Inhibitory adenosine receptors in the heart: characterization by ligand binding studies and effects on beta-adrenergic receptor stimulated adenylate cyclase and membrane protein phosphorylation.

Adenosine causes negative chronotropic and inotropic effects on cardiac tissue. We have investigated the nature of the cardiac adenosine receptor and its effector mechanisms in preparations of newborn chick heart. The adenosine analog [3H]N6 (L-phenylisopropyl) adenosine (L-PIA), an agonist at R-type adenosine receptors, bound with high affinity to receptors in crude and highly-purified membrane preparations. The KD was 3-5 nM. The receptor density was low in crude membranes (10 fmol/mg protein) but significantly enriched in purified sarcolemma (164 fmol/mg protein). Competition studies showed that N-ethylcarboxamide adenosine and N6(D-phenylisopropyl)adenosine were less potent than N6(L-phenylisopropyl)adenosine at the chick heart adenosine receptor, as expected for an Ri-type adenosine receptor. Gpp(NH)p decreased the binding of [3H]N6(L-phenylisopropyl)adenosine to chick heart membranes, suggesting that the guanine nucleotide converted the receptor to a lower affinity state. N6(L-phenylisopropyl)adenosine inhibited beta-adrenergic receptor stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. The IC50 for cyclase attenuation by N6(L-phenylisopropyl)adenosine was 1 microM. N6(L-phenylisopropyl)adenosine reversed the effect of the beta-receptor agonist isoproterenol on phospholamban phosphorylation in 32P-labelled slices of newborn chick hearts. This effect of N6(L-phenylisopropyl)adenosine was evident by 2 min, had an IC50 of 200 nM, and was prevented by the adenosine receptor antagonist 8-phenyltheophylline. Taken together, the results suggest that the antiadrenergic effects of adenosine on cardiac tissue are mediated by a decrease in membrane protein phosphorylation signalled by activation of Ri-adenosine receptors. The coupling mechanism between receptor activation and protein phosphorylation may be an attenuation of adenylate cyclase.