β1AR is the predominant receptor subtype expressed in human cardiomyocytes. β1AR is also expressed in the kidney3. It has been implicated in adipogenesis and memory formation.β1AR has been widely connected with heart disease. Both the downregulation and overstimulation of β1AR have been connected to myocyte apoptosis. In addition chronic heart failure is characterized by abnormalities in β1AR signal transduction. It was demonstrated that heart failure is also inducible in animal models by overexpression of components of the β1AR signal transduction cascade. Transgenic mice overexpressing β1AR develop, with aging, heart failure similar to that observed in dilated cardiomyopathy in humans.
