Autoantibodies to β2-Adrenergic Receptors: a Possible Cause of Adrenergic Hyporesponsiveness in Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma

Autoantibodies to β 2 -adrenergic receptors have been identified in the serum of one patient with allergic rhinitis ("hay fever") and two patients with asthma. The antibodies precipitate solubilized dog lung β receptors in an indirect immunoprecipitation assay and inhibit the specific binding of iodine-125-labeled iodohydroxybenzylpindolol to membrane-associated receptors from dog lung, calf lung, and human placenta. Ligand binding to canine heart β 1 receptors is not affected by the antibodies.