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The β-arrestin-biased β-adrenergic receptor blocker carvedilol enhances skeletal muscle contractility.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Kim, J; Grotegut, CA; Wisler, JW; Mao, L; Rosenberg, PB; Rockman, HA; Lefkowitz, RJ
Published in: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
June 2, 2020

A decrease in skeletal muscle strength and functional exercise capacity due to aging, frailty, and muscle wasting poses major unmet clinical needs. These conditions are associated with numerous adverse clinical outcomes including falls, fractures, and increased hospitalization. Clenbuterol, a β2-adrenergic receptor (β2AR) agonist enhances skeletal muscle strength and hypertrophy; however, its clinical utility is limited by side effects such as cardiac arrhythmias mediated by G protein signaling. We recently reported that clenbuterol-induced increases in contractility and skeletal muscle hypertrophy were lost in β-arrestin 1 knockout mice, implying that arrestins, multifunctional adapter and signaling proteins, play a vital role in mediating the skeletal muscle effects of β2AR agonists. Carvedilol, classically defined as a βAR antagonist, is widely used for the treatment of chronic systolic heart failure and hypertension, and has been demonstrated to function as a β-arrestin-biased ligand for the β2AR, stimulating β-arrestin-dependent but not G protein-dependent signaling. In this study, we investigated whether treatment with carvedilol could enhance skeletal muscle strength via β-arrestin-dependent pathways. In a murine model, we demonstrate chronic treatment with carvedilol, but not other β-blockers, indeed enhances contractile force in skeletal muscle and this is mediated by β-arrestin 1. Interestingly, carvedilol enhanced skeletal muscle contractility despite a lack of effect on skeletal muscle hypertrophy. Our findings suggest a potential unique clinical role of carvedilol to stimulate skeletal muscle contractility while avoiding the adverse effects with βAR agonists. This distinctive signaling profile could present an innovative approach to treating sarcopenia, frailty, and secondary muscle wasting.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

DOI

EISSN

1091-6490

Publication Date

June 2, 2020

Volume

117

Issue

22

Start / End Page

12435 / 12443

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • beta-Arrestin 1
  • Muscle, Skeletal
  • Muscle Contraction
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice
  • Male
  • Female
  • Carvedilol
  • Animals
  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
 

Citation

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Kim, J., Grotegut, C. A., Wisler, J. W., Mao, L., Rosenberg, P. B., Rockman, H. A., & Lefkowitz, R. J. (2020). The β-arrestin-biased β-adrenergic receptor blocker carvedilol enhances skeletal muscle contractility. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 117(22), 12435–12443. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1920310117
Kim, Jihee, Chad A. Grotegut, James W. Wisler, Lan Mao, Paul B. Rosenberg, Howard A. Rockman, and Robert J. Lefkowitz. “The β-arrestin-biased β-adrenergic receptor blocker carvedilol enhances skeletal muscle contractility.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 117, no. 22 (June 2, 2020): 12435–43. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1920310117.
Kim J, Grotegut CA, Wisler JW, Mao L, Rosenberg PB, Rockman HA, et al. The β-arrestin-biased β-adrenergic receptor blocker carvedilol enhances skeletal muscle contractility. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020 Jun 2;117(22):12435–43.
Kim, Jihee, et al. “The β-arrestin-biased β-adrenergic receptor blocker carvedilol enhances skeletal muscle contractility.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, vol. 117, no. 22, June 2020, pp. 12435–43. Pubmed, doi:10.1073/pnas.1920310117.
Kim J, Grotegut CA, Wisler JW, Mao L, Rosenberg PB, Rockman HA, Lefkowitz RJ. The β-arrestin-biased β-adrenergic receptor blocker carvedilol enhances skeletal muscle contractility. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020 Jun 2;117(22):12435–12443.
Journal cover image

Published In

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

DOI

EISSN

1091-6490

Publication Date

June 2, 2020

Volume

117

Issue

22

Start / End Page

12435 / 12443

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • beta-Arrestin 1
  • Muscle, Skeletal
  • Muscle Contraction
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice
  • Male
  • Female
  • Carvedilol
  • Animals
  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists