THE SPECIFIC BINDING OF BETA-ADRENERGIC LIGANDS AND MORPHOFUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES OF ERYTHROCYTES IN BRONCHIAL-ASTHMA

Peripheral blood erythrocytes from patients with bronchial asthma (BA) and preasthma (PA) were investigated using the following methods: 1) the radiochemical method for determining the specific binding of 8-adr energic ligands, 2) direct erythrocytometry for erythrocyte diameter, and 3) the cytochemical Method [paraldehyde fuchsin (PAF) reaction] fo r membrane glycoproteins. The specific binding of beta-adrenergic liga nds in erythrocytes was decreased in BA and PA patients. The number of erythrocytes of small diameter (ESD) showed a tendency to increase in patients with atopic BA and extrapulmonary allergies, as well as in h ealthy subjects with a family history of atopy. The percent of PAF-neg ative erythrocytes was found to be considerably increased in atopic BA . It is concluded that general disorders of the membrane-receptor syst em are a fundamental cause of reactivity changes in allergy.