers in the plasma membrane to be monitored in single cells by combining Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation and Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy. With this approach we have measured, for the first time, the membrane diffusional characteristics of adenosine A(1) and A(2A) receptor homo-and heterodimers in Chinese Hamster Ovary cells. Interestingly, both homodimers display similar diffusion co-efficients (D) when expressed in living cells (D=5.0 and 4.8x10(-9) cm(2)/s, respectively) but the heterodimer formed by these receptors exhibit a significantly faster plasma membrane diffusion co-efficent (D=5.6x10(-9) cm(2)/s) when compared to the adenosine A(1) receptor tagged with the full-length yellow fluorescent protein (D=4.0x10(-9) cm(2)/s). Overall, these results demonstrate differences in plasma membrane diffusion between adenosine receptor homo-and heterodimers, providing new insights into the molecular plasticity of G protein-coupled receptor oligomerization.

The function of dopamine D3 receptors present in the striatum has remained elusive. In the present study evidence is provided for the existence of dopamine D1–D3 receptor heteromers and for an intramembrane D1–D3 receptor cross-talk in living cells and in the striatum. The formation of D1–D3 receptor heteromers was demonstrated by fluorescence resonance energy transfer and bioluminescence resonance energy transfer techniques in transfected mammalian cells. In membrane preparations from these cells, a synergistic D1–D3 intramembrane receptor-receptor interaction was observed, by which D3 receptor stimulation enhances D1 receptor agonist affinity, indicating that the D1–D3 intramembrane receptor-receptor interaction is a biochemical characteristic of the D1–D3 receptor heteromer. The same biochemical characteristic was also observed in membrane preparations from brain striatum, demonstrating the striatal co-localization and heteromerization of D1 and D3 receptors. According to the synergistic D1–D3 intramembrane receptor-receptor interaction, experiments in reserpinized mice showed that D3 receptor stimulation potentiates D1 receptor-mediated behavioral effects by a different mechanism than D2 receptor stimulation. The present study shows that a main functional significance of the D3 receptor is to obtain a stronger dopaminergic response in the striatal neurons that co-express the two receptors.

Despite some caveats, G protein-coupled receptor oligomerization is a phenomenon that is becoming largely accepted. Within these oligomers, however, stoichiometry remains to be elucidated. Here, by using bimolecular fluorescence complementation, we visualized adenosine A2A receptor homodimers in living cells, showing no apparent difference in the subcellular distribution when compared to the YFP-labelled adenosine A2A receptor protomer. Interestingly, the combination of bimolecular fluorescence complementation and bioluminescence resonance energy transfer techniques allowed us to detect the occurrence of adenosine A2A receptors oligomers containing more than two protomers. These results provide new insights into the molecular composition of G protein-coupled receptor oligomers.Structured summaryMINT-6700472:A2A (uniprotkb:P29274), A2A (uniprotkb:P29274) and A2A (uniprotkb:P29274) physically interact (MI:0218) by bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (MI:0012)MINT-6699330:A2A (uniprotkb:P29274) and A2A (uniprotkb:P29274) physically interact (MI:0218) by bimolecular fluorescence complementation (MI:0809)MINT-6699346:A2A (uniprotkb:P29274) and A2A (uniprotkb:P29274) physically interact (MI:0218) by bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (MI:0012)

Studies performed in the last 10 years have provided solid evidence indicating that G-protein-coupled receptors are expressed on the plasma membrane as homo and heterodimers. The first consequence of this fact is that homo and heterodimers are the true targets of natural (hormones, neurotransmitters) and synthetic drugs. Furthermore a given receptor in a heteromer may display a different functional and/or pharmacological profile than the same receptor characterized as monomer or as homodimer. Recent evidence indicates that receptor heteromers are sensors that lead to a fine-tuning in neurotransmission or hormone regulation; mainly this is achieved by a modification of the signaling pathways activated via a given receptor when it is forming a given heteromer. Quite often antagonists display variable affinities when a given receptor is expressed with different heteromeric partners. This fact should be taken into account in the development of new drugs. Finally it should be pointed out that radioligand binding data has to be analyzed by a model that considers receptors as dimers and not as monomers. This model provides a novel approach to characterize drugs interacting with the orthosteric center (agonists/antagonists) or with allosteric centers (allosteric regulators).

Receptors for neurotransmitters require scaffolding proteins for membrane microdomain targeting and for regulating receptor function. Using a yeast two-hybrid screen, alpha-actinin-1, a major F-actin cross-linking protein, was identified as a binding partner for the C-terminal domain of metabotropic glutamate receptor type 5b (mGlu(5b) receptor). Co-expression, co-immunoprecipitation, and pull-down experiments showed a close and specific interaction between mGlu(5b) receptor and alpha-actinin-1 in both transfected HEK-293 cells and rat striatum. The interaction of alpha-actinin-1 with mGlu(5b) receptor modulated the cell surface expression of the receptor. This was dependent on the binding of alpha-actinin-1 to the actin cytoskeleton. In addition, the alpha-actinin-1/mGlu(5b) receptor interaction regulated receptor-mediated activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. Together, these findings indicate that there is an alpha-actinin-1-dependent mGlu(5b) receptor association with the actin cytoskeleton modulating receptor cell surface expression and functioning.

Significance G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) constitute the largest plasma membrane protein family involved in cell signaling. GPCR homodimers are predominant species, and GPCR heteromers likely are constituted by heteromers of homodimers. The adenosine A 2A receptor (A 2A R)-dopamine D 2 receptor (D 2 R) heteromer is a target for the nonselective adenosine receptor antagonist caffeine. This study uncovers allosteric modulations of A 2A R antagonists that mimic those of A 2A R agonists, challenging the traditional view of antagonists as inactive ligands. These allosteric modulations disappear when agonist and antagonist are coadministered, however. A model is proposed that considers A 2A R-D 2 R heteromers as heterotetramers, constituted by A 2A R and D 2 R homodimers. The model predicted that high concentrations of A 2A R antagonists would behave as A 2A R agonists and decrease D 2 R function in the brain.

The structure constituted by a G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) homodimer and a G protein provides a main functional unit and oligomeric entities can be viewed as multiples of dimers. For GPCR heteromers, experimental evidence supports a tetrameric structure, comprised of two different homodimers, each able to signal with its preferred G protein. GPCR homomers and heteromers can act as the conduit of allosteric interactions between orthosteric ligands. The well-known agonist/agonist allosteric interaction in the adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR)–dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) heteromer, by which A2AR agonists decrease the affinity of D2R agonists, gave the first rationale for the use of A2AR antagonists in Parkinson's disease. We review new pharmacological findings that can be explained in the frame of a tetrameric structure of the A2AR–D2R heteromer: first, ligand-independent allosteric modulations by the D2R that result in changes of the binding properties of A2AR ligands; second, differential modulation of the intrinsic efficacy of D2R ligands for G protein-dependent and independent signaling; third, the canonical antagonistic Gs–Gi interaction within the frame of the heteromer; and fourth, the ability of A2AR antagonists, including caffeine, to also exert the same allosteric modulations of D2R ligands than A2AR agonists, while A2AR agonists and antagonists counteract each other's effects. These findings can have important clinical implications when evaluating the use of A2AR antagonists. They also call for the need of monitoring caffeine intake when evaluating the effect of D2R ligands, when used as therapeutic agents in neuropsychiatric disorders or as probes in imaging studies. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled ‘Purines in Neurodegeneration and Neuroregeneration’.

It has been suggested that L-DOPA-induced hyperhomocysteinemia can increase the risk of stroke, heart disease, and dementia and is an additional pathogenetic factor involved in the progression of Parkinson's disease. In Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells stably cotransfected with adenosine A(2A) and dopamine D2 receptors, homocysteine selectively decreased the ability of D2 receptor stimulation to internalize adenosine A(2A)-dopamine D2 receptor complexes. Radioligand-binding experiments in the same cell line demonstrated that homocysteine acts as an allosteric D2 receptor antagonist, by selectively reducing the affinity of D2 receptors for agonists but not for antagonists. Mass spectrometric analysis showed that, by means of an arginine (Arg)-thiol electrostatic interaction, homocysteine forms noncovalent complexes with the two Arg-rich epitopes of the third intracellular loop of the D2 receptor, one of them involved in A(2A)-D2 receptor heteromerization. However, homocysteine was unable to prevent or disrupt A(2A)-D2 receptor heteromerization, as demonstrated with Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) experiments in stably cotransfected HEK cells. The present results could have implications for Parkinson's disease.

In the striatum, dopamine and acetylcholine (ACh) modulate dopamine release by acting, respectively, on dopamine D(2) autoreceptors and nicotinic ACh (nACh) heteroreceptors localized on dopaminergic nerve terminals. The possibility that functional interactions exist between striatal D(2) autoreceptors and nACh receptors was studied with in vivo microdialysis in freely moving rats. Local perfusion of nicotine in the ventral striatum (shell of the nucleus accumbens) produced a marked increase in the extracellular levels of dopamine, which was completely counteracted by co-perfusion with either the non-alpha(7) nACh receptor antagonist dihydro-beta-erythroidine or the D(2-3) receptor agonist quinpirole. Local perfusion of the D(2-3) receptor antagonist raclopride produced an increase in the extracellular levels of dopamine, which was partially, but significantly, counteracted by coperfusion with dihydro-beta-erythroidine. These findings demonstrate a potent crosstalk between G protein-coupled receptors and ligand-gated ion channels in dopaminergic nerve terminals, with the D(2) autoreceptor modulating the efficacy of non-alpha(7) nACh receptor-mediated modulation of dopamine release. We further demonstrate physical interactions between beta(2) subunits of non-alpha(7) nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and D(2) autoreceptors in co-immunoprecipitation experiments with membrane preparations from co-transfected mammalian cells and rat striatum. These results reveal that striatal non-alpha(7) nicotinic acetylcholine receptors form part of heteromeric dopamine autoreceptor complexes that modulate dopamine release.

Long-lasting, activity-dependent changes in synaptic efficacy at excitatory synapses are critical for experience-dependent synaptic plasticity. Synaptic plasticity at excitatory synapses is determined both presynaptically by changes in the probability of neurotransmitter release, and postsynaptically by changes in the availability of functional postsynaptic glutamate receptors. Two kinds of synaptic plasticity have been described. In homosynaptic or Hebbian plasticity, the events responsible for synaptic strengthening occur at the same synapse as is being strengthened. Homosynaptic plasticity is activity-dependent and associative, because it associates the firing of a postsynaptic neuron with that of the presynaptic neuron. Heterosynaptic plasticity, on the other hand, is activity-independent and the synaptic strength is modified as a result of the firing of a third, modulatory neuron. It has been suggested that long-term changes in synaptic strength, which are associated with gene transcription, can only be induced with the involvement of heterosynaptic plasticity. The neuromodulator adenosine plays an elaborated pre- and postsynaptic control of glutamatergic neurotransmission. This paper reviews the evidence suggesting that in some striatal excitatory synapses, adenosine can provide the heterosynaptic-like modulation essential for stabilizing homosynaptic plasticity without the need of a "third, modulatory neuron".

Adenosine, by acting on adenosine A(1) and A(2A) receptors, exerts opposite modulatory roles on striatal extracellular levels of glutamate and dopamine, with activation of A(1) inhibiting and activation of A(2A) receptors stimulating glutamate and dopamine release. Adenosine-mediated modulation of striatal dopaminergic neurotransmission could be secondary to changes in glutamate neurotransmission, in view of evidence for a preferential colocalization of A(1) and A(2A) receptors in glutamatergic nerve terminals. By using in vivo microdialysis techniques, local perfusion of NMDA (3, 10 microm), the selective A(2A) receptor agonist 2-p-(2-carboxyethyl)phenethylamino-5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (CGS 21680; 3, 10 microm), the selective A(1) receptor antagonist 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dimethylxanthine (CPT; 300, 1000 microm), or the non-selective A(1)-A(2A) receptor antagonist in vitro caffeine (300, 1000 microm) elicited significant increases in extracellular levels of dopamine in the shell of the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Significant glutamate release was also observed with local perfusion of CGS 21680, CPT and caffeine, but not NMDA. Co-perfusion with the competitive NMDA receptor antagonist dl-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV; 100 microm) counteracted dopamine release induced by NMDA, CGS 21680, CPT and caffeine. Co-perfusion with the selective A(2A) receptor antagonist MSX-3 (1 microm) counteracted dopamine and glutamate release induced by CGS 21680, CPT and caffeine and did not modify dopamine release induced by NMDA. These results indicate that modulation of dopamine release in the shell of the NAc by A(1) and A(2A) receptors is mostly secondary to their opposite modulatory role on glutamatergic neurotransmission and depends on stimulation of NMDA receptors. Furthermore, these results underscore the role of A(1) vs. A(2A) receptor antagonism in the central effects of caffeine.

This study describes a novel mechanism of regulation of the high-affinity Na-dependent adenosine transporter (CNT2) via the activation of A1 adenosine receptors (A1R). This regulation is mediated by the activation of ATP-sensitive K (KATP) channels. The high-affinity Na -dependent adenosine transporter CNT2 and A1R are coexpressed in the basolateral domain of the rat hepatocyte plasma membrane and are colocalized in the rat hepatoma cell line FAO. The transient increase in CNT2-mediated transport activity triggered by ()-N 6 (2-phenylisopropyl)adenosine is fully inhibited by KATP channel blockers and mimicked by a KATP channel opener. A1R agonist activation of CNT2 occurs in both hepatocytes and FAO cells, which express Kir6.1, Kir6.2, SUR1, SUR2A, and SUR2B mRNA channel subunits. With the available antibodies against Kir6.X, SUR2A, and SUR2B, it is shown that all of these proteins colocalize with CNT2 and A1R in defined plasma membrane domains of FAO cells. The extent of the purinergic modulation of CNT2 is affected by the glucose concentration, a finding which indicates that glycemia and glucose metabolism may affect this cross-regulation among A1R, CNT2, and KATP channels. These results also suggest that the activation of KATP channels under metabolic stress can be mediated by the activation of A1R. Cell protection under these circumstances may be achieved by potentiation of the uptake of adenosine and its further metabolization to ATP. Mediation of purinergic responses and a connection between the intracellular energy status and the need for an exogenous adenosine supply are novel roles for KATP channels. Adenosine is an autocoid that acts physiologically on specific cell surface G protein-coupled receptors, four of which (A1, A2A ,A 2B, and A3) have been cloned and described pharmacologically (18, 23, 39). A1 adenosine receptors (A1R) mediate a broad range of signaling responses by coupling to Gi and Go proteins (18, 23, 33). The activation of A1R regulates several membrane and intracellular proteins, such as adenylate cyclase, phospholipase C, Ca 2 channels (23, 39), and K channels (3, 26, 35).

There is evidence for strong functional antagonistic interactions between adenosine A2A receptors (A2ARs) and dopamine D2 receptors (D2Rs). Although a close physical interaction between both receptors has recently been shown using co-immunoprecipitation and co-localization assays, the existence of a A2AR-D2R protein-protein interaction still had to be demonstrated in intact living cells. In the present work, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) and bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) techniques were used to confirm the occurrence of A2AR-D2R interactions in co-transfected cells. The degree of A2AR-D2R heteromerization, measured by BRET, did not vary after receptor activation with selective agonists, alone or in combination. BRET competition experiments were performed using a chimeric D2R-D1R in which helices 5 and 6, the third intracellular loop (I3), and the third extracellular loop (E3) of the D2R were replaced by those of the dopamine D1 receptor (D1R). Although the wild type D2R was able to decrease the BRET signal, the chimera failed to achieve any effect. This suggests that the helix 5-I3-helix 6-E3 portion of D2R holds the site(s) for interaction with A2AR. Modeling of A2AR and D2R using a modified rhodopsin template followed by molecular dynamics and docking simulations gave essentially two different possible modes of interaction between D2R and A2AR. In the most probable one, helix 5 and/or helix 6 and the N-terminal portion of I3 from D2R approached helix 4 and the C-terminal portion of the C-tail from the A2AR, respectively.

The pentameric structure constituted by one G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) homodimer and one heterotrimeric G protein provides a main functional unit and oligomeric entities can be viewed as multiples of dimers. For GPCR heteromers, experimental evidence supports a tetrameric structure, comprised of two different homodimers, each able to signal with their preferred G protein. GPCR homomers and heteromers can act as the conduit of allosteric interactions of orthosteric ligands. One ligand binding to one of the receptor units (protomer) modulates the properties of the same or another orthosteric ligand binding to another protomer. The agonist/agonist interaction in the adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR)-dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) heteromer, by which A2AR agonists decrease the affinity of D2R agonists, constitutes a well-known example and gave the first rationale for the use of A2AR antagonists in Parkinson’s disease. We review most recent studies that extend those findings to, first, ligand-independent allosteric modulations of the D2R protomer that result in changes of the binding properties of A2AR ligands in the A2AR-D2R heteromer; second, the differential modulation of the intrinsic efficacy of D2R ligands for G protein-dependent and independent signaling; and third, the existence of the canonical antagonistic Gs-Gi interaction within the frame of the A2AR-D2R heteromer. These studies support the heterotetrameric structure of GPCR heteromers.

The physiological meaning of the coexpression of adenosine A2A receptors and group I metabotropic glutamate receptors in γ- aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic striatal neurons is intriguing. Here we provide in vitro and in vivo evidence for a synergism between adenosine and glutamate based on subtype 5 metabotropic glutamate (mGluR5) and adenosine A2A (A2AR) receptor/receptor interactions. Colocalization of A2AR and mGluR5 at the membrane level was demonstrated in nonpermeabilized human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293 cells transiently cotransfected with both receptors by confocal laser microscopy. Complexes containing A2AR and mGluR5 were demonstrated by Western blotting of immunoprecipitates of either Flag-A2AR or hemagglutinin-mGluR5 in membrane preparations from cotransfected HEK-293 cells and of native A2AR and mGluR5 in rat striatal membrane preparations. In cotransfected HEK-293 cells a synergistic effect on extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 phosphorylation and c- fos expression was demonstrated upon A2AR/mGluR5 costimulation. No synergistic effect was observed at the second messenger level (cAMP accumulation and intracellular calcium mobilization). Accordingly, a synergistic effect on c- fos expression in striatal sections and on counteracting phencyclidine-induced motor activation was also demonstrated after the central coadministration of A2AR and mGluR5 agonists to rats with intact dopaminergic innervation. The results suggest that a functional mGluR5/A2AR interaction is required to overcome the well-known strong tonic inhibitory effect of dopamine on striatal adenosine A2AR function.

Antagonistic and reciprocal interactions are known to exist between adenosine and dopamine receptors in the striatum. In the present study, double immunofluorescence experiments with confocal laser microscopy showed a high degree of colocalization of adenosine A(2A) receptors (A(2A)R) and dopamine D(2) receptors (D(2)R) in cell membranes of SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells stably transfected with human D(2)R and in cultured striatal cells. A(2A)R/D(2)R heteromeric complexes were demonstrated in coimmunoprecipitation experiments in membrane preparations from D(2)R-transfected SH-SY5Y cells and from mouse fibroblast Ltk(-) cells stably transfected with human D(2)R (long form) and transiently cotransfected with the A(2A)R double-tagged with hemagglutinin. Long term exposure to A(2A)R and D(2)R agonists in D(2)R-cotransfected SH-SY5Y cells resulted in coaggregation, cointernalization and codesensitization of A(2A)R and D(2)R. These results give a molecular basis for adenosine-dopamine antagonism at the membrane level and have implications for treatment of Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia, in which D(2)R are involved.

Regulatory T cells have an important role in immune suppression during HIV-1 infection. As regulatory T cells produce the immunomodulatory molecule adenosine, our aim here was to assess the potential of adenosine removal to revert the suppression of anti-HIV responses exerted by regulatory T cells. The experimental setup consisted of ex vivo cocultures of T and dendritic cells, to which adenosine deaminase, an enzyme that hydrolyzes adenosine, was added. In cells from healthy individuals, adenosine hydrolysis decreased CD4+CD25hi regulatory T cells. Addition of 5′-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine, an adenosine receptor agonist, significantly decreased CD4+CD25lo cells, confirming a modulatory role of adenosine acting via adenosine receptors. In autologous cocultures of T cells with HIV-1-pulsed dendritic cells, addition of adenosine deaminase led to a significant decrease of HIV-1-induced CD4+CD25hi forkhead box p3+ cells and to a significant enhancement of the HIV-1-specific CD4+ responder T cells. An increase in the effector response was confirmed by the enhanced production of CD4+ and CD8+ CD25−CD45RO+ memory cell generation and secretion of Th1 cytokines, including IFN-γ and IL-15 and chemokines MIP-1α/CCL3, MIP-1β/CCL4, and RANTES/CCL5. These ex vivo results show, in a physiologically relevant model, that adenosine deaminase is able to enhance HIV-1 effector responses markedly. The possibility to revert regulatory T cell-mediated inhibition of immune responses by use of adenosine deaminase, an enzyme that hydrolyzes adenosine, merits attention for restoring T lymphocyte function in HIV-1 infection.

Ligands acting at multiple dopamine receptors hold potential as therapeutic agents for a number of neurodegenerative disorders. Specifically, compounds able to bind at D1R and D2R with high affinity could restore the effects of dopamine depletion and enhance motor activation on degenerated nigrostriatal dopaminergic systems. We have directed our research towards the synthesis and characterisation of heterocycle-peptide hybrids based on the indolo[2,3-a]quinolizidine core. This privileged structure is a water-soluble and synthetically accessible scaffold with affinity for diverse GPCRs. Herein we have prepared a solid-phase combinatorial library of 80 indoloquinolizidine-peptides to identify compounds with enhanced binding affinity at D2R, a receptor that is crucial to re-establish activity on dopamine-depleted degenerated GABAergic neurons. We applied computational tools and high-throughput screening assays to identify 9a{1,3,3} as a ligand for dopamine receptors with nanomolar affinity and agonist activity at D2R. Our results validate the application of indoloquinolizidine-peptide combinatorial libraries to fine-tune the pharmacological profiles of multiple ligands at D1 and D2 dopamine receptors.

Radioligand binding assays to rat striatal dopamine D1 receptors showed that brain lateralization of the dopaminergic system were not due to changes in expression but in agonist affinity. D1 receptor-mediated striatal imbalance resulted from a significantly higher agonist affinity in the left striatum. D1 receptors heteromerize with dopamine D3 receptors, which are considered therapeutic targets for dyskinesia in parkinsonian patients. Expression of both D3 and D1–D3 receptor heteromers were increased in samples from 6-hydroxy-dopamine-hemilesioned rats rendered dyskinetic by treatment with 3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl-l-alanine (l-DOPA). Similar findings were obtained using striatal samples from primates. Radioligand binding studies in the presence of a D3 agonist led in dyskinetic, but not in lesioned or l-DOPA-treated rats, to a higher dopamine sensitivity. Upon D3-receptor activation, the affinity of agonists for binding to the right striatal D1 receptor increased. Excess dopamine coming from l-DOPA medication likely activates D3 receptors thus making right and left striatal D1 receptors equally responsive to dopamine. These results show that dyskinesia occurs concurrently with a right/left striatal balance in D1 receptor-mediated neurotransmission.

Interest in adenosine deaminase (ADA) in the context of medicine has mainly focused on its enzymatic activity. This is justified by the importance of the reaction catalyzed by ADA not only for the intracellular purine metabolism, but also for the extracellular purine metabolism as well, because of its capacity as a regulator of the concentration of extracellular adenosine that is able to activate adenosine receptors (ARs). In recent years, other important roles have been described for ADA. One of these, with special relevance in immunology, is the capacity of ADA to act as a costimulator, promoting T-cell proliferation and differentiation mainly by interacting with the differentiation cluster CD26. Another role is the ability of ADA to act as an allosteric modulator of ARs. These receptors have very general physiological implications, particularly in the neurological system where they play an important role. Thus, ADA, being a single chain protein, performs more than one function, consistent with the definition of a moonlighting protein. Although ADA has never been associated with moonlighting proteins, here we consider ADA as an example of this family of multifunctional proteins. In this review, we discuss the different roles of ADA and their pathological implications. We propose a mechanism by which some of their moonlighting functions can be coordinated. We also suggest that drugs modulating ADA properties may act as modulators of the moonlighting functions of ADA, giving them additional potential medical interest.

Chronic exposure of A 1 adenosine receptors (A 1 R) to A 1 R agonists leads to activation, phosphorylation, desensitization, and internalization to intracellular compartments of the receptor. Desensitization and internalization of A 1 R is modulated by adenosine deaminase (ADA), an enzyme that regulates the extracellular concentration of adenosine. ADA interacts with A 1 R on the cell surface of the smooth muscle cell line DDT1 MF-2, and both proteins are internalized following agonist stimulation of the receptor. The mechanism involved in A 1 R and ADA internalization upon agonist exposure is poorly understood in epithelial cells. In this report, we show that A 1 R and ADA interact in LLC-PK 1 epithelial cells. Exposure of LLC-PK 1 cells to A 1 R agonists induces aggregation of A 1 R and ADA on the cell surface and their translocation to intracellular compartments. Biochemical and cell biology assays were used to characterize the intracellular vesicles containing both proteins after agonist treatment. A 1 R and ADA colocalized together with the rafts marker protein caveolin. Filipin, a sterol-binding agent that disrupts rafts (small microdomains of the plasma membrane), was able to inhibit A 1 R internalization. In contrast, acid treatment of the cells, which disrupts internalization via clathrin-coated vesicles, did not inhibit agonist-stimulated A 1 R internalization. We demonstrated that A 1 R agonist N 6 -( R )-phenylisopropyl adenosine promotes the translocation of A 1 R into low-density gradient fractions containing caveolin. Furthermore, a direct interaction of the C-terminal domain of A 1 R with caveolin-1 was demonstrated by pull down experiments. These results indicate that A 1 R and ADA form a stable complex in the cell surface of LLC-PK 1 cells and that agonist-induced internalization of the A 1 adenosine receptor and ADA is mediated by clathrin-independent endocytosis.

Long-term therapy with L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA), still the most effective treatment in Parkinson's disease (PD), is associated with severe motor complications such as dyskinesia. Experimental and clinical data have indicated that adenosine A2A receptor antagonists can provide symptomatic improvement by potentiating L-DOPA efficacy and minimizing its side effects. It is known that the G-protein-coupled adenosine A2A, cannabinoid CB1 and dopamine D2 receptors may interact and form functional A2A-CB1-D2 receptor heteromers in co-transfected cells as well as in rat striatum. These data suggest that treatment with a combination of drugs or a single compound selectively acting on A2A-CB1-D2 heteromers may represent an alternative therapeutic treatment of PD. We investigated the expression of A2A-CB1-D2 receptor heteromers in the striatum of both naive and hemiparkinsonian rats (HPD-rats) bearing a unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesion, and assessed how receptor heteromer expression and biochemical properties were affected by L-DOPA treatment. Radioligand binding data showed that A2A-CB1-D2 receptor heteromers are present in the striatum of both naive and HPD-rats. However, behavioral results indicated that the combined administration of A2A (MSX-3 or SCH58261) and CB1 (rimonabant) receptor antagonists, in the presence of L-DOPA does not produce a response different from administration of the A2A receptor antagonist alone. These behavioral results prompted identification of heteromers in L-DOPA-treated animals. Interestingly, the radioligand binding results in samples from lesioned animals suggest that the heteromer is lost following acute or chronic treatment with L-DOPA.

The molecular basis of priming for L-DOPA-induced dyskinesias in Parkinson's disease (PD), which depends on the indirect pathway of motor control, is not known. In rodents, the indirect pathway contains striatopallidal GABAergic neurons that express heterotrimers composed of A(2A) adenosine, CB(1) cannabinoid and D(2) dopamine receptors that regulate dopaminergic neurotransmission. The present study was designed to investigate the expression of these heteromers in the striatum of a primate model of Parkinson's disease and to determine whether their expression and pharmacological properties are altered upon L-DOPA treatment. By using the recently developed in situ proximity ligation assay and by identification of a biochemical fingerprint, we discovered a regional distribution of A(2A)/CB(1) /D(2) receptor heteromers that predicts differential D(2)-mediated neurotransmission in the caudate-putamen of Macaca fascicularis. Whereas heteromers were abundant in the caudate nucleus of both naive and MPTP-treated monkeys, L-DOPA treatment blunted the biochemical fingerprint and led to weak heteromer expression. These findings constitute the first evidence of altered receptor heteromer expression in pathological conditions and suggest that drugs targeting A(2A)-CB(1) -D(2) receptor heteromers may be successful to either normalize basal ganglia output or prevent L-DOPA-induced side effects.