β-Adrenergic receptor

β-Adrenergic receptor expression in vascular tumors (22743651)

Propranolol has recently emerged as an effective therapy for infantile hemangiomas causing regression.

The β-adrenergic receptor (AR) antagonist is thought to cause vasoconstriction by its effect on nitric oxide, block angiogenesis by its effect on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and induce apoptosis.

The expression of β2-AR (B2-AR) and its phosphorylated form (B2-ARP) have been identified in a case of infantile hemangioma that responded to propranolol treatment.

Although immunohistochemical expression of the receptors does not necessarily indicate that similar pathways of responsiveness to β-blockade are present, it does raises the possibility that β-blockade could potentially affect apoptosis and decrease responsiveness to VEGF.