Tissue dependent differences in G-protein coupled receptor kinases associated with 5-HT4 receptor desensitization in the rat gastro-intestinal tract

Abstract Desensitization of 5-HT 4 receptors is regulated by G-protein coupled receptor kinases (GRKs). However, the specific GRK(s) that regulates the desensitization of 5-HT 4 receptors in the in vivo setting is unknown. We investigated the in situ expression of 5-HT 4 receptors and the GRKs in the rat gastrointestinal tract using immunohistochemistry and their interaction using coimmunoprecipitation. 5-HT 4 receptors were expressed in the tunica muscularis mucosae of the oesophagus, longitudinal muscle, myenteric plexus, circular muscle, submucosal plexus and muscularis mucosae of both the proximal and distal colon. GRK2 was expressed in longitudinal muscle and occasionally in myenteric plexus whilst GRK5 showed limited expression in the nerve endings of the myenteric plexus and submucosal plexus of the colon. GRK3 was expressed in the tunica muscularis mucosae of the oesophagus, circular muscle, submucosal plexus and muscularis mucosae of the colon. GRK6 was expressed in the tunica muscularis mucosae of the oesophagus, longitudinal muscle, circular muscle, and muscularis mucosae of the colon. Stimulation of tunica muscularis mucosae of the oesophagus and distal colon using the 5-HT 4 receptor agonist, tegaserod, followed by analysis of the 5-HT 4 receptor antibody immunoprecipitate, revealed the coimmunoprecipitation of GRK6 with 5-HT 4 receptors in the tunica muscularis mucosae of oesophagus while GRK2 and GRK6 were coimmunoprecipitated with 5-HT 4 receptors in the distal colon. This study indicates that GRK6 may be involved in the regulation of the desensitization of 5-HT 4 receptors in the rat oesophagus whilst GRK2 and GRK6 may be involved in regulation of the desensitization of 5-HT 4 receptors in the distal colon.