Cell surface receptors hormonal

Monoclonal antibodies have now been produced against a wide range of medically important antigens such as serum proteins, enzymes, cell surface receptors, hormones, drugs, viruses and tumour-specific antigens. Their extreme specificity means that the antibody will react with only one particular target molecule such as a drug or hormone, which can then be identified in very low concentrations in the tissues. 

The steroid hormone 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 (calcitriol) slowly increases both intestinal calcium absorption and bone resorption, and is also stimulated through low calcium levels. In contrast, calcitonin rapidly inhibits osteoclast activity and thus decreases serum calcium levels. Calcitonin is secreted by the clear cells of the thyroid and inhibits osteoclast activity by increasing the intracellular cyclic AMP content via binding to a specific cell surface receptor, thus causing a contraction of the resorbing cell membrane. The biological relevance of calcitonin in human calcium homeostasis is not well established. 

Most cells release macromolecules to the exterior by exocytosis. This process is also involved in membrane remodeling, when the components synthesized in the Colgi apparatus are carried in vesicles to the plasma membrane. The signal for exocytosis is often a hormone which, when it binds to a cell-surface receptor, induces a local and transient change in Ca concentration. Ca triggers exocytosis. Figure 41—16 provides a comparison of the mechanisms of exocytosis and endocytosis. 

II. Hormones that bind to cell surface receptors... 

Class II hormones, which bind to cell surface receptors, generate a variety of intracellular signals. These include cAMP, cGMP, Ca +, phosphatidylinositides, and protein kinase cascades. 

Human parathyroid hormone (hPTH) is an 84 amino acid polypeptide that functions as a primary regulator of calcium and phosphate metabolism in bones. It stimulates bone formation by osteoblasts, which display high-affinity cell surface receptors for the hormone. PTH also increases intestinal absorption of calcium. 

Hormonal actions on target neurons are classified in terms of cellular mechanisms of action. Hormones act either via cell-surface or intracellular receptors. Peptide hormones and amino-acid derivatives, such as epinephrine, act on cell-surface receptors that do such things as open ion-channels, cause rapid electrical responses and facilitate exocytosis of hormones or neurotransmitters. Alternatively, they activate second-messenger systems at the cell membrane, such as those involving cAMP, Ca2+/ calmodulin or phosphoinositides (see Chs 20 and 24), which leads to phosphorylation of proteins inside various parts of the target cell (Fig. 52-2A). Steroid hormones and thyroid hormone, on the other hand, act on intracellular receptors in cell nuclei to regulate gene expression and protein synthesis (Fig. 52-2B). Steroid hormones can also affect cell-surface events via receptors at or near the cell surface. 

FIGURE 52-2 There are two modes of hormonal action. (A) Activation of cell-surface receptors and coupled second-messenger systems, with a variety of intracellular consequences. (B) Entry of hormone into the target cell, binding to and activation of an intracellular receptor and binding of the receptor-hormone complex to specific DNA sequences to activate or repress gene expression. DAG, diacylglycerol HRE, hormone-response element. 

For a cell surface receptor, the binding of the hormone must change the activity of an effector system that results in a change in concentration of an intracellular messenger. This is achieved by location of the effector system on the cytosolic side of the membrane, although the receptor and effector system may be combined in one complex. 

Finally, continuous exposure of certain receptors to their macromolecular ligands can lead to rapid downregulation of cell surface receptors, especially if receptor recycling within the cells is incomplete. Fortunately, expression of many receptors, for example for certain cytokines, growth hormones and adhesion factors, can be extensively upregulated in the disease process and this can result in disease-induced drug-targeting. 

Figure 8.13. Growth hormone found in the circulation is generally bound to GH-binding proteins. Binding to the cell surface receptor promotes receptor dimerization and phosphorylation and hence activation. This leads to the phosphorylation of various cystolic protein substrates, which mediate intracellular effects of the hormone...

The AChR is one of the best characterized of all cell-surface receptors for hormones or neurotransmitters (Figure 2-9). One form of this receptor is a pentamer made up of four different polypeptide subunits (eg, two chains plus one B, one 7, and one 5 chain, all with molecular weights ranging from 43,000 to 50,000). These polypeptides, each of which crosses the lipid bilayer four times, form a cylindrical structure that is 8 nm in diameter. When acetylcholine binds to sites on the subunits, a conformational change occurs that results in the transient opening of a central aqueous channel through which sodium ions penetrate from the extracellular fluid into the cell. 

Growth hormone mediates its effects via cell surface receptors of the JAK/STAT cytokine receptor superfamily. 

Further, fish protein hydrolysates contain hormone-like peptides and growth factors that accelerate calcium absorption (Fouchereau-Peron et ah, 1999). These peptides are capable of binding to the cell surface receptors on osteoclasts and have a role in calcium metabolism by decreasing the number of osteoclasts. Therefore, these peptides could be used in the treatment of osteoporosis and Paget s disease. Further,... 

Water-soluble peptide and amine hormones (insulin and epinephrine, for example) act extracellularly by binding to cell surface receptors that span the plasma membrane (Fig. 23-4). When the hormone binds to its extracellular domain, the receptor undergoes a conformational change analogous to that produced in an allosteric enzyme by binding of an effector molecule. The conformational change triggers the downstream effects of the hormone. 

Every hormone must have one or more receptors, most of which are proteins. These may be found embedded in the outer surface of the plasma membrane, in the cytoplasm, or in the cell nucleus. Binding of a hormone to its receptor often elicits both a rapid response and a slower one. For example, we have seen that glucagon, adrenaline, and vasopressin bind to cell surface receptors and promote the synthesis of cyclic AMP (Fig. 11-4). Tire cAMP induces rapid chemical modifications of many proteins. Some of these may diffuse into the nucleus and affect transcription of genes, a slower response. Insulin (Chapter 11, Section G) also exerts both rapid and slower responses. 

In Chapter 11 the effects of binding of hormones to cell surface receptors have been emphasized. Equally important are the mechanisms that control the secretion of hormones. The topic of exocytosis has been considered briefly in Chapter 8, Section C,6 and aspects of the Golgi in Fig. 20-8 and associated text. Both hormones and neurotransmitters are secreted by exocytosis of vesicles. Cells have two pathways for secretion.386 387 The constitutive pathway is utilized for continuous secretion of membrane constituents, enzymes, growth factors, viral proteins, and components of the extracellular matrix. This pathway carries small vesicles that originate in the trans-Golgi network (TGN Fig. 20-8). The regulated pathway is utilized for secretion of hormones and neurotransmitters in response to chemical, electrical, or other stimuli. 

Receptors and their ligands are numerous, varied, and essential to all forms of life. Cell-surface receptors on bacteria detect feeding attractants as well as dangerous molecules. From bacteria to humans seven-helix receptors function to detect light, odors, hormones, and other molecules. Tire numbers of different receptors are impressive. For example, the tiny nematode C. elegans has 650 seven-helix transmembrane receptors and 411 protein kinases, many of which may be associated with receptors.34 Our bodies have thousands. 

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