Beta-adrenergic receptors in nasal tissue with reference to their role in asthma and atopy

Thirty-three samples of nasal tissue (turbinates and polyps) were collected and assayed for beta-adrenergic receptor (BAR) sites (radio-ligand assay). Patients were divided into groups: 1) nasal turbinates, 2) nasal polyps, both under the aspects of atopy and bronchial hyperreactivity. Different radiobinding was found in both groups: Patients A with high BAR and patients B with low BAR numbers. There was no correlation between BAR numbers--clinical symptoms and bronchial hyperreactivity. Generally the BAR numbers were higher in turbinates (p less than 0.01) than in polyps and in nonatopic compared to atopic patients (p less than 0.005). "Affinity state 1" BAR are equal in all groups; however, "affinity state 2"BAR are significantly less in polyps (p less than 0.05). In 50% of the examined cases there was a combination of polyps, asthma and atopy putting foreward a common line of pathogenesis in this entity. It is discussed that the underlying inflammation (allergic and non-allergic) is the cause for reduced BAR numbers in the effected tissue. So far nasal tissue seems to be like a mirror compared to the results from lower respiratory tract tissue with respect to beta-adrenergic receptors.