title: Stimulation of beta 2-adrenergic receptors suppresses sterol synthesis in human mononuclear leukocytes.
abstract: The beta-adrenergic receptor mediating the inhibition of sterol synthesis by catecholamines in freshly isolated human mononuclear leukocytes was defined pharmacologically by using selective beta 1- and beta 2-agonists and -antagonists. Incubation of cells for 6 h in a medium containing lipid-depleted serum resulted in a 3-fold increase in the incorporation of [14C]acetate or tritiated water into sterols. The beta-agonist (-)-isoproterenol was approximately equipotent with (-)-epinephrine and (-)-norepinephrine in suppressing sterol synthesis, yielding a sigmoidal log-dose-effect curve. Accordingly, the effects of the catecholamines were reversed by the beta-antagonist (+/-)-propranolol. The beta 2-agonists terbutaline and salbutamol inhibited sterol synthesis by 42 and 26%, respectively, at a concentration of 0.1 mmol/l. Contrary to that, the beta 1-agonists prenalterol and dobutamine had no effect. In accordance with the influence of the agonists, the beta 2-antagonist butoxamine, but not the beta 1-antagonists atenolol, metoprolol and practolol, reversed the catecholamine action on sterol synthesis. The results provide evidence that catecholamines may regulate sterol synthesis by stimulating beta 2-adrenergic receptors.
mesh_terms: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000502:physiology*; D013261:Sterols / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D013261:Sterols