Neurotransmitter Switching Coupled to β-Adrenergic Signaling in Sympathetic Neurons in Prehypertensive States

Bardsley EN., Davis H., Buckler KJ., Paterson DJ.

Single or combinatorial administration of β-blockers is a mainstay treatment strategy for conditions caused by sympathetic overactivity. Conventional wisdom suggests that the main beneficial effect of β-blockers includes resensitization and restoration of β1-adrenergic signaling pathways in the myocardium, improvements in cardiomyocyte contractility, and reversal of ventricular sensitization. However, emerging evidence indicates that another beneficial effect of β-blockers in disease may reside in sympathetic neurons. We investigated whether β-adrenoceptors are present on postganglionic sympathetic neurons and facilitate neurotransmission in a feed-forward manner. Using a combination of immunocytochemistry, RNA sequencing, Förster resonance energy transfer, and intracellular Ca2+ imaging, we demonstrate the presence of β-adrenoceptors on presynaptic sympathetic neurons in both human and rat stellate ganglia. In diseased neurons from the prehypertensive rat, there was enhanced β-adrenoceptor-mediated signaling predominantly via β2-adrenoceptor activation. Moreover, in human and rat neurons, we identified the presence of the epinephrine-synthesizing enzyme PNMT (phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase). Using high-pressure liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection, we measured greater epinephrine content and evoked release from the prehypertensive rat cardiac-stellate ganglia. We conclude that neurotransmitter switching resulting in enhanced epinephrine release, may provide presynaptic positive feedback on β-adrenoceptors to promote further release, that leads to greater postsynaptic excitability in disease, before increases in arterial blood pressure. Targeting neuronal β-adrenoceptor downstream signaling could provide therapeutic opportunity to minimize end-organ damage caused by sympathetic overactivity.

DOI

10.1161/hypertensionaha.118.10844

Type

Journal article

Publisher

American Heart Association

Publication Date

2018-06-01T00:00:00+00:00

Volume

71

Pages

1226 - 1238

Total pages

12

Addresses

From the Wellcome Trust OXION Initiative in Ion Channels and Disease, Burdon Sanderson Cardiac Science Centre, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, United Kingdom. emma.bardsley@dpag.ox.ac.uk david.paterson@dpag.ox.ac.uk.

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