Cross-desensitization and cointernalization of H1 and H2 histamine receptors reveal new insights into histamine signal integration.

ALONSO NATALIA; FERNADEZ NATALIA; NOTCOVICH CINTIA; MONCZOR FEDERICO; SIMAAN M; BALDI ALBERTO; GUTKIND JS; DAVIO CARLOS; SHAYO CARINA

MOLECULAR PHARMACOLOGY

AMER SOC PHARMACOLOGY EXPERIMENTAL THERAPEUTICS

Lugar: Baltimore; Año: 2013 vol. 83 p. 1087 - 1098

0026-895X

G protein-coupled receptor signaling does not result from sequential activation of a linear pathway of proteins/enzymes, but rather from complex interactions of multiple, branched signaling routes, i.e., signaling networks. In this work we present an exhaustive study of the cross-talk between H1 and H2 histamine receptors (H1R and H2R) in U937 cells and Chinese hamster ovary-transfected cells. By desensitization assays we demonstrated the existence of a crossdesensitization between both receptors independent of protein kinase A or C. H1Ragonist stimulation inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in U937 cells following treatment of 48 hours. H1Rinduced antiproliferative and apoptotic response was inhibited by an H2R agonist suggesting that the cross-talk between both receptors modifies their function. Binding and confocal microscopy studies revealed cointernalization of both receptors upon treatment with the agonists. To evaluate potential heterodimerization of the receptors, sensitized emission fluorescence resonance energy transfer experiments were performed in human embryonic kidney 293T cells using H1R-cyan fluorescent protein and H2R-yellow fluorescent protein. To our knowledge these findings may represent the first demonstration of agonistinduced heterodimerization of the H1R and H2R. In addition, we also show that the inhibition of the internalization process did not prevent receptor crossdesensitization, which was mediated by G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2. Our study provides new insights into the complex signaling network mediated by histamine and further knowledge for the rational use of its ligands.