β-blockers Reverse Agonist-Induced β(2)-AR Downregulation Regardless of Their Signaling Profile

Altered β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) density has been reported in cells, animals, and humans receiving β-blocker treatment. In some cases, β-AR density is upregulated, but in others, it is unaffected or even reduced. Collectively, these results would imply that changes in β-AR density and β-blockade are not related. However, it has still not been clarified whether the effects of β-blockers on receptor density are related to their ability to activate different β-AR signaling pathways. To this aim, five clinically relevant β-blockers endowed with inverse, partial or biased agonism at the β(2)-AR were evaluated for their effects on β(2)-AR density in both human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells expressing exogenous FLAG-tagged human β(2)-ARs and human lymphocytes expressing endogenous β(2)-ARs. Cell surface β(2)-AR density was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and flow cytometry. Treatment with propranolol, carvedilol, pindolol, sotalol, or timolol did not induce any significant change in surface β(2)-AR density in both HEK293 cells and human lymphocytes. On the contrary, treatment with the β-AR agonist isoproterenol reduced the number of cell surface β(2)-ARs in the tested cell types without affecting β(2)-AR-mRNA levels. Isoproterenol-induced effects on receptor density were completely antagonized by β-blocker treatment. In conclusion, the agonistic activity of β-blockers does not exert an important effect on short-term regulation of β(2)-AR density.