ADRB2 and heart failure: Given the life-prolonging effect of heart failure treatment with β-AR antagonists, one might speculate that the reduced ICaL response to β-adrenergic stimulation observed in human and murine heart failure (Schröder et al. 1998; Muth et al. 1999; Groner et al. 2004; Foerster et al. 2004; Chen et al. 2008; Beetz et al. 2009) is a protective mechanism, albeit insufficient or decompensating in the long term.