Background:
Beta-adrenergic receptors are expressed in cardiomyocytes and activated
by either noradrenaline released from sympathetic synapses or circulating catecholamines. Their
corresponding receptors have three subtypes, namely, β1, β2 and β3, which are members of the G
protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) family. Activation of β1-adrenergic receptors causes various
physiological reactions including cardiac contraction and renin secretion from juxtaglomerular cells
of the kidney. Antagonists of β-adrenergic receptors, known as β-blockers, have been used effectively
for over four decades and have beneficial effects in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
There are three generations of β-blockers according to their pharmacological properties. Firstgeneration
β-blockers are non-selective, blocking both β1- and β2-receptors; second-generation β-
blockers are more cardioselective in that they are more selective for β1-receptors; and thirdgeneration
β-blockers are highly selective drugs for β1-receptors. The latter also display vasodilator
actions by blocking α1-adrenoreceptors and activating β3-adrenergic receptors. In addition, thirdgeneration
β-blockers exhibit angiogenic, antioxidant, anti-proliferative, anti-hypertrophic and antiapoptotic
activities among other effects that are still under investigation.
Conclusion:
The objective of this review is to describe the evolution observed during the development
of the three distinctive generations, thereby highlighting the advantages of third-generation β-
blockers over the other two drug classes.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.