The mechanism of 25-hydroxycholesterol-mediated suppression of atrial β1-adrenergic responses

25-Hydroxycholesterol (25HC) is a biologically active oxysterol, whose production greatly increases during inflammation by macrophages and dendritic cells. The inflammatory reactions are frequently accompanied by changes in heart regulation, such as blunting of the cardiac β-adrenergic receptor (AR) signaling. Here, the mechanism of 25HC-dependent modulation of responses to β-AR activation was studied in the atria of mice. 25HC at the submicromolar levels decreased the β-AR-mediated positive inotropic effect and enhancement of the Ca²⁺ transient amplitude, without changing NO production. Positive inotropic responses to β1-AR (but not β2-AR) activation were markedly attenuated by 25HC. The depressant action of 25HC on the β1-AR-mediated responses was prevented by selective β3-AR antagonists as well as inhibitors of G_i protein, Gβγ, G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2/3, or β-arrestin. Simultaneously, blockers of protein kinase D and C as well as a phosphodiesterase inhibitor did not preclude the negative action of 25HC on the inotropic response to β-AR activation. Thus, 25HC can suppress the β1-AR-dependent effects via engaging β3-AR, Gi protein, Gβγ, G protein-coupled receptor kinase, and β-arrestin. This 25HC-dependent mechanism can contribute to the inflammatory-related alterations in the atrial β-adrenergic signaling.