title: Pathophysiological relevance of the cardiac β2-adrenergic receptor and its potential as a therapeutic target to improve cardiac function.
abstract: β-adrenoceptors are members of the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily which play a key role in the regulation of myocardial function. Their activation increases cardiac performance but can also induce deleterious effects such as cardiac arrhythmias or myocardial apoptosis. In fact, inhibition of β-adrenoceptors exerts a protective effect in patients with sympathetic over-stimulation during heart failure. Although β(2)-adrenoceptor is not the predominant subtype in the heart, it seems to importantly contribute to the cardiac effects of adrenergic stimulation; however, the mechanism by which this occurs is not fully understood. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the role of β(2)-adrenoceptors in the regulation of cardiac contractility, metabolism, cardiomyocyte survival and cardiac arrhythmias. In addition, therapeutic considerations relating to stimulation of the β(2)-adrenoceptor such as an increase in cardiac contractility with low arrythmogenic effect, protection of the myocardium again apoptosis or positive regulation of heart metabolism are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50/70, Basel 4056, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Joaquín
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pérez-Schindler
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Philp
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hernandez-Cascales
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2