Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.,
Volume 157, Number 3, March 1998, 990-992
Variability of Peripheral Blood Lymphocyte
Beta-2-Adrenergic Receptor Density in Humans
MICHAEL I.
ANSTEAD,
TRAVIS A.
HUNT,
SONIA L.
CARLSON,
and
NAUSHERWAN K.
BURKI
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
2-adrenergic receptor (AR) density on peripheral blood lymphocytes has been used as an index to
reflect the AR state of the body. Lymphocytes ARs are unequally distributed among lymphocyte subpopulations, with the highest density on CD8+ cells and the lowest on CD4+ cells. Thus, the
measurement of peripheral blood lymphocyte AR density could vary with changes in CD4+ and
CD8+ cell concentrations. We examined the individual and intersubject variance of AR density and
lymphocyte subpopulations over time in 10 normal subjects, studied on 3 to 5 different d always at approximately 9:00 A.M. over a 4 - to 12-wk period. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were isolated and
2-adrenergic receptor density was determined by specific binding of [I25I] - (-) iodopindolol, and lymphocyte subpopulations were measured by flow cytometry. Average receptors per lymphocyte were
776 ± 183. Whereas the absolute values of CD4+% and CD8+% cell concentrations varied little in individual subjects (coefficient of variation 9.5% and 11.1%, respectively), the individual AR variance
was greater (coefficient of variation 22.4%). However there was a significant correlation between
AR and CD4+% and CD8+% cell concentration (correlation coefficients: 
0.58, p < 0.001; +0.51,
p < 0.001, respectively). This information is relevant to interpretations of changes in peripheral AR
in humans.
