Effects of cell isolation procedures and radioligand selection on the characterization of human leukocyte beta-adrenergic receptors.

Radioligand binding techniques are commonly used in the characterization of beta-adrenergic receptors on human peripheral leukocytes. Accurate interpretation of receptor binding parameters necessitates appropriate radioligand selection. In addition, cell isolation techniques should have minimal effect on the binding parameters of receptors. Our observation of curvilinear Scatchard plots with (-)-[125I]iodocyanopindolol (ICYP) resulted in a re-evaluation of this radioligand and the influence of cell isolation techniques on leukocyte beta-adrenergic receptor binding parameters. Membranes from mononuclear (MN) and polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells isolated by a standard procedure (Ficoll-Hypaque) resulted in biphasic Scatchard plots with ICYP in three of four subjects. In contrast, linear Scatchard plots were observed for ICYP binding to membranes from MN and PMN cells isolated from the same four subjects with an alternative procedure utilizing plasma Percoll. Competition and saturation binding assays with ICYP identified a high degree of nonspecific binding. Decreased stereoselectivity with (-)- and (+)-propranolol was observed with membranes from Ficoll-Hypaque cells as compared to plasma Percoll cells. Kinetic analysis with ICYP demonstrated apparent irreversible binding whether displacement was initiated with a beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist or agonist. These problems with ICYP prompted evaluation of an alternative radioligand, (-)-[125I]iodopindolol (IPIN); this radioligand demonstrated rapid and completely reversible binding, improved stereoselectivity, and low nonspecific binding. Using IPIN, Scatchard plots from three additional subjects were linear for both cell isolation procedures. Based on these observations, the preferred method of human leukocyte beta-adrenergic receptor analysis incorporates the plasma Percoll cell isolation technique and the radioligand IPIN.