Abstract
Therapeutic use of β-adrenoceptor (β-AR) agonists in infants is often ineffective. Since β-AR on lymphocytes (Ly) are low in infants, it has been suggested that this might be due to a relative deficiency of β-AR. However, low numbers of β-AR on different Ly subpopulations might mimic a β-AR defect in infants. Therefore we studied β-AR binding on B- and T-Ly enriched fractions (separated by E-rossettuig, railed B- and T-Ly) in infants (aged 4 to 18 months) and children (aged 7 to 15 years) using 125 iodocyanopin-dolol (ICYP). Receptor (R) density and affinity were calculated by Scatchard plots. Resolution of β-AR into those with high and low affinity state was obtained from inhibition curves with salbutairol using the Hofstee plot. β-AR density on B-cells of infants was nearly the same as on T-cells, whereas in children it was 2 to 3 fold higher on B- than on T-cells. Affinity of the β-AR to the antagonist ICYP was much lower on T-cells than on B-cells of infants, whereas no difference was observed among the children. However, using salbutamol displacement curves it appeared that β-AR on T-cells were at a higher affinity state compared to those on B-cells. No differences were observed between infants and children.
In conclusion, β-AR deficiency postulated in infants may be a result of low β-AR density on B-cells, indicating a maturation process on B-cells during the first year of life.
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Körholz, D., Reifenhäuser, A., Sombeck, E. et al. AGE-DEPENDENT MATURATION OF β–ADRENOCEPTORS ON B– BUT NOT ON T–CELLS. Pediatr Res 22, 226 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198708000-00077
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198708000-00077