Previously unsuspected widespread cellular and tissue distribution of β-adrenoceptors and its relevance to drug action

Daly, C.J. and McGrath, J.C. (2011) Previously unsuspected widespread cellular and tissue distribution of β-adrenoceptors and its relevance to drug action. Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, 32(4), pp. 219-226. (doi: 10.1016/j.tips.2011.02.008)

Abstract

The discovery of beta-adrenoceptors in previously unsuspected cell types is contributing to the rethinking of new drug targets. Recent developments in B-adrenoceptor pharmacology might have excited and surprised James Black, given his interest in developing drugs based on the selective manipulation of receptors to alter physiological responses. beta-adrenoceptors continue to generate surprises at molecular and pharmacological levels that often require knowledge of receptor location to interpret. In this review, we emphasize the use of fluorescent ligands as the most selective means of demonstrating receptor localization. Fluorescent ligand binding in live tissues can provide quantitative pharmacological data, under carefully controlled conditions, relevant to other signalling parameters. Consideration of the role of beta-adrenoceptors in many cell types (previously ignored) is needed to understand the actions of drugs at beta-adrenoceptors throughout the body, particularly in the lung epithelium, vascular endothelium, immune cells and other 'structural' and 'restorative' cell types.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: McGrath, Professor John and Daly, Professor Craig
• Authors: Daly, C.J., and McGrath, J.C.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Life Sciences
• Journal Name: Trends in Pharmacological Sciences
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0165-6147
• ISSN (Online): 1873-3735