Home LiteratureArticle Details
PMID: 1351969 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review

Beta 2 adrenergic receptors in asthma: a current perspective.

Lung ·Vol. 170 ·No. 3 ·1992-00-00 ·Pages 125-41

Bai TR

Abstract

The role of the beta 2-adrenergic receptor in both the pathogenesis and treatment of asthma has been a subject of intense speculation and investigation for 25 years. The physiological effects of endogenous circulating catecholamines and exogenous adrenergic agonists in the lung are mediated by the beta 2-adrenergic receptor, which is present on a variety of cell types. Documented effects of beta 2-adrenergic receptor activation in the human lung include smooth muscle relaxation, inhibition of acetylcholine release from cholinergic nerve terminals, stimulation of serous and mucous cell secretion, increases in ciliary beat frequency, promotion of water movement into the airway lumen by stimulation of ion secretion across the apical membrane of epithelial cells, increase in bronchial blood flow, reduction in venular permeability, and inhibition of mediator release from some, but not all, inflammatory cells. Beta 2-Adrenergic receptors are present in normal or increased numbers on asthmatic airway smooth muscle but are uncoupled in severe asthma, leading to functional hyporesponsiveness, probably due to the effects of inflammatory mediators. There is also evidence for dysfunction of beta 2-adrenergic receptors on circulating inflammatory cells following mediator release. However, dysfunction of the receptors on airway smooth muscle and inflammatory cells is unlikely to be of primary importance in the pathogenesis of asthma. There is increasing concern that regular beta 2-adrenergic receptor agonist use in the therapy of asthma is deleterious. Although a number of theories have been advanced to explain such an effect, none is well established and further research is urgently required.

MeSH Terms
Adrenergic beta-Agonists/therapeutic use Asthma/drug therapy,physiopathology Bronchial Hyperreactivity/drug therapy,physiopathology Humans Muscle, Smooth/innervation Receptors, Adrenergic, beta/drug effects,physiology
Chemicals
Adrenergic beta-Agonists Receptors, Adrenergic, beta
Authors & Affiliations
1 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Bai T R
Pulmonary Research Laboratory, St. Paul's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver.
References (67)
67 references, click to expand
  1. Effects of inspiratory resistance, inhaled beta-agonists and histamine on canine tracheal blood flow.
    Eur Respir J. 1992 Nov;5(10):1206-14 PMID: 1486967
  2. Changes in bronchial hyperreactivity induced by 4 weeks of treatment with antiasthmatic drugs in patients with allergic asthma: a comparison between budesonide and terbutaline.
    J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1985 Oct;76(4):628-36 PMID: 4056250
  3. A comparison of beta-adrenergic receptors and in vitro relaxant responses to isoproterenol in asthmatic airway smooth muscle.
    Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 1992 Jun;6(6):647-51 PMID: 1317193
  4. cDNA for the human beta 2-adrenergic receptor: a protein with multiple membrane-spanning domains and encoded by a gene whose chromosomal location is shared with that of the receptor for platelet-derived growth factor.
    Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1987 Jan;84(1):46-50 PMID: 3025863
  5. Abnormalities in airway smooth muscle in fatal asthma. A comparison between trachea and bronchus.
    Am Rev Respir Dis. 1991 Feb;143(2):441-3 PMID: 1990965
  6. The effect of an increase in inhaled allergen dose after rimiterol hydrobromide on the occurrence and magnitude of the late asthmatic response and the associated change in nonspecific bronchial responsiveness.
    Am Rev Respir Dis. 1989 Oct;140(4):917-23 PMID: 2572192
  7. Development of "resistance" in beta-adrenergic receptors of asthmatic patients.
    Chest. 1976 Apr;69(4):479-83 PMID: 1261313
  8. On the medical history of xanthines and other remedies for asthma: a tribute to HH Salter.
    Thorax. 1985 Dec;40(12):881-6 PMID: 3913046
  9. Molecular characterization of the human beta 3-adrenergic receptor.
    Science. 1989 Sep 8;245(4922):1118-21 PMID: 2570461
  10. Direct relationship between mononuclear leukocyte and lung beta-adrenergic receptors and apparent reciprocal regulation of extravascular, but not intravascular, alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors by the sympathochromaffin system in humans.
    J Clin Invest. 1988 Jul;82(1):48-56 PMID: 2839552
  11. Abnormalities in airway smooth muscle in fatal asthma.
    Am Rev Respir Dis. 1990 Mar;141(3):552-7 PMID: 2310090
  12. Receptors on airway gland cells.
    Am Rev Respir Dis. 1990 Mar;141(3 Pt 2):S141-4 PMID: 2155562
  13. In vitro responsiveness of human asthmatic bronchus to carbachol, histamine, beta-adrenoceptor agonists and theophylline.
    Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1986 Dec;22(6):669-76 PMID: 2882770
  14. Neural control of human airways in health and disease.
    Am Rev Respir Dis. 1986 Dec;134(6):1289-314 PMID: 3538958
  15. Rebound increase in bronchial responsiveness after treatment with inhaled terbutaline.
    Lancet. 1988 Mar 12;1(8585):554-8 PMID: 2894492
  16. Airway beta-adrenoceptor number in cystic fibrosis and asthma.
    Clin Sci (Lond). 1990 Apr;78(4):409-17 PMID: 1971204
  17. Case-control study of prescribed fenoterol and death from asthma in New Zealand, 1977-81.
    Thorax. 1990 Mar;45(3):170-5 PMID: 2330548
  18. Beta-adrenergic receptors. Relationship of primary structure, receptor function, and regulation.
    Am Rev Respir Dis. 1990 Feb;141(2 Pt 2):S22-30 PMID: 2155553
  19. Human alveolar macrophage activation: inhibition by forskolin but not beta-adrenoceptor stimulation or phosphodiesterase inhibition.
    Pulm Pharmacol. 1988;1(2):101-6 PMID: 2908787
  20. Responsiveness of bronchial smooth muscle from asthmatic patients to relaxant and contractile agonists.
    Pulm Pharmacol. 1988;1(1):25-31 PMID: 2980284
  21. Cloning and sequence analysis of the human brain beta-adrenergic receptor. Evolutionary relationship to rodent and avian beta-receptors and porcine muscarinic receptors.
    FEBS Lett. 1987 Jan 26;211(2):200-6 PMID: 3026848
  22. Regular inhaled beta-adrenergic agonists in the treatment of bronchial asthma: beneficial or detrimental?
    Am Rev Respir Dis. 1991 Aug;144(2):249-50 PMID: 1677552
  23. Beta 2-adrenergic receptors on eosinophils. Binding and functional studies.
    Am Rev Respir Dis. 1990 Jun;141(6):1446-52 PMID: 2161627
  24. Airway and metabolic responsiveness to intravenous salbutamol in asthma: effect of regular inhaled salbutamol.
    Clin Sci (Lond). 1981 May;60(5):579-85 PMID: 7249543
  25. Inhibition of cholinergic neurotransmission in human airways by beta 2-adrenoceptors.
    J Appl Physiol (1985). 1988 Aug;65(2):700-5 PMID: 2844715
  26. Autonomic regulation of the airways.
    Annu Rev Med. 1984;35:451-67 PMID: 6144287
  27. Effects of adrenergic agonists and adenosine on cholinergic neurotransmission in human tracheal smooth muscle.
    Pulm Pharmacol. 1989;1(4):193-9 PMID: 2562455
  28. On some physiological actions of ergot.
    J Physiol. 1906 May 31;34(3):163-206 PMID: 16992821
  29. Tachyphylaxis to beta-adrenoceptor agonists in human bronchial smooth muscle: studies in vitro.
    Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1980 Nov;10(5):417-23 PMID: 6108126
  30. Changes in adrenoceptor densities in membranes of lung tissue and lymphocytes from patients with atopic disease.
    Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1979;332:295-8 PMID: 231405
  31. Patients at risk for dying of asthma: New Zealand experience.
    J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1987 Sep;80(3 Pt 2):477-81 PMID: 3624702
  32. Autoradiographic visualization of beta-adrenoceptor subtypes in human lung.
    Am Rev Respir Dis. 1985 Sep;132(3):541-7 PMID: 2864008
  33. Localization of beta 2-adrenoceptor messenger RNA in human and rat lung using in situ hybridization: correlation with receptor autoradiography.
    Eur J Pharmacol. 1991 Feb 25;206(2):133-8 PMID: 1648500
  34. Aerosolized terbutaline in asthmatics: development of subsensitivity with long-term administration.
    J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1982 Dec;70(6):417-22 PMID: 6815252
  35. Identification and characterization of a homogeneous population of beta 2-adrenergic receptors on human alveolar macrophages.
    Am Rev Respir Dis. 1989 Feb;139(2):552-5 PMID: 2563322
  36. Regular inhaled beta-agonist treatment in bronchial asthma.
    Lancet. 1990 Dec 8;336(8728):1391-6 PMID: 1978871
  37. Regulation of the beta-receptor-adenylate cyclase system in lymphocytes of allergic patients with asthma: possible role for protein kinase C in allergen-induced nonspecific refractoriness of adenylate cyclase.
    J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1987 Sep;80(3 Pt 1):326-39 PMID: 3040837
  38. Autoradiographic localization of beta-adrenoceptors in asthmatic human lung.
    Am Rev Respir Dis. 1989 Nov;140(5):1410-5 PMID: 2554767
  39. One explanation of the asthma paradox: inhibition of natural anti-inflammatory mechanism by beta 2-agonists.
    Lancet. 1991 Mar 23;337(8743):717-20 PMID: 1706045
  40. Assessment and management of severe asthma.
    Am J Med. 1971 Dec;51(6):788-98 PMID: 5129547
  41. The use of beta-agonists and the risk of death and near death from asthma.
    N Engl J Med. 1992 Feb 20;326(8):501-6 PMID: 1346340
  42. Isoproterenol inhibition of isolated human neutrophil function.
    J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1984 Mar;73(3):404-10 PMID: 6321582
  43. Tachyphylaxis to systemic but not to airway responses during prolonged therapy with high dose inhaled salbutamol in asthmatics.
    Am Rev Respir Dis. 1989 Sep;140(3):586-92 PMID: 2782734
  44. Structure of the gene for human beta 2-adrenergic receptor: expression and promoter characterization.
    Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1987 Oct;84(20):6995-9 PMID: 2823249
  45. Bronchodilator, cardiovascular, and hypokalaemic effects of fenoterol, salbutamol, and terbutaline in asthma.
    Lancet. 1990 Dec 8;336(8728):1396-9 PMID: 1978872
  46. Beta adrenoceptor binding and induced relaxation in airway smooth muscle from patients with chronic airflow obstruction.
    Thorax. 1989 Jan;44(1):28-35 PMID: 2538944
  47. Difference between lung and spleen susceptibility of beta-adrenergic receptors to desensitization by terbutaline.
    J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1983 Feb;71(2):230-8 PMID: 6296215
  48. Characterization of the receptor mediating the antianaphylactic effects of beta-adrenoceptor agonists in human lung tissue in vitro.
    Br J Pharmacol. 1980;71(2):663-7 PMID: 6162501
  49. A study of the adrenotropic receptors.
    Am J Physiol. 1948 Jun;153(3):586-600 PMID: 18882199
  50. Cardiovascular and hypokalaemic effects of inhaled salbutamol, fenoterol, and isoprenaline.
    Thorax. 1989 Feb;44(2):136-40 PMID: 2928998
  51. Changes in airway responsiveness and beta- and alpha-1-adrenergic receptors in the lungs of guinea pigs with experimental asthma.
    Allergy. 1989 Jan;44(1):66-74 PMID: 2541633
  52. Turning off the signal: desensitization of beta-adrenergic receptor function.
    FASEB J. 1990 Aug;4(11):2881-9 PMID: 2165947
  53. Ultrastructural studies on the neuromuscular control of human tracheal and bronchial muscle.
    Respir Physiol. 1986 Jan;63(1):109-28 PMID: 3952384
  54. Physiological regulation of transmembrane signaling elements.
    Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 1989 Dec;1(6):449-50 PMID: 2517775
  55. Mapping the functional domains of the beta-adrenergic receptor.
    Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 1989 Aug;1(2):81-6 PMID: 2559762
  56. Plasma histamine, epinephrine, cortisol, and leukocyte beta-adrenergic receptors in nocturnal asthma.
    Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1991 Jan;49(1):59-68 PMID: 1846332
  57. Airway mucus.
    Eur Respir J. 1989 Feb;2(2):107-15 PMID: 2703039
  58. On the reaction of cells and of nerve-endings to certain poisons, chiefly as regards the reaction of striated muscle to nicotine and to curari.
    J Physiol. 1905 Dec 30;33(4-5):374-413 PMID: 16992819
  59. Comparison of human bronchial muscle responses to histamine in vivo with histamine and isoproterenol agonists in vitro.
    Am Rev Respir Dis. 1986 Jul;134(1):57-61 PMID: 3729161
  60. Differentiation of receptor systems activated by sympathomimetic amines.
    Nature. 1967 May 6;214(5088):597-8 PMID: 6036174
  61. Endogenous catecholamines and asthma.
    J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1986 Jun;77(6):791-5 PMID: 2872246
  62. Beta-adrenergic receptors in hamster smooth muscle cells are transcriptionally regulated by glucocorticoids.
    J Biol Chem. 1988 Jul 5;263(19):9067-70 PMID: 2837475
  63. Mechanism of bronchoconstriction due to beta adrenergic blockade. Studies with practolol, propranolol, and atropine.
    J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1971 Sep;48(3):143-52 PMID: 4398175
  64. Down-regulation of beta-adrenergic receptors: agonist-induced reduction in receptor mRNA levels.
    Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1988 Jul;85(14 ):5021-5 PMID: 2899321
  65. Prescribed fenoterol and death from asthma in New Zealand, 1981-7: a further case-control study.
    Thorax. 1991 Feb;46(2):105-11 PMID: 2014490
  66. The beta-adrenergic system and allergic bronchial asthma: changes in lymphocyte beta-adrenergic receptor number and adenylate cyclase activity after an allergen-induced asthmatic attack.
    J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1982 Oct;70(4):272-80 PMID: 6288790
  67. Glucocorticoids for asthma--early contributions.
    Pulm Pharmacol. 1989;2(3):163-6 PMID: 2520497
Article Info
Journal
Lung
Abbr.
Lung
ISSN
0341-2040
DOI
10.1007/BF00174316
Published
1992-00-00
Pages
125-41
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
7701875
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1007/BF00174316 View journal details
Analysis Services
Analysis Services

Contact

No. 2 Wenbo Road, Zhangqiu District, Jinan, Shandong

Qilu Normal University · Genelibs Bioinformatics Lab

750 Shunhua Rd, Jinan

2F, Bldg F, University Science Park

Tel: 0531-88819269

WeChat Official Account

Follow our WeChat subscription account for real-time updates and the latest in medical and biological research.


Business Email

E-mail: product@genelibs.com

Copyright © 2026.Genelibs Jinan Honghui Biotechnology Co., Ltd. 鲁ICP备20007159号-2