Β2-adrenergic Receptor Expression Research Articles

Curcumin pretreatment mediates antidiabetogenesis via functional regulation of adrenergic receptor subtypes in the pancreas of multiple low-dose streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Lifestyle modification pivoting on nutritional management holds tremendous potential to meet the challenge of management of diabetes. The current study hypothesizes that regular uptake of curcumin lowers the incidence of diabetes by functional regulation of pancreatic adrenergic receptor subtypes. The specific objective of the study was to identify the regulatory pathways implicated in the antidiabetogenesis effect of curcumin in multiple low-dose streptozotocin (MLD-STZ)-induced diabetic Wistar rats. Administration of MLD-STZ to curcumin-pretreated rats induced a prediabetic condition. Scatchard analysis, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and confocal microscopic studies confirmed a significant increase in α2-adrenergic receptor expression in the pancreas of diabetic rats. Pretreatment with curcumin significantly decreased α2-adrenergic receptor expression. The diabetic group showed a significant decrease in the expression of β-adrenergic receptors when compared with control. Pretreatment significantly increased β-adrenergic receptor expression to near control. When compared with the diabetic rats, a significant up-regulation of CREB, phospholipase C, insulin receptor, and glucose transporter 2 were observed in the pretreated group. Curcumin pretreatment was also able to maintain near control levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate, cyclic guanosine monophosphate, and inositol triphosphate. These results indicate that a marked decline in α2-adrenergic receptor function relents sympathetic inhibition of insulin release. It also follows that escalated signaling through β-adrenergic receptors mediates neuronal stimulation of hyperglycemia-induced β-cell compensatory response. Curcumin-mediated functional regulation of adrenergic receptors and modulation of key cell signaling molecules improve pancreatic glucose sensing, insulin gene expression, and insulin secretion.

P53-Induced inflammation exacerbates cardiac dysfunction during pressure overload

The rates of death and disability caused by severe heart failure are still unacceptably high. There is evidence that the sterile inflammatory response has a critical role in the progression of cardiac remodeling in the failing heart. The p53 signaling pathway has been implicated in heart failure, but the pathological link between p53 and inflammation in the failing heart is largely unknown. Here we demonstrate a critical role of p53-induced inflammation in heart failure. Expression of p53 was increased in cardiac endothelial cells and bone marrow cells in response to pressure overload, leading to up-regulation of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM1) expression by endothelial cells and integrin expression by bone marrow cells. Deletion of p53 from endothelial cells or bone marrow cells significantly reduced ICAM1 or integrin expression, respectively, as well as decreasing cardiac inflammation and ameliorating systolic dysfunction during pressure overload. Conversely, overexpression of p53 in bone marrow cells led to an increase of integrin expression and cardiac inflammation that reduced systolic function. Norepinephrine markedly increased p53 expression in endothelial cells and macrophages. Reducing β2-adrenergic receptor expression in endothelial cells or bone marrow cells attenuated cardiac inflammation and improved systolic dysfunction during pressure overload. These results suggest that activation of the sympathetic nervous system promotes cardiac inflammation by up-regulating ICAM1 and integrin expression via p53 signaling to exacerbate cardiac dysfunction. Inhibition of p53-induced inflammation may be a novel therapeutic strategy for heart failure.

Prognostic significance of β2 adrenergic receptor expression in the patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

11081 Background: β2 adrenergic receptor (β2-AR) is highlty expressed in cancer cells and has a relationship with tumor cell progression and metastases. However, it remains unclear about the progno...

Activation of natriuretic peptides and the sympathetic nervous system following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is associated with gonadal adipose tissues browning.

ObjectiveRoux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is an effective method of weight loss and remediation of type-2 diabetes; however, the mechanisms leading to these improvements are unclear. Additionally, adipocytes within white adipose tissue (WAT) depots can manifest characteristics of brown adipocytes. These ‘BRITE/beige’ adipocytes express uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and are associated with improvements in glucose homeostasis and protection from obesity. Interestingly, atrial and B-type natriuretic peptides (NPs) promote BRITE/beige adipocyte enrichment of WAT depots, an effect known as “browning.” Here, we investigate the effect of RYGB surgery on NP, NP receptors, and browning in the gonadal adipose tissues of female mice. We propose that such changes may lead to improvements in metabolic homeostasis commonly observed following RYGB.MethodsWild type, female, C57/Bl6 mice were fed a 60% fat diet ad libitum for six months. Mice were divided into three groups: Sham operated (SO), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), and Weight matched, sham operated (WM-SO). Mice were sacrificed six weeks following surgery and evaluated for differences in body weight, glucose homeostasis, adipocyte morphology, and adipose tissue gene expression.ResultsRYGB and calorie restriction induced similar weight loss and improved glucose metabolism without decreasing food intake. β3-adrenergic receptor expression increased in gonadal adipose tissue, in addition to Nppb (BNP), and NP receptors, Npr1, and Npr2. The ratio of Npr1:Npr3 and Npr2:Npr3 increased in RYGB, but not WM-SO groups. Ucp1 protein and mRNA, as well as additional markers of BRITE/beige adipose tissue and lipolytic genes increased in RYGB mice to a greater extent than calorie-restricted mice.ConclusionsUpregulation of Nppb, Npr1, Npr2, and β3-adrenergic receptors in gonadal adipose tissue following RYGB was associated with increased markers of browning. This browning of gonadal adipose tissue may underpin the positive effect of RYGB on metabolic parameters and may in part be mediated through upregulation of natriuretic peptides.

Adrenergic signaling mediates mechanical hyperalgesia through activation of P2X3 receptors in primary sensory neurons of rats with chronic pancreatitis

The mechanism of pain in chronic pancreatitis (CP) is poorly understood. The aim of this study was designed to investigate roles of norepinephrine (NE) and P2X receptor (P2XR) signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of hyperalgesia in a rat model of CP. CP was induced in male adult rats by intraductal injection of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS). Mechanical hyperalgesia was assessed by referred somatic behaviors to mechanical stimulation of rat abdomen. P2XR-mediated responses of pancreatic dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons were measured utilizing calcium imaging and whole cell patch-clamp-recording techniques. Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence were performed to examine protein expression. TNBS injection produced a significant upregulation of P2X3R expression and an increase in ATP-evoked responses of pancreatic DRG neurons. The sensitization of P2X3Rs was reversed by administration of β-adrenergic receptor antagonist propranolol. Incubation of DRG neurons with NE significantly enhanced ATP-induced intracellular calcium signals, which were abolished by propranolol, and partially blocked by protein kinase A inhibitor H-89. Interestingly, TNBS injection led to a significant elevation of NE concentration in DRGs and the pancreas, an upregulation of β2-adrenergic receptor expression in DRGs, and amplification of the NE-induced potentiation of ATP responses. Importantly, pancreatic hyperalgesia was markedly attenuated by administration of purinergic receptor antagonist suramin or A317491 or β2-adrenergic receptor antagonist butoxamine. Sensitization of P2X3Rs, which was likely mediated by adrenergic signaling in primary sensory neurons, contributes to pancreatic pain, thus identifying a potential target for treating pancreatic pain caused by inflammation.

Acute exercise preferentially redeploys NK-cells with a highly-differentiated phenotype and augments cytotoxicity against lymphoma and multiple myeloma target cells. Part II: impact of latent cytomegalovirus infection and catecholamine sensitivity.

We showed previously that acute exercise is associated with a preferential redeployment of highly-differentiated NK-cells and increased cytotoxicity against HLA-expressing tumor cell lines during exercise recovery. In this part II study, we retrospectively analyzed these findings in the context of latent cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and performed additional experiments to explore potential mechanisms underpinning the marked reduction in NK-cell redeployment with exercise in CMV-seropositive individuals. We show here that latent CMV infection impairs NK-cell mobilization with exercise, only when the intensity of the exercise bout exceeds the individual blood lactate threshold (BLT). This impaired mobilization is associated with increased proportions of poorly exercise-responsive NK-cell subsets (NKG2C+/KIR-, NKG2C+/NKG2A-, and NKG2C+/CD57+) and decreased NK-cell β(2)-adrenergic receptor (AR) expression in those with CMV. As a result, NK-cell production of cyclic AMP (cAMP) in response to in vitro isoproterenol (synthetic β-agonist) stimulation was drastically lower in those with CMV (6.0 vs. 20.3pmol/mL, p<0.001) and correlated highly with the proportion of NKG2C+/CD57+ NK-cells (R(2)=0.97). Moreover, NK-cell cytotoxic activity (NKCA) against the K562 (36.6% vs. 22.7%, p<0.05), U266 (23.6% vs. 15.9%, p<0.05), and 221.AEH (41.3% vs. 13.3%, p<0.001) cell lines was increased at baseline in those infected with CMV; however, latent CMV infection abated the post-exercise increase in NKCA as a result of decreased NK-cell mobilization. Additionally, NKCA per cell against the U266 (0.24 vs. 0.12, p<0.01), RPMI-8226 (0.17 vs. 0.11, p<0.05), and 221.AEH (0.18 vs. 0.11, p<0.05) cell lines was increased 1h post-exercise (relative to baseline) in CMV-seronegative subjects, but not in those infected with CMV. Collectively, these data indicate that latent CMV infection may compromise NK-cell mediated immunosurveillance after acute exercise due to an increased proportion of "CMV-specific" NK-cell subsets with impaired β-adrenergic receptor signaling pathways.

Chronic β1-adrenergic blockade enhances myocardial β3-adrenergic coupling with nitric oxide-cGMP signaling in a canine model of chronic volume overload: new insight into mechanisms of cardiac benefit with selective β1-blocker therapy.

The β1-adrenergic antagonist metoprolol improves cardiac function in animals and patients with chronic heart failure, isolated mitral regurgitation (MR), and ischemic heart disease, though the molecular mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Metoprolol has been reported to upregulate cardiac expression of β3-adrenergic receptors (β3AR) in animal models. Myocardial β3AR signaling via neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) activation has recently emerged as a cardioprotective pathway. We tested whether chronic β1-adrenergic blockade with metoprolol enhances myocardial β3AR coupling with nitric oxide-stimulated cyclic guanosine monophosphate (β3AR/NO-cGMP) signaling in the MR-induced, volume-overloaded heart. We compared the expression, distribution, and inducible activation of β3AR/NO-cGMP signaling proteins within myocardial membrane microdomains in dogs (canines) with surgically induced MR, those also treated with metoprolol succinate (MR+βB), and unoperated controls. β3AR mRNA transcripts, normalized to housekeeping gene RPLP1, increased 4.4 × 10(3)- and 3.2 × 10(2)-fold in MR and MR+βB hearts, respectively, compared to Control. Cardiac β3AR expression was increased 1.4- and nearly twofold in MR and MR+βB, respectively, compared to Control. β3AR was detected within caveolae-enriched lipid rafts (Cav3(+)LR) and heavy density, non-lipid raft membrane (NLR) across all groups. However, in vitro selective β3AR stimulation with BRL37344 (BRL) triggered cGMP production within only NLR of MR+βB. BRL induced Ser (1412) phosphorylation of nNOS within NLR of MR+βB, but not Control or MR, consistent with detection of NLR-specific β3AR/NO-cGMP coupling. Treatment with metoprolol prevented MR-associated oxidation of NO biosensor soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) within NLR. Metoprolol therapy also prevented MR-induced relocalization of sGCβ1 subunit away from caveolae, suggesting preserved NO-sGC-cGMP signaling, albeit without coupling to β3AR, within MR+βB caveolae. Chronic β1-blockade is associated with myocardial β3AR/NO-cGMP coupling in a microdomain-specific fashion. Our canine study suggests that microdomain-targeted enhancement of myocardial β3AR/NO-cGMP signaling may explain, in part, β1-adrenergic antagonist-mediated preservation of cardiac function in the volume-overloaded heart.

Differentiation and characterization of human facial subcutaneous adipocytes

Aging is associated with the loss of facial subcutaneous fat and with increased abdominal subcutaneous fat. Site specific differences in adipocyte phenotype and/or gene expression may play a role in these age-related changes. In this study, we isolated and characterized human facial preadipocytes and investigated distinct metabolic properties such as a differentiation pattern in relation to abdominal preadipocytes. Subcutaneous preadipocytes were isolated from human facial and abdominal skin and cultured in the presence of differentiation factors including rosiglitazone, a known peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) agonist, isobutyl-methyl xanthine (IBMX) and insulin. Differentiation was characterized microscopically and by quantitative real-time PCR. Unexpected superior adipogenic capacity of facial preadipocytes was observed; more facial preadipocytes differentiated in response to rosiglitazone than abdominal preadipocytes and facial preadipocytes retained their ability to differentiate through passage 11 compared with passage 5 for abdominal preadipocytes. Experiments confirmed a reduced lipolysis response in facial versus abdominal adipocytes after exposure to isoproterenol, which was consistent with the reduced β2-adrenergic receptor expression by 60% in the facial cells. The expression of other lipid metabolic gene markers was similar in both facial and abdominal adipocytes with the exception of β3-adrenergic receptor which was only found in abdominal adipose tissue. Gene profiling, by microarray analysis, identified that several HOX genes are robustly reduced in facial adipocytes compared to abdominal adipocytes, suggesting different characteristics between the 2 fat depots. These differences may have implications for development of treatments for facial fat loss during aging.

Differential β₂-adrenergic receptor expression defines the phenotype of non-tumorigenic and malignant human breast cell lines.

Breast cancer is the most frequent malignancy in women. Several reports demonstrated that adrenergic receptors (ARs) are involved in breast cancer. Here we observed that epinephrine (Epi), an endogenous AR agonist, caused opposite effects in non-tumorigenic (MCF-10A and HBL-100) and tumor cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231). Thus, Epi, in non-tumor breast cells, as well as isoproterenol (β-agonist), in all cell lines, maintained a benign phenotype, decreasing cell proliferation and migration, and stimulating cell adhesion. β-AR expression and cAMP levels were higher in MCF-10A than in MCF-7 cells. β₂-AR knock-down caused a significant increase of cell proliferation and migration, and a decrease of cell adhesion both in basal and in Iso-stimulated conditions. Coincidently, β₂-AR over-expression induced a significant decrease of cell proliferation and migration, and an increase of cell adhesion. Therefore, β₂-AR is implied in cell phenotype and its agonists or antagonists could eventually complement cancer therapy.

Stimulation of β2-adrenergic receptor increases CFTR function and decreases ATP levels in murine hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells

BackgroundThe chloride channel CFTR (Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator) is expressed by many cell types, including hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs). In this study, we sought to better comprehend the regulation of CFTR activity in HSPCs, namely by beta-adrenergic stimuli. MethodsThe expression of β2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR) in murine Sca-1+ HSPCs was investigated by immunofluorescence/confocal microscopy and flow-cytometric analysis. Association with CFTR was assessed by immunoprecipitation. HSPCs were evaluated for ATP content and CFTR activity by means of luminometric and spectrofluorometric methods, respectively, upon stimulation with salbutamol. ResultsHSPCs express β2-AR over the whole plasma membrane and are associated in cellula with both the immature and mature forms of CFTR. β2-AR was predominantly expressed by HSPCs with bigger size. CFTR channel activity was increased by salbutamol treatment and this activation was inhibited by either a specific CFTR inhibitor (CFTRinh172) or a β2-AR receptor inhibitor (ICI 118,551). Intracellular ATP levels were reduced by salbutamol stimulation and this effect was reversed when ICI 118,551 or CFTR inhibitors were present. A trend in the increase of extracellular ATP upon salbutamol stimulation was observed. ConclusionsIn HSPCs, CFTR is regulated by β2-adrenergic receptor stimulation determining intracellular ATP depletion.

Abstract 156: Involvement of β-adrenergic System in Myocardial Dysfunction Induced by Obesity

Several structural and functional changes of the heart have often been associated with human and experimental models of obesity. Some factors have been suggested as responsible for possible cardiac abnormalities in models of obesity, among them β-adrenergic system, an important mechanism of regulation of myocardial contraction and relaxation. The objetive of present study was to evaluate the . Thirty-day-old male Wistar rats were assigned to one of two groups: control (C) and obese (Ob). The C group was fed a standard diet and Ob group was fed cycles of four unsaturated high-fat diets for 15 weeks. The body fat was measured from the sum of the individual fat pad weights and the obesity was defined by adiposity index. Isolated papillary muscle preparation was performed under basal conditions and after inotropic and lusitropic maneuvers. β-adrenergic system was evaluated by using cumulative concentrations of isoproterenol and Western Blot. After 15 weeks, the Ob rats developed higher adiposity index than C rats. Obesity promoted comorbities such as glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, hyperleptinemia, and dyslipidemia; however, were not associated with changes in systolic blood pressure. The cardiac structure results post-death showed that obesity caused cardiac hypertrophy. Furthermore, Ob muscles developed similar baseline data, but myocardial responsiveness to post-rest contraction stimulus and increased extracellular Ca2+ was compromised. There were no changes in cardiac function between groups after β-adrenergic stimulation. The obesity was not accompanied by changes in protein expression of Gsα, β1 and β2 adrenergic receptors. In conclusion, the myorcardial dysfunction caused by unsaturated high-fat diet-induced obesity, after 15 weeks, is not related to β-adrenergic system impairment.

Adiponectin reduces thermogenesis by inhibiting brown adipose tissue activation in mice.

Adiponectin is an adipocyte-derived hormone that plays an important role in energy homeostasis. The main objective of this study was to investigate whether or not adiponectin regulates brown adipose tissue (BAT) activation and thermogenesis. Core body temperatures (CBTs) of genetic mouse models were monitored at room temperature and during cold exposure. Cultured brown adipocytes and viral vector-mediated gene transduction were used to study the regulatory effects of adiponectin on Ucp1 gene expression and the underlying mechanisms. The CBTs of adiponectin knockout mice (Adipoq(-/-)) were significantly higher than those of wild type (WT) mice both at room temperature and during the cold (4°C) challenge. Conversely, reconstitution of adiponectin in Adipoq(-/-) mice significantly blunted β adrenergic receptor agonist-induced thermogenesis of interscapular BAT. After 10 days of intermittent cold exposure, Adipoq(-/-) mice exhibited higher UCP1 expression and more brown-like structure in inguinal fat than WT mice. Paradoxically, we found that the anti-thermogenic effect of adiponectin requires neither AdipoR1 nor AdipoR2, two well-known adiponectin receptors. In sharp contrast to the anti-thermogenic effects of adiponectin, AdipoR1 and especially AdipoR2 promote BAT activation. Mechanistically, adiponectin was found to inhibit Ucp1 gene expression by suppressing β3-adrenergic receptor expression in brown adipocytes. This study demonstrates that adiponectin suppresses thermogenesis, which is likely to be a mechanism whereby adiponectin reduces energy expenditure.

Early postnatal maternal separation causes alterations in the expression of β3-adrenergic receptor in rat adipose tissue suggesting long-term influence on obesity

The effects of early postnatal maternal deprivation on the biological characteristics of the adipose tissue later in life were investigated in the present study. Sprague–Dawley rats were classified as either maternal deprivation (MD) or mother-reared control (MRC) groups. MD was achieved by separating the rat pups from their mothers for 3h each day during the 10–15 postnatal days. mRNA levels of mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP-1), β3-adrenergic receptor (β3-AR), and prohibitin (PHB) in the brown and white adipose tissue were determined using real-time RT-PCR analysis. UCP-1, which is mediated through β3-AR, is closely involved in the energy metabolism and expenditure. PHB is highly expressed in the proliferating tissues/cells. At 10weeks of age, the body weight of the MRC and MD rats was similar. However, the levels of the key molecules in the adipose tissue were substantially altered. There was a significant increase in the expression of PHB mRNA in the white adipose tissue, while the β3-AR mRNA expression decreased significantly, and the UCP-1 mRNA expression remained unchanged in the brown adipose tissue. Given that these molecules influence the mitochondrial metabolism, our study indicates that early postnatal maternal deprivation can influence the fate of adipose tissue proliferation, presumably leading to obesity later in life.

Comparison of immune and health markers in intact and neonatally castrated male pigs

Stress and sex hormones are known to regulate immune function. Castration of male piglets is used to avoid boar taint in the meat, but its consequences on immunity and health...

GW24-e3535 Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and myocardium β receptor expression for empirical study

ObjectivesThis experiment is to observe the chronic obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in dogs with the influence of cardiac structural remodelling and function,to discuss dog β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) expression level...

Shox2 is a molecular determinant of depot-specific adipocyte function

Visceral and s.c. fat exhibit different intrinsic properties, including rates of lipolysis, and are associated with differential risk for the development of type 2 diabetes. These effects are in part related to cell autonomous differences in gene expression. In the present study, we show that expression of Shox2 (Short stature homeobox 2) is higher in s.c. than visceral fat in both rodents and humans and that levels are further increased in humans with visceral obesity. Fat-specific disruption of Shox2 in male mice results in protection from high fat diet-induced obesity, with a preferential loss of s.c. fat. The reduced adipocyte size is secondary to a twofold increase in the expression of β3 adrenergic receptor (Adrb3) at both the mRNA and protein level and a parallel increase in lipolytic rate. These effects are mimicked by knockdown of Shox2 in C3H10T1/2 cells. Conversely, overexpression of Shox2 leads to a repression of Adrb3 expression and decrease lipolytic rate. Shox2 does not affect differentiation but directly interacts with CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha and attenuates its transcriptional activity of the Adrb3 promoter. Thus, Shox2 can regulate the expression of Adrb3 and control the rate of lipolysis and, in this way, exerts control of the phenotypic differences between visceral and s.c. adipocytes.

The effects of age and latent cytomegalovirus infection on the redeployment of CD8+ T cell subsets in response to acute exercise in humans

Dynamic exercise evokes a rapid redeployment of cytotoxic T cell subsets with high expression of β2 adrenergic receptors, presumably to enhance immunosurveillance during acute stress. As this response is affected by age and infection history, this study examined latent CMV infection as a potential confounder to age-related differences in blood CD8+ T-cell responses to exercise. Healthy young (n=16) and older (n=16) humans counterbalanced by CMV IgG serostatus (positive or negative) exercised for 30-min at ∼80% peak cycling power. Those with CMV redeployed ∼2-times more CD8+ T-cells and ∼6-times more KLRG1+/CD28- and CD45RA+/CCR7- CD8+ subsets than non-infected exercisers. Seronegative older exercisers had an impaired redeployment of total CD8+ T-cells, CD45RA+/CCR7+ and KLRG1-/CD28+ CD8+ subsets compared to young. Redeployed CD8+ T-cell numbers were similar between infected young and old. CMVpp65 specific CD8+ cells in HLA/A2(∗) subjects increased ∼2.7-fold after exercise, a response that was driven by the KLRG1+/CD28-/CD8+ subset. Stimulating PBMCs before and after exercise with CMVpp65 and CMV IE-1 antigens and overlapping peptide pools revealed a 2.1 and 4.4-fold increases in CMVpp65 and CMV IE-1 IFN-γ secreting cells respectively. The breadth of the T cell response was maintained after exercise with the magnitude of the response being amplified across the entire epitope repertoire. To conclude, latent CMV infection overrides age-related impairments in CD8+ T-cell redeployment with exercise. We also show for the first time that many T-cells redeployed with exercise are specific to CMVpp65 and CMV IE-1 antigens, have broad epitope specificity, and are mostly of a high-differentiated effector memory phenotype.

Epidermal adrenergic signaling contributes to inflammation and pain sensitization in a rat model of complex regional pain syndrome

In many patients, the sympathetic nervous system supports pain and other features of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Accumulating evidence suggests that interleukin (IL)-6 also plays a role in CRPS, and that catecholamines stimulate production of IL-6 in several tissues. We hypothesized that norepinephrine acting through specific adrenergic receptors expressed on keratinocytes stimulates the production of IL-6 and leads to nociceptive sensitization in a rat tibial fracture/cast model of CRPS. Our approach involved catecholamine depletion using 6-hydroxydopamine or, alternatively, guanethidine, to explore sympathetic contributions. Both agents substantially reduced nociceptive sensitization and selectively reduced the production of IL-6 in skin. Antagonism of IL-6 signaling using TB-2-081 also reduced sensitization in this model. Experiments using a rat keratinocyte cell line demonstrated relatively high levels of β2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR) expression. Stimulation of this receptor greatly enhanced IL-6 expression when compared to the expression of IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, or nerve growth factor. Stimulation of the cells also promoted phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases P38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and c-Jun amino-terminal kinase. Based on these in vitro results, we returned to animal testing and observed that the selective β2-AR antagonist butoxamine reduced nociceptive sensitization in the CRPS model, and that local injection of the selective β2-AR agonist terbutaline resulted in mechanical allodynia and the production of IL-6 in the cells of the skin. No increases in IL-1β, TNF-α, or nerve growth factor levels were seen, however. These data suggest that in CRPS, norepinephrine released from sympathetic nerve terminals stimulates β2-ARs expressed on epidermal keratinocytes, resulting in local IL-6 production, and ultimately, pain sensitization.

β-Adrenergic receptor expression in vascular tumors

Propranolol has recently emerged as an effective therapy for infantile hemangiomas causing regression. The β-adrenergic receptor (AR) antagonist is thought to cause vasoconstriction by its effect on nitric oxide, block angiogenesis by its effect on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and induce apoptosis. In a prior report, we identified expression of β2-AR (B2-AR) and its phosphorylated form (B2-ARP) in a case of infantile hemangioma that responded to propranolol treatment. We now explore the expression of βARs on a variety of vascular lesions utilizing a tissue microarray containing 141 lesions, including infantile hemangiomas, angiosarcomas, hemangiomas, hemangioendotheliomas, and various vascular malformations. The array was immunostained for B2-AR, B2-ARP, and β3-AR (B3-AR), and the results scored for the intensity of endothelial cell expression as negative, weak positive, or strong positive. All phases of infantile hemangiomas had strong expression of all three receptors, with the exception of only weak expression of B2-ARP in the proliferative phase infantile hemangioma. Strong expression of all three receptors was present in many hemangiomas, hemangioendotheliomas, and vascular malformations. Absent to weak expression of all three receptors was seen in glomus tumor, hobnail hemangioendothelioma, pyogenic granuloma, and reactive vascular proliferations. This is the first study to report β-AR expression in a variety of vascular lesions. Although immunohistochemical expression of the receptors does not necessarily indicate that similar pathways of responsiveness to β-blockade are present, it does raises the possibility that β-blockade could potentially affect apoptosis and decrease responsiveness to VEGF. Additional study is warranted, as therapeutic options are limited for some patients with these lesions.

Upregulation of β3-Adrenergic Receptor Expression in the Atrium of Rats With Chronic Heart Failure

To investigate the expression of β(3)-adrenergic receptor (β(3)-AR) in the atrium of rats with chronic heart failure (CHF). The heart failure rat model was established by aortic constriction. Thirty-six male Wistar rats were divided into Sham group (n = 10) and heart failure model group (n = 26), which were further divided into CHF control (CHF group) and BRL group. The rats in the BRL group were treated with a selective β(3)-AR agonist, BRL-37344 (4.0 nmol/kg, twice weekly) for 4 weeks. In the BRL group, the left ventricular end-systolic pressure (83.21 ± 13.0 vs 101.50 ± 12.12 mm Hg) and the absolute values of the maximal rate of rise and fall of left ventricular pressure ([±dP/dtmax] 2.81 ± 0.04 vs 0.35 ± 0.04 and -2.72 ± 0.06 vs -3.33 ± 0.06) were lower than in the CHF group (P < .01). The left atrial mass index (LAMI) in the BRL group (0.4132 ± 0.0306) was higher than that in the CHF (0.3212 ± 0.0136) or Sham group (0.2683 ± 0.0145; P < .01). The levels of the left atrial β(3)-AR messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in the BRL group (0.932 ± 0.055) was higher than that in the CHF (0.706 ± 0.043) or Sham group (0.310 ± 0.020; P < .01). In all animals, there was a positive correlation between the level of β(3)-AR mRNA expression and the left or right atrial mass index (correlation coefficient ranged from 0.744 to 0.937). There is a significant increase in the β(3)-AR mRNA expression in the atrium of rats with heart failure. The level of β(3)-AR mRNA expression was associated with the AMI and was enhanced by a selective β(3)-AR agonist, BRL-37344.