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Abstract. Abnormalities in the ␤ 2 -adrenergic control of organ function have been implicated in the pathogenesis of several disease states, such as septic shock. The objectives of the present study were to define the contribution of ␤ 2 -adrenoceptors (␤ 2 -AR) to normal renal physiology and to investigate whether overexpression of renal ␤ 2 -AR might be potentially beneficial in preventing progressive renal damage associated with endotoxemia. Adenoviral transgenes containing the human ␤ 2 -AR (Adeno-␤ 2 -AR) were constructed and delivered into the rat kidney by means of intraparenchymal injections.

A biphasic effect of beta2-adrenoceptor agonist on IL-6 production in renal resident macrophage cells became apparent when LPS was exposed to the cells. The terbutaline-induced down-regulation of IL-6 gene production was mediated by an inhibitory effect of terbutaline on TNF-alpha, which was exerted through the MAPK and cAMP pathways, whereas the up-regulation appeared to be due to a direct action of intracellular cAMP.

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