title: Beta3-adrenoceptors in urinary bladder.
abstract: The beta-adrenoceptor (AR) is currently classified into beta(1), beta(2), and beta(3) subtypes. A third subtype, beta(3)-AR, was first identified in adipose tissue, but has also been identified in smooth muscle tissue, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract and urinary bladder smooth muscle. There is a predominant expression of beta(3)-AR messenger RNA (mRNA) in human bladder, with 97% of total beta-AR mRNA being represented by the beta(3)-AR subtype and only 1.5 and 1.4% by the beta(1)-AR and beta (2)-AR subtypes, respectively. Moreover, the presence of beta(1)-, beta(2)-, and beta(3)-AR mRNAs in the urothelium of human bladder has been identified. The distribution of beta-AR subtypes mediating detrusor muscle relaxation is species dependent, the predominant subtype being the beta(3)-AR in humans. Recent studies have suggested that cAMP-dependent routes are not exclusive mechanisms triggering the beta-AR-mediated relaxation of smooth muscle. It has been demonstrated in rats detrusor muscle that cAMP plays a greater role in beta-adrenergic relaxation against basal tone than against KCl-induced tone and that conversely calcium-activated K(+) channels (BKca channels) play a greater role under the latter circumstances. In rat models, beta(3)-AR agonists increase bladder capacity without influencing bladder contraction and have only weak cardiovascular side effects. Although this evidence points toward the clinical utility of beta(3)-AR agonists as therapy for overactive bladder (OAB), pharmacological differences exist between rat and human beta(3)-ARs. Development of compounds with high selectivity for the human beta(3)-AR, identified by screening techniques using cell lines transfected with the human beta(1)-, beta(2)-, and beta(3)-AR genes, may mitigate against such problems. The association between the tryptophan 64 arginine polymorphism in the beta(3)-AR gene and idiopathic OAB is discussed.
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Christopher R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Chapple
mesh_terms: D018678:Cholinergic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D022702:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-3 / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D053201:Urinary Bladder, Overactive / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D018678:Cholinergic Agents; D022702:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-3