Signaling and function of cardiac autonomic nervous system receptors: Insights from the GPCR signalling universe

The two branches of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), adrenergic and cholinergic, exert a multitude of effects on the human myocardium thanks to the activation of distinct G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) expressed on the plasma membranes of cardiac myocytes, cardiac fibroblasts, and coronary vascular endothelial cells. Norepinephrine (NE)/epinephrine (Epi) and acetylcholine (ACh) are released from cardiac ANS terminals and mediate the biological actions of the ANS on the heart via stimulation of cardiac adrenergic or muscarinic receptors, respectively. In addition, several other neurotransmitters/hormones act as facilitators of ANS neurotransmission in the heart, taking part in the so-called nonadrenergic noncholinergic (NANC) part of the ANS's control of cardiac function. These NANC mediators also use several different cell membrane-residing GPCRs to exert their effects in the myocardium. Cardiac ANS dysfunction and an imbalance between the activities of its two branches underlie a variety of cardiovascular diseases, from heart failure and hypertension to coronary artery disease, myocardial ischemia, and arrhythmias. In this review, we present the main well-established signaling modalities used by cardiac autonomic GPCRs, including receptors for salient NANC mediators, and we also highlight the latest developments pertaining to cardiac cell type-specific signal transduction, resulting in cell type-specific cardiac effects of each of these autonomic receptors.

Automated summary

The autonomic nervous system exerts its effects on the human myocardium through distinct G protein-coupled receptors on the plasma membranes of cardiac cells. Neurotransmitters like NE/Epi and ACh mediate these effects by activating specific adrenergic or muscarinic receptors. Other neurotransmitters/hormones also play a role in regulating cardiac function by utilizing different GPCRs in the heart.