Molecular mechanisms of trafficking and signalling of V1b and V2 vasopressin receptors

Mécanismes moléculaires de la signalisation et du trafic des récepteurs V1b et V2 de la vasopressine L'arginine-vasopressine (AVP) est une hormone neurohypophysaire induisant la libération d'ACTH des cellules corticotropes pituitaires et un effet rénal antidiurétique via respectivement les récepteurs V1b et V2 (V1bR et V2R). Peu de choses sont connues concernant les mécanismes moléculaires de la signalisation et du trafic du V1bR. Parallèlement, le fonctionnement du V2R est bien mieux décrit. Cependant, d'un point de vue physiopathologique, la plupart des mutations naturelles du V2R conduisent à la rétention intracellulaire du récepteur qui devient incapable d'interagir avec l'AVP et promouvoir la réabsorption d'eau. Cette rétention conduit à une maladie rénale, le diabète insipide néphrogénique congénital (DINc). De nouvelles stratégies thérapeutiques focalisées sur le trafic des récepteurs séquestrés doivent donc être développées. Dans une partie plus fondamentale, nous avons étudié les mécanismes moléculaires impliqués dans la signalisation et le trafic du récepteur V1b tels qu'internalisation, recyclage et désensibilisation. Nous avons démontré en utilisant des cellules KO pour les arrestines, qu'après activation par l'AVP, V1bR internalise fortement dans la cellule par un mécanisme arrestine-dépendant. En utilisant une approche biophysique de BRET, nous avons corroboré ces résultats par la visualisation d'une interaction directe récepteur-arrestine AVP-dépendante impliquant principalement la partie C-terminale du récepteur. Les substitutions des sérines 368, 371, 373, 374 de l'extrêmité C-terminale en alanines (sites putatifs pour GRK) n'affectent pas les processi d'internalization/recyclage du V1b-R, ni son interaction avec l'arrestine. Des chimères V1bR-V2R formées par échange de leurs séquences C-terminales nous ont permis de corréler une interaction faible et transitoire du V1bR et de l'arrestine avec son recyclage rapide (récepteur de classe A), ainsi qu'une interaction forte et prolongée du V2R avec l'arrestine et son recyclage lent (récepteur de classe B). Contrairement au phénomène d'internalisation, le processus de désensibilisation ne semble pas impliquer la partie C-terminale du récepteur V1b, ni la proline 9 de la boucle i2 du récepteur car des modifications de ces 2 domaines n'affectent pas ce processus. De plus, la désensibilisation peut se produire en l'absence d'internalisation. La désensibilisation et l'internalisation du récepteur V1b semblent constituer deux phénomènes indépendants. Nous avons aussi démontré que le V1bR pouvait former non seulement des homodimères mais aussi des hétérodimères avec V2R. Dans l'hétérodimère, l'AVP et l'agoniste sélectif du V1bR humain d[Cha4]AVP produisent des effets différents vis-à-vis de l'interaction récepteur-arrestine et d'une augmentation de calcium, nous conduisant à déduire que la voie Ca2+ nécessiterait l'activation d'un seul protomère alors que le recrutement de l'arrestine nécessiterait l'activation des deux. De plus, V1bR interagit non seulement avec Gq mais aussi avec Gs, selon la nature du ligand et de la localisation du récepteur dans des compartiments spécialisés de la membrane plasmique. En vue d'une application thérapeutique potentielle pour le DINc, nous avons pu développer et caractériser de nouveaux agonistes pharmacochaperones capables de rapatrier et activer certains mutants DINc du V2R. De plus, ces agonistes de la voie Gs sont des ligands biaisés puisqu'ils sont antagonistes de la voie arrestine. Ces nouvelles pharmacochaperones agonistes biaisées permettant une durée d'action potentielle plus longue, offrent de nouvelles perspectives pour les patients atteints de DINc.Molecular mechanisms of trafficking and signalling of V1b and V2 vasopressin receptors Arginine-vasopressin (AVP) is a neurohypophysial hormone inducing ACTH release from corticotroph cells in the pituitary and antidiuretic effect in the kidney via the V1b and V2 receptors (V1bR and V2R), respectively. Little is known on molecular mechanisms mediating V1bR trafficking and signalling. In parallel, much more information is available about V2R functioning. Nevertheless, from a pathophysiological point of view, most of the natural V2R mutations lead to intracellular retention of the receptor which is unable to interact with AVP and promote water reabsorption, leading to the congenital nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (cNDI) renal disease. New therapeutic strategies focused on trafficking of the sequestered mutants must be developed. In a more fundamental part, we studied the molecular mechanisms implicated in the signalling and trafficking of the V1bR such as internalization, recycling and desensitization. We demonstrated using arrestin KO cells that under AVP stimulation, V1bR strongly internalizes into the cells by an arrestin-dependent mechanism. Using BRET biophysical approach, we corroborated these results by demonstrating a specific AVP-induced direct V1bR-arrestin interaction which involves principally the V1bR C-terminus. Alanine substitutions of the C-terminal serines 368, 371, 373, 374 corresponding to putative GRK sites, did not affect the internalization/recycling processes of V1bR nor its interaction with arrestin. Chimeric V1b-V2 receptors for which the C-termini have been exchanged, allowed us to correlate a weak, transient interaction with arrestin to the rapid recycling of V1bR (class A receptors), and a strong, long-lasting arrestin interaction with the slow recycling of V2R (class B receptors). On the contrary, nor the C-terminal part of V1bR, neither proline 9 in i2 loop were involved in desensitization since modifications in these two domains did not affect this process. Moreover, desensitization occurs in the absence of internalization. V1bR internalization and desensitization constitute two independent processes. Subsequently, we demonstrated that V1bR is able to form not only homodimers but also heterodimers with V2R. Upon binding to the heterodimer, AVP and the selective hV1bR agonist d[Cha4]AVP have different outcomes on receptor-arrestin interaction and Ca2+ release, suggesting that V1bR-induced Ca2+ increase could need only one activated protomer whereas arrestin recruitment would need two. Moreover, V1bR was shown to signal through Gq and interestingly also through Gs protein, depending on the nature of the ligand and on the receptor localization within specialized compartments of the plasma membrane. Having in mind a potential therapeutic application for cNDI, we were able to develop and characterize new agonist pharmacochaperones able to rescue and activate a set of cNDI mutants of the V2R. Moreover, we demonstrated their biased character, consisting in arrestin-related antagonistic properties. These biased pharmacochaperones ligands having a potential long-lasting antidiuretic effect, offer new perspectives for cNDI patients.MONTPELLIER-BU Sciences (341722106) / SudocSudocFranceF

Differential coupling of the vasopressin V1b receptor through compartmentalization within the plasma membrane.

International audienceWe show here that the rat vasopressin V(1b) receptor simultaneously activates both the G(q/11)-inositol phosphate (IP) and G(s)-cAMP pathways when transiently expressed in Chinese hamster ovary, human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293, and COS-7 cells and stimulated with arginine-vasopressin. Higher concentrations of the hormone, however, were needed to trigger the cAMP pathway. The nonmammalian analog arginine-vasotocin and the selective V(1b) agonist d[Cha(4)]vasopressin also activated the cAMP and IP pathways, although d[Cha(4)]-vasopressin elicited the two responses with equivalent potencies. We determined that the V(1b) receptor is present as a homodimer at the plasma membrane. Treatment of V(1b)-transfected HEK-293 cells with methyl-beta-cyclodextrin, a drug known to dissociate cholesterol-rich domains of the plasma membrane, shifted the EC(50) of the vasopressin-induced cAMP accumulation to lower concentrations and, remarkably, increased the hormone efficacy related to the activation of this second messenger system. In parallel, the vasopressin-mediated activation of the IP pathway was slightly reduced without modification of its EC(50). These results suggest that, as with many other G protein-coupled receptors, when transfected in heterologous cell systems, the V(1b) receptor forms dimers that signal differentially through the G(q/11) and G(s) proteins depending on the nature of the ligand as well as on its localization within specialized compartments of the plasma membrane. The present study thus illustrates how signal transduction associated with the activation of a G protein-coupled receptor can be versatile and highly dependent on both the cell context and the chemical nature of the extracellular signaling messenger

The constitutively active V2 receptor mutants conferring NSIAD are weakly sensitive to agonist and antagonist regulation.

Patients having the nephrogenic syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis present either the R137C or R137L V2 mutated receptor. While the clinical features have been characterized, the molecular mechanisms of functioning of these two mutants remain elusive. In the present study, we compare the pharmacological properties of R137C and R137L mutants with the wild-type and the V2 D136A receptor, the latter being reported as a highly constitutively active receptor. We have performed binding studies, second messenger measurements and BRET experiments in order to evaluate the affinities of the ligands, their agonist and antagonist properties and the ability of the receptors to recruit beta-arrestins, respectively. The R137C and R137L receptors exhibit small constitutive activities regarding the G(s) protein activation. In addition, these two mutants induce a constitutive beta-arrestin recruitment. Of interest, they also exhibit weak sensitivities to agonist and to inverse agonist in term of G(s) protein coupling and beta-arrestin recruitment. The small constitutive activities of the mutants and the weak regulation of their functioning by agonist suggest a poor ability of the antidiuretic function to be adapted to the external stimuli, giving to the environmental factors an importance which can explain some of the phenotypic variability in patients having NSIAD

V1b vasopressin receptor trafficking and signaling: Role of arrestins, G proteins and Src kinase

International audienceThe signaling pathway of G protein-coupled receptors is strongly linked to their trafficking profile. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms involved in the vasopressin receptor V1b subtype (V1b R) trafficking and its impact on receptor signaling and regulation. For this purpose, we investigated the role of β-arrestins in receptor desensitization, internalization and recycling and attempted to dissect the V1b R-mediated MAP kinase pathway. Using MEF cells Knocked-out for β-arrestins 1 and 2, we demonstrated that both β-arrestins 1 and 2 play a fundamental role in internalization and recycling of V1b R with a rapid and transient V1b R-β-arrestin interaction in contrast to a slow and long-lasting β-arrestin recruitment of the V2 vasopressin receptor subtype (V2 R). Using V1b R-V2 R chimeras and V1b R C-terminus truncations, we demonstrated the critical role of the V1b R C-terminus in its interaction with β-arrestins thereby regulating the receptor internalization and recycling kinetics in a phosphorylation-independent manner. In parallel, V1b R MAP kinase activation was dependent on arrestins and Src-kinase but independent on G proteins. Interestingly, Src interacted with hV1b R at basal state and dissociated when receptor internalization occurred. Altogether, our data describe for the first time the trafficking profile and MAP kinase pathway of V1b R involving both arrestins and Src kinase family

Biased Agonist Pharmacochaperones of the AVP V2 Receptor May Treat Congenital Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus

X-linked congenital nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (cNDI) results from inactivating mutations of the human arginine vasopressin (AVP) V2 receptor (hV2R). Most of these mutations lead to intracellular retention of the hV2R, preventing its interaction with AVP and thereby limiting water reabsorption and concentration of urine. Because the majority of cNDI-hV2Rs exhibit protein misfolding, molecular chaperones hold promise as therapeutic agents; therefore, we sought to identify pharmacochaperones for hV2R that also acted as agonists. Here, we describe high-affinity nonpeptide compounds that promoted maturation and membrane rescue of L44P, A294P, and R337X cNDI mutants and restored a functional AVP-dependent cAMP signal. Contrary to pharmacochaperone antagonists, these compounds directly activated a cAMP signal upon binding to several cNDI mutants. In addition, these molecules displayed original functionally selective properties (biased agonism) toward the hV2R, being unable to recruit arrestin, trigger receptor internalization, or stimulate mitogen-activated protein kinases. These characteristics make these hV2R agonist pharmacochaperones promising therapeutic candidates for cNDI

β-arrestin 1 recruitment to V2R studied by BRET.

<p><b>a</b>, For BRET measurements, V2 receptors and β-arrestin 1 were fused to Rluc and YFP proteins, respectively, and co-expressed in COS-7 cells treated or not with AVP for 45 minutes. <b>b</b>, AVP-induced β-arrestin 1 recruitment to either V2 wild-type, R137C, R137L or D136A mutants. Data are means±S.E.M of three independent experiments. <b>c</b>, Expression levels of BRET partners determined by Rluc luminescence and YFP fluorescence <b>d</b>, Dose-response of AVP-induced BRET after AVP stimulation for 45 minutes. <b>e</b>, BRET time-course: BRET increase between V2 receptors and β-arrestin 1 after AVP stimulation (1 µM) at the indicated time. Data are means±S.E.M of three independent experiments.</p

Pharmacological properties of the R137C and R137L V2 receptors compared to the those of the wild-type and D136A receptor.

*<p>: the values cannot be determined since the curves do not reach a plateau.</p>**<p>: values from <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0008383#pone.0008383-Morin2" target="_blank">[19]</a>.</p

Coupling properties of the wild-type and mutants receptors.

<p><b>a</b>, Basal, agonist induced and antagonist-inhibited cAMP accumulation was measured on cos 7 cells expressing wild-type or mutants receptors. Values of cAMP accumulation were normalized to the number of receptors expressed at the surface of the cells determined by ligand binding [3H]AVP. <b>b</b>, AVP dose-response experiments performed on cells expressing wild-type, R137C or R137L V2 receptor. <b>c</b>, effect of an inverse agonist, SR121463, on AVP-induced stimulation.</p