Identification of the phosphodiesterase regulated by muscarinic cholinergic receptors of 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells.

Agonist occupation of muscarinic cholinergic receptors of 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells results in an activation of phosphodiesterase and a resultant 50-75% attenuation of isoproterenol-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation. The effects of a series of phosphodiesterase inhibitors on muscarinic receptor-mediated inhibition of cyclic AMP accumulation and on the activities of partially purified, soluble phosphodiesterase have been compared to determine which form of phosphodiesterase activity is regulated by muscarinic receptors. The phosphodiesterase inhibitors (50 microM) 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine (MIX), 1-methyl-3-isobutyl-7-benzylxanthine (7-BzMIX), 1-methyl-3-isobutyl-8-methoxymethylxanthine (8-MeOMeMIX), and 2-O-propoxyphenyl-8-azapurin-6-one (MB 22948) blocked the effect of muscarinic receptor activation. However, 1-isoamyl-3-isobutylxanthine (IIX) and 4-(3-butoxy-4-methoxybenzyl)-2-imidazolidinone (Ro 20-1724) did not block muscarinic receptor-mediated effects but enhanced isoproterenol-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation. Three forms of soluble phosphodiesterase activity were resolved by DEAE-cellulose chromatography and sucrose density gradient centrifugation. A calmodulin-stimulated phosphodiesterase activity was inhibited by MIX, 7-BzMIX, 8-MeOMeMIX, and MB 22948 (IC50 values = 1-10 microM) but was not inhibited by IIX and Ro 20-1724. The similar relative capacities of the phosphodiesterase inhibitors for blocking both the muscarinic receptor-mediated attenuation of cyclic AMP accumulation and the calmodulin-stimulated phosphodiesterase activity in vitro suggest that it is this form of enzyme that is regulated by muscarinic receptor stimulation.