Adrenergic receptor

The adrenergic receptors (or adrenoceptors) are a class of guanine nucleotide regulatory binding protein receptors (G protein-coupled receptors) that are targets of the catecholamines, especially norepinephrine (noradrenaline) and epinephrine (adrenaline). Adrenergic receptors mediate the effects of norepinephrine, epinephrine, and many adrenergic prescription drugs.

Alpha adrenergic receptors

Alpha adrenergic receptors or adrenergic receptors, also known as α-ARs or α-AdRs.

The alpha adrenergic receptors are:

• α1-adrenergic receptors
• α2-adrenergic receptors

Beta adrenergic receptors

Beta adrenergic or β adrenergic receptors are also known as β-ARs or β AdR, have a key role in cardiacregulation.

The beta-adrenergic receptors are:

• β1-Adrenergic receptors
• β2-Adrenergic receptors
• β3-Adrenergic receptors

ME/CFS

In 2015, a relatively large German study found 29% of ME/CFS patients had elevated autoantibodies to M3 and M4 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, as well as ß2-adrenergic receptors.

In 2020, a small Sweden study confirmed these results in two different patient cohorts, but did not find a relationship between adrenergic receptors and the severity of ME. The study assessed patients with moderate ME who met the Canadian and international consensus criteria for ME, plus the Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease criteria, and found that the majority of patients had raised blood plasma concentration of β1, β2, M3 and M4-receptor autoantibodies but cerebrospinal fluid levels were normal. Only 25% of healthy controls had raised autoantibody levels. These findings supported the autoimmune hypothesis for a subset of patients.

Notable studies

• 2016, Antibodies to β adrenergic and muscarinic cholinergic receptors in patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - (Full Text)
• 2020, Autoantibodies to beta-adrenergic and muscarinic cholinergic receptors in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) patients – A validation study in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid from two Swedish cohorts - (Full text)

News articles and blogs

• 2015, Autoantibodies found in subset of CFS patients - #MEAction

Learn more

• Beta-Adrenergic Receptors, from Their Discovery and Characterization through Their Manipulation to Beneficial Clinical Application

See also

• Wirth-Scheibenbogen hypothesis
• Autoimmune hypothesis
• Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor
• Neurotransmitters

α / Α. Greek letter alpha or alfa (a symbol used in science), equivalent to "a".

α α / Α. Greek letter alpha or alfa (a symbol used in science), equivalent to "a".

β / Β. Greek letter beta (a symbol used in science), equivalent to "b".

β β / Β. Greek letter beta (a symbol used in science), equivalent to "b".

β β / Β. Greek letter beta (a symbol used in science), equivalent to "b".

See myalgic encephalomyelitis.

See chronic fatigue syndrome.

autoantibody An antibody that works against the body's own antigens, a hallmark of autoimmune diseases. Autoantibodies are the opposite of an antibodies.

An antibody that works against the body's own antigens, a hallmark of autoimmune diseases. Autoantibodies are the opposite of an antibodies.

autoantibody An antibody that works against the body's own antigens, a hallmark of autoimmune diseases. Autoantibodies are the opposite of an antibodies.

antibodies Antibody/immunoglobulin refers to any of a large number of specific proteins produced by B cells that act against an antigen in an immune response.

Involving the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Cholinergic side effects include diarrhea, blurred vision, decreased intraocular pressure, contricted pupil in the eyes, sweating, increased saliva and mucus on the lungs, bronchial constriction, increased gastrointestinal tone, decreased blood pressure, slow heart rate, and contraction of bladder detrusor muscle. muscle spasms/cramps, low blood pressure, slowed heart rate, nausea and vomiting, increased saliva and sweating, shortness of breath, and urinating more often.

cholinergic Involving the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Cholinergic side effects include diarrhea, blurred vision, decreased intraocular pressure, contricted pupil in the eyes, sweating, increased saliva and mucus on the lungs, bronchial constriction, increased gastrointestinal tone, decreased blood pressure, slow heart rate, and contraction of bladder detrusor muscle. muscle spasms/cramps, low blood pressure, slowed heart rate, nausea and vomiting, increased saliva and sweating, shortness of breath, and urinating more often.

autoantibody An antibody that works against the body's own antigens, a hallmark of autoimmune diseases. Autoantibodies are the opposite of an antibodies.

myalgic encephalomyelitis (M.E.) - A disease often marked by neurological symptoms, but fatigue is sometimes a symptom as well. Some diagnostic criteria distinguish it from chronic fatigue syndrome, while other diagnostic criteria consider it to be a synonym for chronic fatigue syndrome. A defining characteristic of ME is post-exertional malaise (PEM), or post-exertional neuroimmune exhaustion (PENE), which is a notable exacerbation of symptoms brought on by small exertions. PEM can last for days or weeks. Symptoms can include cognitive impairments, muscle pain (myalgia), trouble remaining upright (orthostatic intolerance), sleep abnormalities, and gastro-intestinal impairments, among others. An estimated 25% of those suffering from ME are housebound or bedbound. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies ME as a neurological disease.