Beta-adrenoceptor antagonists (non-selective as well as beta 1-selective) with partial agonistic activity decrease beta 2-adrenoceptor density in human lymphocytes. Evidence for a beta 2-agonistic component of the partial agonistic activity.
In the present study the effects of pindolol [non-selective beta-adrenoceptor antagonist with strong partial agonistic activity (PAA)] on beta 2-adrenoceptor density in lymphocytes (assessed by (-)-[125I]iodocyanopindolol (ICYP) binding) were compared with those of the beta 1-selective antagonists celiprolol (with PAA) and bisoprolol (no PAA) in normotensive young volunteers to get further insights into the nature of PAA. Administration of pindolol (2 X 5 mg/day) caused an about 25% decrease in lymphocyte beta 2-adrenoceptor density after 2 days; during treatment beta 2-adrenoceptor density declined further (maximum decrease after 7 days: 50%). After withdrawal of pindolol lymphocyte beta 2-adrenoceptor density recovered very slowly being still after 4 days significantly reduced, although no pindolol was detectable in plasma after 36 h. The KD-values for ICYP, however, did not change during or after pindolol treatment. The decrease in lymphocyte beta 2-adrenoceptor density induced by pindolol could be completely prevented by simultaneous administration of propranolol (3 X 40 mg/day) indicating that the PAA of pindolol is the cause of its beta-adrenoceptor decreasing effect. Administration of the non-selective beta-adrenoceptor antagonist bopindolol (1 X 2 mg/day) with PAA caused decreases in lymphocyte beta 2-adrenoceptor density (maximum decrease after 7 days: 40%); concomitantly the 10 mumol/l (-)-isoprenaline evoked increases in the intracellular level of lymphocyte cyclic AMP were attenuated to a similar extent indicating that the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist-induced decrease in beta-adrenoceptor density is accompanied by a loss in beta-adrenoceptor function.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D017298:Bisoprolol; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D017272:Celiprolol; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010869:Pindolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects*
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D011412:Propanolamines; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D010869:Pindolol; D017272:Celiprolol; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D007545:Isoproterenol; D017298:Bisoprolol