Stimulation of adenosine A1 receptors and bradykinin receptors, which act via different G proteins, synergistically raises inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and intracellular free calcium in DDT1 MF-2 smooth muscle cells.

We have examined the cross talk between adenosine and bradykinin receptors in DDT1 MF-2 smooth muscle cells. Both adenosine and bradykinin mobilized intracellular free calcium via the formation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Adenosine exerted its actions via adenosine A1 receptors as demonstrated by the observations that N6-cyclopentyladenosine, a selective A1 receptor agonist, had an EC50 in the low nanomolar range and that a selective adenosine A1 receptor antagonist, 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine, counteracted adenosine-mediated responses at concentrations typical for signaling via adenosine A1 receptors. Adenosine A1 receptors were coupled to phospholipase C via pertussis toxin-sensitive guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory protein(s) [G protein(s)], whereas bradykinin responses were unaffected by pertussis toxin. When adenosine or N6-cyclopentyladenosine was combined with bradykinin, the resulting formation of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate was more than additive, and the EC50 value for adenosine and N6-cyclopentyladenosine was shifted to the left by bradykinin, the affinity of which was unaltered. Combining N6-cyclopentyladenosine and bradykinin also synergistically raised intracellular free calcium both at subthreshold levels and at maximal concentrations of the two agonists. The interaction was not dependent upon cAMP. In conclusion, stimulation of adenosine A1 receptors coupled to pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein(s) and bradykinin receptors coupled to pertussis toxin-insensitive G protein(s) synergistically mobilizes intracellular free calcium and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate formation.