Radioligand binding characteristics of beta 2-adrenoceptors of cultured melanoma cells.

The existence of beta-adrenoceptors on intact cells of the human malignant melanoma cell line A-375 was investigated using the binding properties of the tritiated radioligand (-)-[3H]CGP-12177, a hydrophilic non-selective beta-adrenoceptor antagonist. Displacement experiments of the radioligand from its binding site were performed with antagonists and agonists to determine the beta-adrenoceptor subtype selectivity. The binding of (-)-[3H]CGP-12177 was saturable, of high affinity (KD = 0.025 nmol/l, n = 12) and was rapid and readily reversible. The maximal number of binding sites (Bmax) was 33.5 +/- 1.9 fmol/10(7) cells or 2018 +/- 114 receptors per cell. beta-adrenoceptor antagonists inhibited binding of the radioligand with monophasic displacement curves. IC50 values were (nmol/l): propranolol (non-selective) 2.82, alprenolol (non-selective) 2.0, ICI 118,551 (beta 2-selective) 3.5 and bisoprolol (beta 1-selective) 2200. Agonists inhibited binding in the order of potency of isoprenaline greater than adrenaline greater than noradrenaline. It is concluded that cells of the melanoma cell line A-375 contain a homogeneous population of beta 2-adrenoceptors.