Role of β3-adrenergic receptors in the action of a tumour lipid mobilizing factor

Induction of lipolysis in murine white adipocytes, and stimulation of adenylate cyclase in adipocyte plasma membranes, by a tumour-produced lipid mobilizing factor, was attenuated by low concentrations (10^-7-10^-5M) of the specific β3-adrenoceptor antagonist SR59230A. Lipid mobilizing factor (250 nM) produced comparable increases in intracellular cyclic AMP in CHOKI cells transfected with the human β3-adrenoceptor to that obtained with isoprenaline (1 nM). In both cases cyclic AMP production was attenuated by SR59230A confirming that the effect is mediated through a β3-adrenoceptor. A non-linear regression analysis of binding of lipid mobilizing factor to the β3-adrenoceptor showed a high affinity binding site with a Kd value 78±45 nM and a B_max value (282±1 fmole mg protein^-1) comparable with that of other β3-adrenoceptor agonists. These results suggest that lipid mobilizing factor induces lipolysis through binding to a β3-adrenoceptor. © 2002 The Cancer Research Campaign.