β2-adrenergic receptor gene polymorphism and response to bronchodilating treatment evaluated by spirometry

β2-adrenergic receptors re abundantly expressed in airways, which explains the role of β2 agonists, the strongest bronchodilators, in treatment of bronchial constriction. There may be a relation between β2ADR gene polymorphism and the response to treatment with β2 agonists. In the present study we attempted to study these relationship in vivo, estimating spirometric values before and after the use of salbutamol in reference to variant of β2ADR gene polymorphisms. The study involved 148 healthy male volunteers. After the examination of the gene polymorphism of the β2-adrenergic receptor (β2-ADR) at nucleotide positions 46 and 79 (g.46 and g.79) we performed spirometry testing in all subjects. The pulmonary function was checked twice a day; before and 15 min after the administration of salbutamol. All subjects had normal basic values of spirometry. The use of salbutamol significantly increased spirometric values in all groups determined by β2ADR gene polymorphisms. Analysis of the spirometric values in individual groups showed a significant increase only in peak expiratory flow (g.46AA and g.79CC). The results of this study give an insight into a possibly important mechanism of the response to treatment with β2-agonists.