Transfected human somatostatin receptor type 2, SSTR2, not only inhibits adenylate cyclase but also stimulates phospholipase C and Ca2+ mobilization.

COS-7 cells were transfected with human somatostatin (SRIF) receptor type 1 and 2 (human SSTR1 and SSTR2, respectively) cDNAs. In human SSTR2-expressing cells, SRIF not only inhibited forskolin-induced cAMP accumulation but also stimulated phospholipase C and Ca2+ mobilization. While the inhibition of cAMP accumulation was completely reversed by pertussis toxin (PTX) treatment of the cells, SRIF-induced activation of phospholipase C and Ca2+ mobilization was partially but not completely inhibited by the toxin treatment. In human SSTR1-expressing cells, however, SRIF induced only slight inhibition of cAMP accumulation and stimulation of phospholipase C-Ca2+ system. We conclude that the transfected SSTR2 can couple to phospholipase C as well as adenylate cyclase in a stimulatory and inhibitory manner, respectively. Both PTX-sensitive and -insensitive GTP-binding proteins may be involved in the SSTR2 signal transduction mechanisms.