Beta adrenergic receptor inhibitory factor in serum of patients with nasal allergy

Sera obtained from patients with perennial mite nasal allergy and Japanese cedar pollinosis were examined to identify "beta receptor inhibitory factor". This was done by evaluating the inhibition of 3H-dihydroalprenolol binding to guinea pig cerebral membrane. beta receptor binding was inhibited by preincubation with sera from 8 of 44 (18.1%) perennial allergy patients, whereas sera from 2 of 41 (4.9%) controls showed this inhibition. Sera from 6 of 41 pollenosis patients (14.6%) showed this inhibitory effect in the pollen season but not in other seasons. Serum from one such patient (2.4%) demonstrated this effect both in and out of the pollen season. Sera from 2 pollenosis patients inhibited the beta receptor function not in the pollen season, but in the off season. This inhibitory effect was eliminated by immunodepletion from the positive-inhibition serum. These findings identified circulating beta receptor inhibitory factor in a limited population of patients with nasal allergy indicating the possible pathogenetic role of this factor in the disturbance of the sympathetic nerve function. This beta receptor inhibitory effect may correspond to the anti beta receptor autoantibody which Venter postulated in 1980.