title: How can 1 + 1 = 3? β2-adrenergic and glucocorticoid receptor agonist synergism in obstructive airway diseases.
abstract: For a long time it was believed that β(2)-adrenergic receptor agonists used in the treatment of obstructive airway diseases worked primarily on airway smooth muscle cells, causing relaxation, whereas glucocorticoids primarily improved airway function via their anti-inflammatory action, indicating that their clinical synergism occurred at the organism rather than the cellular level. However, it is now becoming clear that both drug classes can affect airway function at multiple levels, including an integrated effect on several cell types. This article summarizes data on the molecular interaction between the two receptor systems, particularly with relevance to phenomena of β(2)-adrenergic receptor desensitization and glucocorticoid insensitivity in the airways. These molecular interactions may contribute to the observed clinical synergism between both drug classes in the treatment of obstructive airway diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Pharmacology, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Martin C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Michel
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D048291:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 12 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists; D048291:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 12