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OBJECTIVESThis study was designed to investigate whether the adrenergic signal transduction in the lung and the responsiveness of airway smooth muscle to adrenergic stimulation are modulated in congestive heart failure.BACKGROUNDWheezing and airway hyperresponsiveness are often present in heart failure. In the failing heart, chronic adrenergic stimulation down-regulates beta-adrenergic receptors and adenylyl cyclase. We hypothesized that airway dysfunction in heart failure could be due to a similar modulation of pulmonary adrenergic signal transduction.METHODSHeart failure was induced in rats by aortic banding, resulting in increases in plasma norepinephrine, lung wet weight indicating congestion and left ventricular end diastolic pressure after four weeks. Beta-receptor densities in pulmonary plasma membranes were measured by radioligand binding using [125I]iodocyanopindolol. The G protein levels were determined by Western blot. Adenylyl cyclase activities in lung membranes were quantified as [32P]cAMP (cyclic adenosine-5′-monophosphate) synthesis rate. To functionally assess airway smooth muscle relaxation, carbachol-precontracted isolated tracheal strips were used.RESULTSBeta-receptor density was significantly decreased in heart failure from 771 ± 89 to 539 ± 44 fmol/mg protein without changes in receptor affinities. The beta1-/beta2-subtype ratio, however, remained constant. The Giαand Gsαprotein expression was unchanged. Adenylyl cyclase activity stimulated directly with forskolin was decreased by 28%. Relaxation of tracheal strips in response to isoproterenol and forskolin, but not to papaverin, was diminished by 30%.CONCLUSIONSIn heart failure, the down-regulation of pulmonary beta-receptors and concomitant decrease in adenylyl cyclase activity result in a significant attenuation of cAMP-mediated airway relaxation. These mechanisms may play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of “cardiac asthma.”