Autoantibodies to β2-adrenergic receptors: A possible cause of adrenergic hyporesponsiveness in allergic rhinitis and asthma

Abstract

Autoantibodies to β-2-adrenergic receptors have been identified in the serum of one patient with allergic rhinitis ("hay fever") and two patients with asthma. The antibodies precipitate solubilized dog lung β receptors in an indirect immunoprecipitation assay and inhibit the specific binding of iodine-125-labeled iodohydroxybenzylpindolol to membrane-associated receptors from dog lung, calf lung, and human placenta. Ligand binding to canine heart β1 receptors is not affected by the antibodies.