title: Decreased mononuclear cell beta-adrenergic receptors in bronchial asthma: parallel studies of lymphocyte and granulocyte desensitization.
abstract: To assess the interaction of bronchial asthma and beta-agonist drugs, beta-adrenergic receptors were measured in human mixed leukocyte, mononuclear cell, and polymorphonuclear leukocyte cell membranes simultaneously. The densities and affinities of beta-adrenergic receptors were determined, by Scatchard analysis, with a potent beta-antagonist 125I-hydroxybenzylpindolol (125I-HYP) and compared among 12 nonatopic controls (group I), 13 mild asthmatics not taking drugs (group II), and eight asthmatics receiving long-term beta-agonist therapy (group III). Our findings were as follows. (1) Asthmatics not taking drugs (group II) have significantly lower mean mononuclear leukocyte beta-adrenergic receptor density (p less than 0.05) but no significant difference in mean polymorphonuclear leukocyte beta-adrenergic receptor density than the control group. (2) Asthmatics receiving long-term beta-agonist treatment (group III) had significantly lower mean beta-adrenergic receptor density in all three cell fractions (p less than 0.05). (3) Group I and II females had a higher mean beta-adrenergic receptor density in mixed leukocyte and polymorphonuclear cell fractions than males (p less than 0.05). (4) Terbutaline sulfate clearly caused desensitization of beta-adrenergic receptors in human leukocyte membranes in vivo. These results show that beta-adrenergic receptor density is influenced by cell type, beta-adrenergic agonist administration, and sex; they also show that bronchial asthma itself is associated with lower lymphocyte beta-receptor density.
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood*; D001507:Beclomethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000097:blood; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000032:analysis; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000032:analysis*; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000097:blood*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests
chemical_list: D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D001507:Beclomethasone