MicroRNAs (miRs) are small, noncoding RNAs that function to post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression. First transcribed as long primary miR transcripts (pri-miRs), they are enzymatically processed in the nucleus by Drosha into hairpin intermediate miRs (pre-miRs) and further processed in the cytoplasm by Dicer into mature miRs where they regulate cellular processes after activation by a variety of signals such as those stimulated by β-adrenergic receptors (βARs). Initially discovered to desensitize βAR signaling, β-arrestins are now appreciated to transduce multiple effector pathways independent of G-protein–mediated second messenger accumulation, a concept known as biased signaling. We previously showed that the β-arrestin–biased βAR agonist, carvedilol, activates cellular pathways in the heart.

Here, we tested whether carvedilol could activate β-arrestin–mediated miR maturation, thereby providing a novel potential mechanism for its cardioprotective effects.

In human cells and mouse hearts, carvedilol upregulates a subset of mature and pre-miRs, but not their pri-miRs, in β₁AR-, G-protein–coupled receptor kinase 5/6–, and β-arrestin1–dependent manner. Mechanistically, β-arrestin1 regulates miR processing by forming a nuclear complex with hnRNPA1 and Drosha on pri-miRs.

Our findings indicate a novel function for β₁AR-mediated β-arrestin1 signaling activated by carvedilol in miR biogenesis, which may be linked, in part, to its mechanism for cell survival.