Modulation of lymphocyte adrenergic receptors by hormones and anti-asthmatic drugs.

Viable lymphocytes were used to investigate the binding of physiological concentrations of hormones and therapeutic concentrations of anti-asthmatic drugs to [3H]dihydroalprenolol (DHA, beta antagonist) and [3H]prazosin (alpha antagonist) receptor sites. All studied drugs and hormones inhibited the specific binding of prazosin to receptors identified with 10(-4)M phentolamine. Similar concentrations of drugs and hormones, with the exception of prostaglandin F2 alpha and cimetidine, inhibited the specific binding of DHA to lymphocyte receptors identified with 10(-7)M propranolol. These results confirm current mechanisms of hormone and drug action in asthma.