Faculty Articles

GRK2 Up-Regulation Creates a Positive Feedback Loop for Catecholamine Production in Chromaffin Cells.

Publication Title

Molecular endocrinology (Baltimore, Md.)

Volume

30

Issue

3

Publication Date / Copyright Date

3-1-2016

First Page

372

Last Page

381

Publisher

Endocrine Society

Abstract

Elevated sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity aggravates several diseases, including heart failure. The molecular cause(s) underlying this SNS hyperactivity are not known. We have previously uncovered a neurohormonal mechanism, operating in adrenomedullary chromaffin cells, by which circulating catecholamine (CA) levels increase in heart failure: severe dysfunction of the adrenal α2-adrenergic receptors (ARs) due to the up-regulation of G protein-coupled receptor-kinase (GRK)-2, the kinase that desensitizes them. Herein we looked at the potential signaling mechanisms that bring about this GRK2 elevation in chromaffin cells. We found that chronic CA treatment of either PC12 or rat primary chromaffin cells can in itself result in GRK2 transcriptional up-regulation through α2ARs-Gi/o proteins-Src-ERK1/2. The resultant GRK2 increase severely enhances the α2AR desensitization/down-regulation elevating not only CA release but also CA biosynthesis, as evidenced by tyrosine hydroxylase up-regulation. Finally, GRK2 knockdown leads to enhanced apoptosis of PC12 cells, indicating an essential role for GRK2 in chromaffin cell homeostasis/survival. In conclusion, chromaffin cell GRK2 mediates a positive feedback loop that feeds into CA secretion, thereby enabling the adrenomedullary component of the SNS to turn itself on.

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences | Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Keywords

Animals, Catecholamines, Cell Survival, Chromaffin Cells, Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases, Feedback, Physiological, G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 2, G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 5, GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go, Humans, Male, Models, Biological, Norepinephrine, PC12 Cells, Rats, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2, Sympathetic Nervous System, Transcription, Genetic, Up-Regulation, src-Family Kinases

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