Noradrenaline induces brown adipocytes cell growth via beta-receptors by a mechanism dependent on ERKs but independent of cAMP and PKA.

It has been well established that the key role of noradrenaline is the induction of uncoupling-protein-1 (UCP-1) expression, the unique marker of brown adipocytes. However, its implication on proliferation and the pathways involved are not as well characterized. By using rat fetal brown adipocytes as a model, we show that, although noradrenaline activates extracellular regulated kinases (ERKs) through beta-, alpha1-, and alpha2-receptors, only beta-receptors mediate cell growth by a mechanism that requires ERKs activation but is independent of cyclic-adenosine-monophosphate/protein kinase A (cAMP/PKA). Conversely, the cAMP/PKA cascade mediates noradrenaline-induced UCP-1 expression, whereas ERKs pathway attenuates thermogenic differentiation. On the other hand, alpha1- and alpha2-receptors have an antiproliferative effect that is enhanced by ERK inhibition. Copyright 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.