Angiotensin II type 1/adenosine A 2A receptor oligomers: a novel target for tardive dyskinesia

Sci Rep. 2017 May 12;7(1):1857. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-02037-z.

Abstract

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a serious motor side effect that may appear after long-term treatment with neuroleptics and mostly mediated by dopamine D2 receptors (D2Rs). Striatal D2R functioning may be finely regulated by either adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) or angiotensin receptor type 1 (AT1R) through putative receptor heteromers. Here, we examined whether A2AR and AT1R may oligomerize in the striatum to synergistically modulate dopaminergic transmission. First, by using bioluminescence resonance energy transfer, we demonstrated a physical AT1R-A2AR interaction in cultured cells. Interestingly, by protein-protein docking and molecular dynamics simulations, we described that a stable heterotetrameric interaction may exist between AT1R and A2AR bound to antagonists (i.e. losartan and istradefylline, respectively). Accordingly, we subsequently ascertained the existence of AT1R/A2AR heteromers in the striatum by proximity ligation in situ assay. Finally, we took advantage of a TD animal model, namely the reserpine-induced vacuous chewing movement (VCM), to evaluate a novel multimodal pharmacological TD treatment approach based on targeting the AT1R/A2AR complex. Thus, reserpinized mice were co-treated with sub-effective losartan and istradefylline doses, which prompted a synergistic reduction in VCM. Overall, our results demonstrated the existence of striatal AT1R/A2AR oligomers with potential usefulness for the therapeutic management of TD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine A2 Receptor Antagonists / chemistry
  • Adenosine A2 Receptor Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / chemistry
  • Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Models, Molecular
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Multimerization*
  • Receptor, Adenosine A2A / chemistry
  • Receptor, Adenosine A2A / metabolism*
  • Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / chemistry
  • Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / metabolism*
  • Tardive Dyskinesia / drug therapy
  • Tardive Dyskinesia / metabolism

Substances

  • Adenosine A2 Receptor Antagonists
  • Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers
  • Receptor, Adenosine A2A
  • Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1