beta(1)- and beta(2)-adrenergic receptors are G protein-coupled receptors expressed throughout the body and serve as receptors for the catecholamines epinephrine and norepinephrine. They are targets for therapeutive agonists and/or antagonists in treatment of heart failure and asthma. Nonsynonymous coding and promoter polymorphisms of both receptors have been identified in the general population. These have been mimicked in transfected cell systems and transgenic mice, and show altered expression, ligand binding, coupling, or regulation phenotypes. Clinical studies to date have revealed that some of these polymorphisms have a significant disease modifying effect or alter the response to treatment. These are some of the first G protein coupled receptor polymorphisms to undergo extensive in vitro study and clinical validation; there are likely to be polymorphisms of other receptors of the superfamily that will have clinical relevance as well.
Copyright 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel