A polymorphism within a conserved β₁-adrenergic receptor motif alters cardiac function and β-blocker response in human heart failure

Heterogeneity of heart failure (HF) phenotypes indicates contributions from underlying common polymorphisms. We considered polymorphisms in the β₁-adrenergic receptor (β₁AR), a β-blocker target, as candidate pharmacogenomic loci. Transfected cells, genotyped human nonfailing and failing ventricles, and a clinical trial were used to ascertain phenotype and mechanism. In non-failing and failing isolated ventricles, β₁-Arg-389 had respective 2.8 ± 0.3- and 4.3 ± 2.1-fold greater agonist-promoted contractility vs. β₁-Gly-389, defining enhanced physiologic coupling under relevant conditions of endogenous expression and HF. The β-blocker bucindolol was an inverse agonist in failing Arg, but not Gly, ventricles, without partial agonist activity at either receptor; carvedilol was a genotype-independent neutral antagonist. In transfected cells, bucindolol antagonized agonist-stimulated cAMP, with a greater absolute decrease observed for Arg-389 (435 ± 80 vs. 115 ± 23 fmol per well). Potential pathophysiologic correlates were assessed in a placebo-controlled trial of bucindolol in 1,040 HF patients. No outcome was associated with genotype in the placebo group, indicating little impact on the natural course of HF. However, the Arg-389 homozygotes treated with bucindolol had an age-, sex-, and race-adjusted 38% reduction in mortality (P = 0.03) and 34% reduction in mortality or hospitalisation (P = 0.004) vs. placebo. In contrast, Gly-389 carriers had no clinical response to bucindolol compared with placebo. Those with Arg-389 and high baseline norepinephrine levels trended toward improved survival, but no advantage with this allele and exaggerated sympatholysis was identified. We conclude that β₁AR-389 variation alters signaling in multiple models and affects the β-blocker therapeutic response in HF and, thus, might be used to individualize treatment of the syndrome.