Effect of lymphokines on beta-adrenoceptor function of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Pathological induced changes in beta-adrenoceptor function occur in diseases such as asthma and hypertension. The mechanism(s) of this dysfunction is at present unclear. In the present study, the effect of lymphokines on beta-adrenoceptor agonist induced cAMP production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) is investigated. Pre-incubation of PBMC during 20 h with interleukin-2 (IL-2, 100 u ml-1) and granulocyte/macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF, 100 u ml-1) significantly decreases beta-adrenoceptor agonist induced cAMP production by 35 +/- 8% and 37 +/- 11% respectively. IL-3 and IL-4 do not affect beta-adrenoceptor agonist induced cAMP production in PBMC. It can be concluded that IL-2 and GM-CSF, mediators derived from T-lymphocytes, can induce beta-adrenoceptor dysfunction in PBMC.