ABSTRACT
AIM:To study the changes of ?-adrenoceptors in peripheral lymphocytes at different stages of asthma. METHODS:?-adrenoceptors in peripheral lymphocytes, cAMP and cGMP levels in blood plasma were measured by radioligand binding assay and radioimmunoassay.RESULTS:Bmax and Kd of ?-adrenoceptors in asthma at remission stage were markedly higher than that in normal subjects, while cAMP levels in blood plasma were not different between them. Bmax of ?-adrenoceptors and cAMP levels in blood plasma in asthma at acute exacerbation stage were significantly lower than that in normal subjects, Kds between these two groups were not much different. There was no correlation between ?-adrenoceptors, cAMP and cGMP levels in blood plasma and ventilatory functions.CONCLUSIONS:Changes of ?-adrenoceptors in asthma rather be a pathological change accompanied by the course of the disease than a primary defect.