Premium
Expression of functional mGlu5 metabotropic glutamate receptors in human melanocytes
Author(s) -
Frati C.,
Marchese C.,
Fisichella G.,
Copani A.,
Nasca M.R.,
Storto M.,
Nicoletti F.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of cellular physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.529
H-Index - 174
eISSN - 1097-4652
pISSN - 0021-9541
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-4652(200006)183:3<364::aid-jcp9>3.0.co;2-x
Subject(s) - metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 , metabotropic glutamate receptor 6 , kainate receptor , metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 , metabotropic glutamate receptor , metabotropic glutamate receptor 7 , metabotropic receptor , agonist , receptor , biology , metabotropic glutamate receptor 4 , glutamate receptor , metabotropic glutamate receptor 3 , class c gpcr , pharmacology , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , biochemistry , endocrinology , ampa receptor
Cultured human melanocytes express mGlu5 metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors, as shown by RT‐PCR, immunocytochemistry, Western blot analysis, and measurement of agonist‐stimulated polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis. The mGlu5 receptor agonists (S)‐3,5‐dihydroxyphenylglycine and quisqualate increased [ 3 H‐methyl]thymidine incorporation and melanocyte proliferation in subconfluent cultures, but impaired cell viability in confluent cultures. Both effects were prevented by 2‐methyl‐6‐(2‐phenyl‐1‐ethynyl)‐pyridine, a potent and highly selective mGlu5 receptor antagonist. Agonists of other mGlu receptor subtypes (such as the mGlu2/3 receptor agonist, 2 S ,2′ R ,3′ R ‐2–2′,3′‐dicarboxycyclopropylglycine, or the mGlu4/6/7/8 receptor agonist, L ‐2‐amino‐4‐phosphonobutanoate) or selective agonists of ionotropic glutamate receptors ( N ‐methyl‐ D ‐aspartate, α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazolepropionate, and kainate) did not affect melanocyte proliferation or viability. The presence of a receptor for glutamate, the major excitatory neurotransmitter, in human melanocytes is intriguing. mGlu5 receptors may be involved in the control of melanocyte proliferation (and perhaps in other functions), but harbor a potential toxicity and may therefore contribute to cell damage under pathological conditions. J. Cell. Physiol. 183:364–372, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.