Expression and characterization of cloned human bombesin receptors

Little is known about the pharmacology or cell biology of human bombesin (Bn) receptors, because they are usually present at low levels and both subtypes are frequently present in the same tissues. Human gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) receptors (huGRP-R) and human neuromedin B (NMB) receptors (huNMB-R) were stably transfected into BALB/3T3 fibroblasts. Both receptor types were glycosylated, with 35% of the huGRP-R and 38% of the huNMB-R representing carbohydrate residues. The extent of glycosylation of the transfected huGRP-R was the same as that seen in the human glioblastoma cell line U-118. Radiolabeled agonist ligands were rapidly internalized, whereas noninternalized ligand readily dissociated in a temperature-dependent fashion. The affinities of various agonists for binding to the huGRP-R were Bn (Ki = 1.4 +/- 0.2 nM) = 4 x GRP = 300 x NMB. In contrast, affinities for the huNMB-R were NMB (Ki = 8.1 +/- 5.2 nM) = 4 x Bn = 600 x GRP. [F5-D-Phe6,D-Ala11]Bn(6-13)methyl ester was the most potent huGRP-R antagonist, whereas D-Nal-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Lys-Val-Cys-Nal-NH2 was the most potent huNMB-R antagonist. Agonist binding to either receptor type caused activation of phospholipase C and increased cellular [3H]inositol phosphate levels. GRP was potent at increasing [3H]inositol phosphate generation in cells expressing the huGRP-R (EC50 = 13.6 +/- 1.3 nM), whereas NMB was similarly potent when acting upon cells expressing the huNMB-R (EC50 = 9.3 +/- 1.4 nM). However, neither receptor type, when stimulated with agonist, caused an increase in cAMP levels. These data show that stably transfected huGRP-R exhibit similar pharmacology for agonists and antagonists, are appropriately glycosylated, and function similarly with respect to their ability to alter biological activity, compared with natively expressed receptors. Minimal native huNMB-R data are available for comparison, but in general the huNMB-R is similar to the rat NMB receptor in its pharmacology and cell biology.