β Receptors: role in cardiometabolic disorders

• Main Authors: Shraddha V. Bhadada, Bhoomika M. Patel, Anita A. Mehta, Ramesh K. Goyal
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publishing 2011-04-01
• Series: Therapeutic Advances in Endocrinology and Metabolism
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1177/2042018810390259

Pharmacological and molecular approaches have shown that an atypical β-adrenoceptor (AR), called β 3 -AR, that is distinct from β 1 -ARs and β 2 -ARs, exists in some tissues in heterogeneous populations such as β 3a -ARs and β 3b -ARs. β 3 -ARs belong to a superfamily of receptors linked to guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G proteins). The β 3 -AR gene contains two introns whereas the β 1 -AR and β 2 -AR genes are intronless, leading to splice variants. β 3 -ARs can couple to G i and G s and they are reported to be present in brown adipose tissue, vasculature, the heart, among other tissues. β 3 -ARs cause vasodilation of microvessels in the islets of Langerhans and may participate in the pathogenesis of cardiac failure, during which modification of β 1 -AR and β 2 -AR expression occurs. The development of β 3 -AR agonists has led to the elaboration of promising new drugs, including antiobesity and antidiabetic drugs. This article reviews the various pharmacological actions of β 3 -ARs and their clinical implications for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.