PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Receptors, Formyl Peptide”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide selectively up-regulates the function of the chemotactic peptide receptor formyl peptide receptor 2 in murine microglial cells.

Receptors for the bacterial chemotactic peptide fMLP are implicated in inflammation and host defense against microbial infection. We investigated the expression and function of fMLPR in microglial cells, which share characteristics of mononuclear phagocytes and play an important role in proinflammatory responses in the CNS. The expression of the genes encoding formyl peptide receptor (FPR)1 and FPR2, the high- and low-affinity fMLPR, was detected in a murine microglial cell line N9, but these cells did not respond to chemotactic agonists known for these receptors. N9 cells incubated with bacterial LPS increased the expression of fMLPR genes and developed a species of specific, but low-affinity, binding sites for fMLP, in association with marked calcium mobilization and chemotaxis responses to fMLP in a concentration range that typically activated the low-affinity receptor FPR2. In addition, LPS-treated N9 cells were chemoattracted by two FPR2-specific agonists, the HIV-1 envelope-derived V3 peptide, and the 42 aa form of the amyloid beta peptide which is a pathogenic agent in Alzheimer's disease. Primary murine microglial cells also expressed FPR1 and FPR2 genes, but similar to N9 cells, exhibited FPR2-mediated activation only after LPS treatment. In contrast to its effect on the function of FPR2, LPS reduced N9 cell binding and biological responses to the chemokine stromal cell-derived factor-1alpha. Thus, LPS selectively modulates the function of chemoattractant receptors in microglia and may promote host response in inflammatory diseases in the CNS.

Animals↗

The synthetic peptide Trp-Lys-Tyr-Met-Val-D-Met is a potent chemotactic agonist for mouse formyl peptide receptor.

Formyl peptides are potent neutrophil chemoattractants. In humans and rabbits, the formyl peptide receptor (FPR) binds N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLF) with high affinity (K(d) approximately 1 nM). The mouse FPR (mFPR) is a low-affinity receptor for fMLF (K(d) approximately 100 nM); therefore, other agonists for this receptor may exist. Using mFPR-transfected rat basophilic leukemia cells, we found that a recently identified synthetic peptide Trp-Lys-Tyr-Met-Val-D-Met (WKYMVm) is a potent agonist for mFPR. WKYMVm induced calcium mobilization with an EC(50) of 1.2-1.5 nM. Optimal chemotaxis was achieved with 1 nM of WKYMVm, but it required 100 nM of fMLF. WKYMVm stimulated rapid and potent phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases extracellular signal-related kinases 1 and 2 when used at 50 nM. Pertussis toxin only partially blocked calcium mobilization and production of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate in the stimulated mFPR cells, suggesting the possibility that this receptor couples to Galpha proteins other than Gi and Go. Competitive binding and desensitization data suggest that both peptides interact with the same receptor but may use nonoverlapping binding sites because WKYMVm was unable to effectively displace [(3)H]fMLF bound to mFPR. These results provide evidence for the presence of an alternative potent agonist for mFPR, and suggest a potential usage of WKYMVm for probing the ligand-receptor interactions with the murine formyl peptide receptor homologs.

Animals↗

Superoxide production in human neutrophils is enhanced by treatment with transmembrane peptides derived from human formyl peptide receptor.

Formyl peptide receptor (FPR) mediates a number of important host defense functions. Although studies have been performed on the ligand binding site of FPR, FPR dynamic behavior such as receptor dimerization on the cell surface remains unknown. Recently, peptides derived from the transmembrane (TM) domains of GPCRs were shown to disrupt dimer formation by receptors and to result in specific regulation of receptor function. To reveal the function of FPR TM domains, hFPRTM peptides derived from FPR were synthesized, and their biological activities were evaluated with human neutrophils. Synthetic peptides did not exhibit agonistic or antagonistic activity toward superoxide anion production. However, Neutrophils treated with hFPRTM4 produced 4-fold superoxide anion compared with untreated cells when stimulated with FPR agonist fMLP. Short peptide fragments derived from the fourth TM region of FPR did not enhance superoxide anion production, which suggests that hFPRTM4 did not behave as a ligand. CD and fluorescence spectra suggested that hFPRTM peptides were inserted into the membrane. The addition of hFPRTM4 increased the intracellular calcium concentration, which meant the peptide activated some membrane protein on the cell surface. The present study suggests that the fourth TM domain of FPR has a function related to a priming effect.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The synthetic peptide Trp-Lys-Tyr-Met-Val-D-Met inhibits human monocyte-derived dendritic cell maturation via formyl peptide receptor and formyl peptide receptor-like 2.

Trp-Lys-Tyr-Met-Val-D-Met (WKYMVm) has been reported to stimulate monocytes, neutrophils, and dendritic cells (DCs). However, although WKYMVm has been reported to function as a DC chemoattractant, its role on DC maturation has not been examined. In this study, we investigated the effects of WKYMVm on human DC maturation. The costimulation of DCs with WKYMVm and LPS dramatically inhibited LPS-induced IL-12 production, CD86 and HLA-DR surface expression, and DC-mediated T cell proliferation. However, DC phagocytic activity was increased by WKYMVm stimulation. These findings demonstrate that WKYMVm inhibits DC maturation by LPS. In terms of the mechanism underlying DC maturation inhibition by WKYMVm, we found that LPS-induced DC maturation was negatively regulated by WKYMVm-stimulated ERK activity. Moreover, the costimulation of DCs with WKYMVm and LPS dramatically inhibited the LPS-induced accumulations of IL-12 mRNA, thus suggesting that WKYMVm inhibits LPS-induced IL-12 production at the transcriptional level. We also found that DCs express two WKYMVm receptors, formyl peptide receptor (FPR) and FPR-like 2 (FPRL2). In addition, formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (a FPR ligand), Trp-Lys-Tyr-Met-Val-Met, Hp(2-20) peptide, and F2L (three FPRL2 ligands) inhibited LPS-induced IL-12 production in DCs. Taken together, our findings indicate that the activations of FPR and FPRL2 inhibit LPS-induced DC maturation, and suggest that these two receptors should be regarded as important potential therapeutic targets for the modulation of DC maturation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Utilization of two seven-transmembrane, G protein-coupled receptors, formyl peptide receptor-like 1 and formyl peptide receptor, by the synthetic hexapeptide WKYMVm for human phagocyte activation.

Trp-Lys-Tyr-Val-D-Met (WKYMVm) is a synthetic leukocyte-activating peptide postulated to use seven-transmembrane, G protein-coupled receptor(s). In the study to characterize the receptor(s) for WKYMVm, we found that this peptide induced marked chemotaxis and calcium flux in human phagocytes. The signaling induced by WKYMVm in phagocytes was attenuated by high concentrations of the bacterial chemotactic peptide fMLP, suggesting that WKYMVm might use receptor(s) for fMLP. This hypothesis was tested by using cells over expressing genes encoding two seven-transmembrane receptors, formyl peptide receptor (FPR) and formyl peptide receptor-like 1 (FPRL1), which are with high and low affinity for fMLP, respectively. Both FPR- and FPRL1-expressing cells mobilized calcium in response to picomolar concentrations of WKYMVm. While FPRL1-expressing cells migrated to picomolar concentrations of WKYMVm, nanomolar concentrations of the peptide were required to induce migration of FPR-expressing cells. In contrast, fMLP elicited both calcium flux and chemotaxis only in FPR-expressing cells with an efficacy comparable with WKYMVm. Thus, WKYMVm uses both FPR and FPRL1 to stimulate phagocytes with a markedly higher efficacy for FPRL1. Our study suggests that FPR and FPRL1 in phagocytes react to a broad spectrum of agonists and WKYMVm as a remarkably potent agonist provides a valuable tool for studying leukocyte signaling via these receptors.

Cell Migration Inhibition↗

The neurotoxic prion peptide fragment PrP(106-126) is a chemotactic agonist for the G protein-coupled receptor formyl peptide receptor-like 1.

Prion diseases are transmissible and fatal neurodegenerative disorders which involve infiltration and activation of mononuclear phagocytes at the brain lesions. A 20-aa acid fragment of the human cellular prion protein, PrP(106-126), was reported to mimic the biological activity of the pathologic isoform of prion and activates mononuclear phagocytes. The cell surface receptor(s) mediating the activity of PrP(106-126) is unknown. In this study, we show that PrP(106-126) is chemotactic for human monocytes through the use of a G protein-coupled receptor formyl peptide receptor-like 1 (FPRL1), which has been reported to interact with a diverse array of exogenous or endogenous ligands. Upon stimulation by PrP(106-126), FPRL1 underwent a rapid internalization and, furthermore, PrP(106-126) enhanced monocyte production of proinflammatory cytokines, which was inhibited by pertussis toxin. Thus, FPRL1 may act as a "pattern recognition" receptor that interacts with multiple pathologic agents and may be involved in the proinflammatory process of prion diseases.

Animals↗

Localization of ligand binding regions of the human formyl peptide receptor.

The formyl peptide receptor is involved in the activation of human neutrophils (PMN) and their subsequent response to chemotactic peptides such as FMLP. The normal FMLP receptor has been reported to contain both high and low affinity states and to consist of several glycoprotein components, ranging in size from 40-94 kDa. However, little is known about the functional domains of the receptor. In this study we have constructed synthetic peptides corresponding to different portions of the reported receptor structure, and have tested their involvement in ligand binding. One of these peptides, corresponding to the first extracellular loop of the N-terminus end of the molecule, has been shown to specifically inhibit FMLP binding to PMN membranes. Concomitantly, this peptide exhibited the strongest direct binding to the ligand. We propose that this portion of the FMLP receptor molecule is important in receptor-ligand interactions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The uncoupled state of the human formyl peptide receptor.

The formyl peptide receptor (FPR) has been widely used to study the kinetics of the interaction between ligand, receptor and G protein with real-time fluorescence methods. Because the wild type receptor rapidly signals, and is then desensitized and internalized once occupied by ligand, it has been difficult to study the uncoupled receptor form. We have examined a mutant form of the FPR expressed in U937 cells that does not bind G protein and is thus ideal to study the uncoupled form of the FPR in the intact cell. Using kinetic flow cytometry, we have measured the dissociation kinetics of a fluorescent ligand from this mutant in intact, permeabilized and fixed cells. We observed a novel uncoupled receptor form in the intact cell with a dramatically reduced off-rate (approximately 0.02 s-1) from LR in a broken cell preparation (approximately 0.2 s-1). Both receptor forms are retained in the presence of formaldehyde. We also observed this novel receptor form coexisting with the LRG complex when the wild type receptor is fixed in neutrophils or transfectants. These results complex when the wild type receptor is fixed in neutrophils o transfectants. These results lead us to suggest that there are distinct receptor structures in cells and membranes and that only a fraction of receptors in intact cells exist in the uncoupled form.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

High constitutive activity of the human formyl peptide receptor.

The formyl peptide receptor (FPR) couples to pertussis toxin (PTX)-sensitive Gi-proteins to activate chemotaxis and exocytosis in neutrophils. PTX reduces not only formyl peptide-stimulated but also agonist-independent ("basal") Gi-protein activity, suggesting that the FPR is constitutively active. We aimed at identifying an inverse FPR agonist, i.e. a compound that suppresses constitutive FPR activity. In Sf9 insect cell membranes, the G-protein heterotrimer Gialpha2beta1gamma2 reconstituted N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine (FMLP)-stimulated guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTPgammaS) binding and GTPgammaS-sensitive high affinity [3H]FMLP binding. The FPR "antagonist" cyclosporin H (CsH) potently and efficiently reduced basal GTPgammaS binding in Sf9 membranes. Another FPR antagonist, N-t-butoxycarbonyl-L-phenylalanyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanyl-L-leucyl-L- phenylalanine did not inhibit basal GTPgammaS binding but blocked the inhibitory effect of CsH on GTPgammaS binding. Na+ reduced basal GTPgammaS binding and eliminated the inhibitory effect of CsH. Similar effects of FMLP, CsH, and Na+ as in Sf9 membranes were observed with FPR expressed in the mammalian cell line HEK293. Our data show that the human FPR possesses high constitutive activity. CsH is an inverse FPR agonist and stabilizes the FPR in an inactive state. Na+ also stabilizes the FPR in an inactive state and, thereby, diminishes inverse agonist efficacy.

Animals↗

Differential activation of formyl peptide receptor signaling by peptide ligands.

Formyl peptide receptor (FPR) and formyl peptide receptor like 1 (FPRL1) play important roles in inflammation and immunity. Stimulation of FPR and FPRL1 initiates a cascade of signaling events, leading to activation of various phagocyte responses, including chemotaxis, superoxide generation, and exocytosis. Trp-Lys-Tyr-Met-Val-d-Met-NH2 (WKYMVm) is a synthetic peptide that binds to and activates FPR and FPRL1. To develop agonists that selectively activate phagocyte functions and therefore protect host from unwanted tissue damage, we generated various WKYMVm analogs and examined their effects on cellular responses in FPR- or FPRL1-expressing RBL-2H3 cells. Analogs with substitution at the third position such as WKGMVm, WKRMVm, as well as analogs with substitution at the sixth d-Met, selectively altered calcium mobilization in cells expressing FPRL1 but not in cells expressing FPR. Whereas binding of WKYMVm to FPR activates a broad spectrum of cellular signaling events, including phospholipase C-mediated intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) mobilization and activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and Akt, WKGMVm and WKRMVm could only activate ERK and Akt but did not induce [Ca2+]i mobilization. With respect to phagocyte functions, WKYMVm could induce both chemotaxis and exocytosis, but the two analogs WKGMVm and WKRMVm could only induce chemotaxis but not exocytosis. This study demonstrates that a major phagocyte chemoattractant receptor FPR may be activated differentially by distinct peptide ligands. Our results suggest that WKGMVm and WKRMVm may be useful model for further development of pharmacological agents that selectively activate FPR-mediated functions.

Cell Line↗

The chemoattractant Trp-Lys-Tyr-Met-Val-D-Met activates eosinophils through the formyl peptide receptor and one of its homologues, formyl peptide receptor-like 1.

Whereas prokaryotes use L- and D-isomers of amino acids in their protein synthesis, eukaryotic proteins as a rule incorporate only L-isomers. Hence, D-isomers may constitute danger signals to the innate immune system. A D-methionine-containing peptide, Trp-Lys-Tyr-Met-Val-D-Met-NH(2) (WKYMVm), has been shown to be a stronger activator of neutrophils than f-Met-Leu-Phe. The aim of this study was to compare the responsiveness of eosinophils to WKYMVm with that of neutrophils. The peptide was found to induce chemotaxis and respiratory burst in eosinophils. However, it did not mobilize granule constituents, as evidenced by a lack of eosinophil cationic protein, eosinophil peroxidase, and interleukin-5 in the supernatants of stimulated eosinophils. In contrast, WKYMVm caused the release of complement receptor 3 from secretory vesicles in neutrophils. Different members of the formyl peptide receptor family were preferentially engaged by the peptide in the two classes of granulocytes: the formyl peptide receptor itself in eosinophils and formyl peptide receptor-like 1 in neutrophils.

Cells, Cultured↗

Critical role of N-terminal N-glycosylation for proper folding of the human formyl peptide receptor.

The human formyl peptide receptor (FPR) is N-glycosylated and activates phagocytes via G(i)-proteins. The FPR expressed with G(i)alpha(2)beta(1)gamma(2) in Sf9 insect cells exhibits high constitutive activity as assessed by strong inhibitory effects of an inverse agonist and Na(+) on basal guanosine 5(')-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTPgammaS) binding. The aim of our study was to analyze the role of N-glycosylation in FPR function. Site-directed mutagenesis of extracellular Asn residues prevented FPR glycosylation but not FPR expression in Sf9 membranes. However, in terms of high-affinity agonist binding, kinetics of GTPgammaS binding, number of G(i)-proteins activated, and constitutive activity, non-glycosylated FPR was much less active than native FPR. FPR-Asn4Gln/Asn10Gln/Asn179Gln and FPR-Asn4Gln/Asn10/Gln exhibited similar defects. Our data indicate that N-glycosylation of N-terminal Asn4 and Asn10 but not of Asn179 in the second extracellular loop is essential for proper folding and, hence, function of FPR. FPR deglycosylation by bacterial glycosidases could be a mechanism by which bacteria compromise host defense.

Asparagine↗

Chemotaxis and calcium responses of phagocytes to formyl peptide receptor ligands is differentially regulated by cyclic ADP ribose.

Cyclic ADP ribose (cADPR) is a calcium-mobilizing metabolite that regulates intracellular calcium release and extracellular calcium influx. Although the role of cADPR in modulating calcium mobilization has been extensively examined, its potential role in regulating immunologic responses is less well understood. We previously reported that cADPR, produced by the ADP-ribosyl cyclase, CD38, controls calcium influx and chemotaxis of murine neutrophils responding to fMLF, a peptide agonist for two chemoattractant receptor subtypes, formyl peptide receptor and formyl peptide receptor-like 1. In this study, we examine whether cADPR is required for chemotaxis of human monocytes and neutrophils to a diverse array of chemoattractants. We found that a cADPR antagonist and a CD38 substrate analogue inhibited the chemotaxis of human phagocytic cells to a number of formyl peptide receptor-like 1-specific ligands but had no effect on the chemotactic response of these cells to ligands selective for formyl peptide receptor. In addition, we show that the cADPR antagonist blocks the chemotaxis of human monocytes to CXCR4, CCR1, and CCR5 ligands. In all cases, we found that cADPR modulates intracellular free calcium levels in cells activated by chemokines that induce extracellular calcium influx in the apparent absence of significant intracellular calcium release. Thus, cADPR regulates calcium signaling of a discrete subset of chemoattractant receptors expressed by human leukocytes. Since many of the chemoattractant receptors regulated by cADPR bind to ligands that are associated with clinical pathology, cADPR and CD38 represent novel drug targets with potential application in chronic inflammatory and neurodegenerative disease.

ADP-ribosyl Cyclase↗

Extensive contact between Gi2 and N-formyl peptide receptor of human neutrophils: mapping of binding sites using receptor-mimetic peptides.

The N-formyl peptide receptor (FPR) of human neutrophils is a member of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily. Sites on agonist-occupied FPR involved in binding the Gi2 protein were investigated by competition with synthetic receptor-mimetic peptides. Twenty-three synthetic FPR-mimetic and control peptides were tested for their ability to disrupt functionally active complexes of FPR and Gi2 in octyl glucoside, assayed by changes in sedimentation rates of FPR in detergent-containing sucrose gradients. GPCRs are thought to contain seven transmembrane segments with three cytoplasmic connecting loops and a cytoplasmic tail. Only certain peptides from regions in or adjoining each of the four predicted cytoplasmic domains of the 350 amino acid FPR, including the first cytoplasmic loop, were able to disrupt the reconstituted FPR-Gi2 complex. The IC50s of the peptides that were able to fully disrupt the FPR-Gi2 complex ranged from 20 microM (C2W 122-134) to 1.4 mM (C3A 230-246), a range similar to peptide inhibition of other G protein-coupled receptor-G protein interactions. Detergent concentrations above and below the critical micelle concentration had no effect on the activity of even the most hydrophobic peptide, C3B, and there was no apparent correlation of activity with hydrophobic moment, hydrophilic index, or net charge of the peptides. Control peptides from irrelevant proteins with similar physical properties and FPR extracellular domains did not dissociate the reconstituted FPR-Gi2 complex up to 5 mM, the highest concentration tested.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Structural similarities between mRNA for the formyl peptide receptors and 18S rRNA.

Formyl peptides released by some bacteria are powerful chemoattractants and activators of mammalian granulocytes and monocytes, acting through 7-transmembrane specific formyl peptide receptors (FPRs). Three distinct segments of the formyl peptide receptor 1 (FPR1) mRNA of Man share probabilistically significant homologies with segments of the 18S rRNA which are highly conserved from Drosophila to Man. Overall, the three segments cover approximately 24% that of the 18S rRNA sequence and approximately 36% of the FPR1 sequence. The three segments are, however, arranged in different orders in the 18S rRNAs and in the FPR1 mRNA, the segment appearing in the first location in the 18S rRNAs is located at the end of the FPR1 mRNA sequence. The hypothesis is advanced that the three "conserved" segments either derive from an ancestral gene that is the forerunner of both the ribosomal 18S genes and the FPR genes or that at some stage of evolution the FPR genes derived, at least in part, from the more ancient ribosomal 18S genes. The extant 18S rRNA sequences exhibit obvious signs of a number of breaks that occurred during evolution, especially in the transition from insects to vertebrates. Some of these events may have resulted in differential rearrangements of segments in the groups of FPR genes and ribosomal 18S genes.

Animals↗

Multiple domains of the N-formyl peptide receptor are required for high-affinity ligand binding. Construction and analysis of chimeric N-formyl peptide receptors.

Binding of the chemotactic tripeptide fMet-Leu-Phe (fMLP) to its receptor on phagocytes activates these cells through a G protein-coupled pathway. To delineate the structural requirement of the N-formyl peptide receptor (FPR) for ligand binding and signaling, we constructed chimeric receptors between FPR and a recently identified granulocyte receptor, FPR2 (Ye, R. D., Cavanagh, S. L., Quehenberger, O., Prossnitz, E. R., and Cochrane, C. G. (1992) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 184, 582-589). FPR2 shares 69% sequence homology with the FPR; yet it binds fMLP with a low affinity (Kd = 430 nM), as compared with the high affinity (Kd = 1 nM) displayed by the FPR. This property of the FPR2 was utilized for mapping the FPR ligand binding domains. Seven chimeric FPR/FPR2 receptors were generated by sequential replacement of the FPR segments with the corresponding regions from FPR2. Three reciprocal FPR2/FPR chimeric receptors were also constructed by selective substitution of the FPR segments into FPR2. These chimeric receptors were stably expressed in transfected fibroblasts and analyzed for their ligand binding and transmembrane signaling properties. Replacement of the FPR domains, including the first and the third extracellular loops, resulted in 275- and 85-fold decrease in ligand binding affinity, respectively. Introduction of both domains into the FPR2 significantly increased ligand binding affinity (Kd = 18 nM), whereas substitution of the domains containing the first or third extracellular loop alone improved ligand binding to a lesser degree (Kd = 90 and 372 nM, respectively). In contrast, substitution of either the amino or the carboxyl-terminal regions with those of the FPR2 had little effect on ligand binding affinity. An analysis of the sequences of the two receptors revealed several key residues in the first and the third extracellular loops of the FPR and their adjacent transmembrane domains that may be essential for binding of fMLP. We propose that multiple domains of the FPR are required for high-affinity ligand binding, with a major determinant located in the first extracellular loop and its adjacent transmembrane domains.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Peptides derived from HIV-1, HIV-2, Ebola virus, SARS coronavirus and coronavirus 229E exhibit high affinity binding to the formyl peptide receptor.

Peptides derived from the membrane proximal region of fusion proteins of human immunodeficiency viruses 1 and 2, Coronavirus 229 E, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus and Ebola virus were all potent antagonists of the formyl peptide receptor expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Binding of viral peptides was affected by the naturally occurring polymorphisms at residues 190 and 192, which are located at second extracellular loop-transmembrane helix 5 interface. Substitution of R190 with W190 enhanced the affinity for a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus peptide 6 fold but reduced the affinity for N-formyl-Nle-Leu-Phe by 2.5 fold. A 12 mer peptide derived from coronavirus 229E (ETYIKPWWVWL) was the most potent antagonist of the formyl peptide receptor W190 with a K(i) of 230 nM. Fluorescently labeled ETYIKPWWVWL was effectively internalized by all three variants with EC(50) of approximately 25 nM. An HKU-1 coronavirus peptide, MYVKWPWYVWL, was a potent antagonist but N-formyl-MYVKWPWYVWL was a potent agonist. ETYIKPWWVWL did not stimulate GTPgammaS binding but inhibited the stimulation by formyl-NleLeuPhe. It also blocked beta arrestin translocation and receptor downregulation induced by formyl-Nle-Leu-Phe. This indicates that formyl peptide receptor may be important in viral infections and that variations in its sequence among individuals may affect their likelihood of viral and bacterial infections.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Relationship of ligand-receptor dynamics to actin polymerization in RBL-2H3 cells transfected with the human formyl peptide receptor.

The human formyl peptide receptor (FPR) expressed in RBL-2H3 transfectants (RBL[FPR]) behaves qualitatively like the FPR expressed by neutrophils except that it causes sustained F-actin accumulation and cell shape change responses on formyl peptide stimulation. These sustained responses were not accounted for by changes in the transfected receptor's ability to interact with ligand or by receptor density. Signal transduction pathways of transfected and neutrophil FPRs are apparently similar. In transfected cells, dissociation of ligand is sensitive to guanine nucleotide, the G protein is pertussis toxin-sensitive, FPR and G protein appear to be precoupled, the F-actin response is stimulated with the same dose-response profile as in neutrophils, and the F-actin accumulation response is directly regulated by the FPR, even long after initial stimulation. Potentially significant differences between neutrophil and transfected FPR were found when receptor processing was measured. In neutrophils, practically 100% of the FPR is converted to forms that dissociate slowly from ligand and are inactive in signal transduction within 2 min of ligand stimulation. By contrast, 20% or more of transfected FPR remains rapidly dissociating even 5 min after stimulation. Although 80% of neutrophil FPR is internalized by 5 min after stimulation, transfected FPR appears to plateau at 50-60% internalized. Because actin responses in neutrophils are regulated by a small number of active receptors, the inefficiency of receptor inactivation in RBL(FPR) transfectants may account for the prolonged F-actin accumulation response.

Actins↗