Angiotensin II-induced down-regulation of inositol trisphosphate receptors in WB rat liver epithelial cells. Evidence for involvement of the proteasome pathway.

Chronic stimulation of WB rat liver epithelial cells by angiotensin II (Ang II) resulted in the down-regulation of both type I and type III myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (IP3Rs). Stimulation with vasopressin, bradykinin, epidermal growth factor, or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate was without effect. Ang II-induced down-regulation of IP3Rs could be detected within 2 h and resulted in an inhibition of IP3-induced Ca2+ release from permeabilized cells. IP3R down-regulation was reversible, and both homo- and heterooligomers of IP3Rs were equally susceptible to Ang II-induced degradation. Chloroquine and NH4Cl increased the basal levels of IP3Rs by 2-fold, suggesting that the basal turnover of IP3Rs occurs via a lysosomal pathway. However, Ang II-induced degradation of IP3R was not affected by these inhibitors, suggesting that stimulated degradation of IP3Rs occurs via a non-lysosomal pathway. The cysteine protease and proteasomal inhibitor N-acetyl-Leu-Leu-norleucinal completely prevented Ang II-mediated down-regulation of IP3Rs, whereas the structural analog N-acetyl-Leu-Leu-methioninal was without effect. Lactacystin, a highly specific proteasome inhibitor, also blocked Ang II-mediated IP3R degradation. Stimulation with Ang II increased the amount of IP3R immunoprecipitated by anti-ubiquitin antibodies. We conclude that Ang II-stimulated IP3R degradation involves enhanced ubiquitination of the protein and degradation by the proteasome pathway.