title: Plasma histamine, epinephrine, cortisol, and leukocyte beta-adrenergic receptors in nocturnal asthma.
abstract: Plasma histamine, cortisol, epinephrine, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), and leukocyte beta-adrenergic receptors were measured in asthmatic patients with (n = 7) and without (n = 10) nocturnal asthma at 4 PM and 4 AM and compared with those of normal subjects (n = 10). A twofold higher plasma histamine concentration was observed at 4 AM compared with 4 PM in all groups, with no change in plasma cortisol, epinephrine, and cAMP concentrations. At 4 AM compared with 4 PM, only patients with nocturnal asthma had a significant 33% decrease (p less than 0.05) in mononuclear and polymorphonuclear leukocyte beta-adrenergic receptor density, with no difference in binding affinity in all three groups. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes from patients with nocturnal asthma had significantly impaired response to isoproterenol at 4 AM (17% +/- 7.3% SEM increase in cAMP; p less than 0.05) compared with those of patients without nocturnal asthma (69.4% +/- 13.7%) and normal (80.2% +/- 21.3%) subjects. A significant change in beta-adrenergic receptor density and function occurs at night in patients with nocturnal asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, Denver, CO 80206.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Szefler
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Cicutto
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Surs
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D002469:Cell Separation; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000097:blood; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood*; D006632:Histamine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D010869:Pindolol; D011869:Radioligand Assay; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D006632:Histamine; D010869:Pindolol; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D007545:Isoproterenol; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D004837:Epinephrine