Sympathetic β1-adrenergic signaling contributes to regulation of human bone metabolism

Sundeep Khosla, Matthew T. Drake, Tammie L. Volkman, Brianne S. Thicke, Sara J. Achenbach, Elizabeth J. Atkinson, Michael J. Joyner, Clifford J. Rosen, David G. Monroe, Joshua N. Farr

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND. Evidence from rodent studies indicates that the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) regulates bone metabolism, principally via β2-adrenergic receptors (β2-ARs). Given the conflicting human data, we used multiple approaches to evaluate the role of the SNS in regulating human bone metabolism. METHODS. Bone biopsies were obtained from 19 young and 19 elderly women for assessment of ADRB1, ADRB2, and ADRB3 mRNA expression. We examined the relationship of β-blocker use to bone microarchitecture by high-resolution peripheral quantitative CT in a population sample of 248 subjects. A total of 155 postmenopausal women were randomized to 1 of 5 treatment groups for 20 weeks: placebo; propranolol, 20 mg b.i.d.; propranolol, 40 mg b.i.d.; atenolol, 50 mg/day; or nebivolol, 5 mg/day. We took advantage of the β1-AR selectivity gradient of these drugs (propranolol [nonselective] atenolol [relatively β1-AR selective] < nebivolol [highly β1-AR selective]) to define the β-AR selectivity for SNS effects on bone. RESULTS. ADRB1 and ADRB2, but not ADRB3, were expressed in human bone; patients treated clinically with β1-AR-selective blockers had better bone microarchitecture than did nonusers, and relative to placebo, atenolol and nebivolol, but not propranolol, reduced the bone resorption marker serum C-telopeptide of type I collagen (by 19.5% and 20.6%, respectively; P < 0.01) and increased bone mineral density of the ultradistal radius (by 3.6% and 2.9%; P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS. These 3 independent lines of evidence strongly support a role for adrenergic signaling in the regulation of bone metabolism in humans, principally via β1-ARs. TRIAL REGISTRATION. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02467400.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4832-4842
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation
Volume128
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1 2018

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Sympathetic β1-adrenergic signaling contributes to regulation of human bone metabolism'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this