Beta-2-adrenoceptor agonists up-regulate the in vitro Fc epsilon receptor II/CD23 expression on, and release from, the promonocytic cell line U937 and human blood monocytes.

The possible regulatory role of beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists in the modulation of CD23 on the human promonocytic cell line U937 and on human monocytes was investigated. Incubation for 48 h in the presence of interleukin-4 (IL-4; 30 U/ml) induced optimal expression and release of CD23 on both U937 cells and human monocytes. When a beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist, either salbutamol or fenoterol, was added to U937 cells or monocytes both the IL-4-induced CD23 expression and release were markedly up-regulated. This effect was dose-dependent, starting at 10 nM and reaching a maximum at 1 microM final concentration of either salbutamol or fenoterol. The potentiating effect of salbutamol and fenoterol on CD23 expression and release was not observed when a beta-adrenoceptor antagonist, either D,L-propranolol (1 microM) or butoxamine (1 microM), was added to the incubation medium. The alpha-adrenoceptor agonist norepinephrine (1 microM) was ineffective in enhancing the IL-4-induced expression and release of CD23 from U937 cells or human monocytes, demonstrating the specificity of the beta 2-adrenoceptor-mediated effect. In the absence of IL-4, a moderate but significant increase in the CD23 expression on U937 cells and human monocytes by these drugs was observed, as compared to the basal values. These results indicate that, besides their bronchodilator effect, beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists may regulate IgE-dependent processes.