G-protein coupled receptor kinase 2 and 3 expression in human detrusor cultured smooth muscle cells.

Department of Regenerative and Transplant Medicine, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Japan. obarak@med.niigata-u.ac.jp

The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of G-protein coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) mRNA by RT-PCR and GRKs protein by immunohistochemistry in human detrusor cultured smooth muscle. Primary cultures of human detrusor smooth muscle cells were established using the explant method from three normal bladders. The expression of each GRK, beta-adrenergic receptor and muscarinic acethylcholine receptor (mAchR) mRNA was examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Immunohistochemical staining was also performed using primary antibodies for GRKs. The GRK2 and GRK3 transcripts were detected by RT-PCR. The m2, m3 and m5 mAchR and beta1, beta2 and beta3 adrenergic receptor subtypes mRNA were also detected. Using immunohistochemistry, both GRK2 and GRK3 were found to be expressed in detrusor smooth muscle cells. These results demonstrated the existence of GRK2 and GRK3 and the co-expression of m2, m3 and m5 mAchR and beta1, beta2 and beta3 adrenergic receptor subtypes in detrusor smooth muscle cells. The possibility exists that these kinases play a role in the desensitization mechanism of mAchR and beta adrenergic receptors.

PMID: 11762794 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]