Atopy, autonomic function and beta-adrenergic receptor autoantibodies.

Abstract

Atopic individuals (with asthma, allergic rhinitis or atopic eczema) have impaired sensitivity to beta-adrenergic agents. After the finding of antibodies to the beta-adrenergic receptor in the serum of a subject with allergic rhinitis, coded sera from atopic and control subjects were assayed for immunoglobulins that inhibited the specific binding of 125I-labelled hydroxybenzylpindolol to beta-receptors in mammalian lung membranes. Antibodies were present in nine of 60 subjects: 3/19 normal control subjects, 1/9 pre-allergic, 4/17 asthma, 0/8 allergic rhinitis, and 1/7 cystic fibrosis patients. Antibodies of the IgG class in these sera were also demonstrated by indirect precipitation of solub..