The [3-adrenergic receptor (I3-AR) serves as a specific cell-surface receptor for adrenaline and noradrenaline. Through stimulation of the I]-AR, a sequence of events is set in motion which leads to a cellular response. A wide variety of cellular responses can be observed after ~ stimulation of the [3-AR. This diversity is achieved by an ingenious post-receptor pathway, which modulates different cellular functions through an intracellular second messenger system. The ]3-ARtransduction system physically consists of three distinct components, i.e. the receptor moiety, a guanine-nucleotide-binding regulatory protein (G protein), and the adenylyl cyclase (AC) enzyme. Membrane-bound AC is under dual control by a stimulatory G protein (Gs) and an inhibitory G protein (Gi). Binding of an agonist to the [3-AR leads to activation of G s and the consequent stimulation of the AC enzyme. It is interesting to note that the ~-AR may not only couple to G s, but also to Gi, as has been demonstrated in reconstitution experiments [1, 2]. Stimulation of the I3-AR results in interaction of the three components in such a way that AC is stimulated to convert ATP to cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). The cAMP functions as the intracellular second messenger, stimulating cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The stimulated protein kinase is capable of phosphorylating a wide variety of protein substrates, thus accounting for the diversity of cellular responses that can be observed. Interestingly, it was recently reported that the activation of charybdotoxin-sensitive K+-channels may play a role in the relaxation of human airway smooth muscle to [3-AR agonists [3]. In particular, the effect of low concentrations of the [3-AR agonist seems to be mediated by the activation of this K+-channel. It has been suggested recently that the AC activity is possibly regulated by ion fluxes through a channel that appears to be intrinsic to the enzyme molecule [4]. It was found in biochemical experiments that the AC activity copurifies with a K+-channel activity that exhibits moderate K+-selectivity and a large conductance. Thus, not only does this enzyme appear to function as a channel but fluxes through the channel apparently regulate enzyme activity. However, these findings have not yet been demonstrated for the lung. On the basis of their different relative potencies of adrenaline and noradrenaline in cardiac and smooth muscles, [3-ARs were initially subdivided by Lands et al. into 91and 132-subtypes [5]. The [31and [~2-ARs have been demonstrated in whole lung homogenates of animals and man [6]. While noradrenaline binds to ~I-ARs with a considerably higher affinity than to [32ARs, adrenaline binds to both receptors with comparable affinity. From pharmacological studies it has become evident that a third I]-AR subtype exists, termed 'atypical [3-AR' or ~3-AR, which is present on adipocytes but which has not yet been clearly demonstrated in lung tissue. Recent cloning of the [3 land [32-receptor subtypes indicates that these receptors are the products of distinct genes with different tissue distribution, and only limited homology. A gene for the [~3-receptor subtype has recently also been cloned from a human genomic library [7].
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