Beta-Adrenergic Receptors in Pathophysiologic States and in Clinical Medicine

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As is well documented in other chapters of this book, beta-adrenergic receptors play an important role in modulating a variety of target cell responses to catecholamines Accordingly, there has been much speculation as to whether alterations in these receptors contribute to disease states characterized by alterations in catecholamine response. Within the past decade, radioligand binding techniques have begun to allow a direct test of such speculation. The focus of this chapter is on the application of those techniques, and available evidence regarding alterations in beta-adrenergic receptors in various disease states is reviewed (Table 1). The principal emphasis is on information available in human subjects. The use of peripheral blood cells as a means to assess beta-adrenergic receptors in humans is discussed initially, and then the various disease states listed in Table 1 are reviewed. In general, material published since a previous review on this topic by Motulsky and Insel (1982) is emphasized.