Stable expression and functional characterization of the cloned rat mu-opioid receptor in human epidermoid carcinoma (A431) cells

Regulation of intracellular cAMP levels serves as a cellular model for chronic drug action. Since the adenylate cyclase effector system is under dual control of both stimulatory as well as inhibitory receptor systems, a permanent cell line was created in order to allow evaluation of acute and chronic opioid effects on stimulatory receptor function. For this purpose, the cloned rat mu-opioid receptor was stably expressed in human epidermoid carcinoma (A431) cells, which carries high levels of endogenous beta(2)-adrenoceptors. Four out of 16 cell clones were found to express considerable amounts of [H-3]diprenorphine binding sites and were further characterized. Scatchard analysis of saturation binding data revealed maximal binding capacities (B-max) between 242.2 +/- 11 and 1,271.8 +/- 221 fmol/mg of membrane protein, whereas drug affinity was found similar among all cell clones tested (K-d = 1.4 +/- 0.2 nM). The expressed mu-receptors also mediated agonist inhibition of adenylate cyclase, indicating that these receptors are functionally coupled to intracellular signalling pathways. Long-term exposure of the cells to morphine (10 mu M; 2 days) produced cellular correlates of chronic opioid action as displayed by both a decrease in the maxima degree of adenylate cyclase inhibition (tolerance) as well as an increase in overall effector activity (dependence). Thus, based on these parameters, mu-opioid receptor expressing A431 cells provide a promising tool to investigate cellular mechanisms of chronic drug action.