Ip. Hall et al., ASSOCIATION OF GLU-27 BETA(2)-ADRENOCEPTOR POLYMORPHISM WITH LOWER AIRWAY REACTIVITY IN ASTHMATIC SUBJECTS, Lancet, 345(8959), 1995, pp. 1213-1214
Cells expressing the Glu 27 beta(2)-adrenoceptor polymorphism show att
enuated down-regulation of the receptor after long-term exposure to ag
onist. We studied beta(2)-adrenoceptor genotype for the Gln/Glu 27 pol
ymorphism and airway reactivity in 65 patients with mild to moderate a
sthma. Glu 27 homozygotes had a four-fold higher geometric mean methac
holine PD20 (provocative dose) than individuals who were homozygous fo
r the wild-type (Gln 27) form of the receptor; heterozygotes had an in
termediate value (3.23, 0.86, 1.96 mu mol, respectively), These data s
uggest that beta(2)-adrenoceptor genotype is important in the establis
hment of the asthmatic phenotype.