title: Number of beta-receptors in patients allergic to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus.
abstract: This study was carried out on 96 atopic patients with monosensitization against Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and 30 control individuals. The patients were divided into 3 subgroups: 27 asymptomatic patients, 27 patients who only presented nasal symptomatology, and 27 patients with marked bronchial symptomatology. Total serum IgE, antigen-specific histamine release, and the number of beta 2-adrenergic receptors in peripheral blood lymphocytes in all patients were determined. The control group presented the highest number of beta-receptors in comparison with the bronchial symptomatic and nasal symptomatic patients. However, asymptomatic patients presented numbers of beta-receptors similar to controls, with no significant differences between both groups. No significant correlation was found between beta-adrenergic receptors and levels of total serum IgE. On the other hand, correlation between beta-receptors and specific histamine release was detected only in symptomatic nasal patients. It can be postulated that the decrease in beta-receptors is a consequence, and not the cause, of atopy.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Alergología e Inmunología Clínica, Clínica Universitaria, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Gamboa
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Sanz
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: de la Cuesta
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oehling
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006636:Histamine Release; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008925:Mites / Q000276:immunology*; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D007073:Immunoglobulin E