The cardiac beta2-adrenergic signalling a new role for the cPLA2.

The cardiac actions of catecholamines have long been attributed to the predominant beta(1)-AR subtype that couples to the classical Gs/AC/cAMP pathway. Recent research clearly indicates that cardiac beta(2)-ARs play a functional role in healthy heart and assume increasing importance in failing and aged heart. beta(2)-ARs are primarily coupled to an atypical compartmentalized cAMP pathway, regulated by phosphorylation and/or oligomerization of beta(2)-ARs, and under the control of additional beta(2)-AR/Gi-coupled lipidic pathways, the impact of which seems to vary depending on the animal species, the developmental and pathophysiological state. This review focuses, more especially, on one of the last identified beta(2)-AR/Gi pathway, namely the cPLA(2).