A simple and powerful flow cytometric method for the simultaneous determination of multiple parameters at G protein-coupled receptor subtypes.

The quantification of pharmacological parameters at G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) is indispensable in drug research but costly and time-consuming when conventional methods are sequentially applied. With neuropeptide Y (NPY) Y(1), Y(2), and Y(5) receptors as model systems, a homogenous flow cytometric method for the simultaneous determination of the affinity, selectivity, and activity of GPCR ligands was developed. Mixtures of cells expressing the receptors of interest and cyanine-labeled NPY as a universal fluorescent Y(1), Y(2), and Y(5) receptor agonist were used. Calcium mobilization was measured in different channels with the aid of fluo-4 and fura red. A combination of dye-loaded HEL-Y(1) and CHO-Y(2)-Galpha(qi5) cells with unloaded HEC-1B-Y(5) cells allowed the simultaneous determination of Y(1), Y(2), and Y(5) receptor selectivity preceded by the Y(1) and Y(2) receptor-mediated response with one and the same sample. The data are in good agreement with those determined by radioligand binding and spectrofluorimetry. The convenient, robust, and inexpensive multiparametric procedure offers a broad range of applications in the pharmacological characterization of GPCR ligands.