125I-vasoactive intestinal peptide binding in human kidney.
Charlton BG., Neal DE., Simmons NL.
The hypothesis that effects of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) on human renal function are mediated via a specific intrarenal VIP receptor was investigated by measuring 125I-VIP binding in plasma membranes isolated from human kidney tissue excised for therapeutic reasons (transitional cell carcinoma, hypernephroma). Equilibrium binding of 125I-VIP was determined by a rapid filtration technique. Specific binding was saturable and showed evidence of both a high affinity binding site (K0.5 range 1.3-12.7 nM; Bmax range 4-56 fmol/mg) and another site of lower affinity. 125VIP binding was partially displaced by homologous peptides and by the VIP antagonist (4CL-D-Phe6,Leu17)-VIP. Distribution of 125I-VIP binding was established using autoradiography: specific binding was confined to the cortex. Such evidence of specific VIP binding, together with our previous report showing VIP stimulation of renal cortical plasma membrane adenylate cyclase, is consistent with a role for VIP in regulation of urine electrolyte composition in the human.