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Decreased β2-adrenoceptor density and decreased isoproterenol induced c-AMP increase in juvenile type I diabetes mellitus: An additional cause of severe hypoglycaemia in childhood diabetes?

  • Endocrinology
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Abstract

Little is known about the receptor and post receptor mechanisms of sympathoadrenal signal transmission in type I diabetes mellitus. Therefore, we examined the maximum binding of granulocyte β2-adrenoceptors and the in vitro c-AMP accumulation in lymphocytes of 24 children and adolescents with diabetes mellitus and 14 similarly aged healthy subjects. The number of high affinity β2-adrenoceptors on granulocytes correlated significantly with unstimulated (r=0.6,P<0.004) and with isoproterenol stimulated c-AMP values in lymphocytes (r=0.68,P<0.0007) showing the proportional changes of β2-adrenoceptors and c-AMP in two different cells. The number of β2-adrenoceptors on granulocytes was significantly reduced in diabetic as compared to healthy children (median 1397, range 599–3405 vs. 2205, 825–3200 β2-adrenoceptors per granulocyte,P=0.014). Moreover, the percentage in vitro stimulation of c-AMP by isoproterenol in lymphocytes was significantly reduced in diabetic children as compared to healthy individuals (120%, 39%–278% vs. 225%, 66%–500%,P=0.012). These results indicate a decreased sympathoadrenergic signal transmission in peripheral blood cells as a model for the liver probably contributing to severe hypoglycaemia in diabetic children.

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Abbreviations

Bmax :

maximum binding

c-AMP:

cyclic adenosine monophosphate

KD:

ligand-receptor-complex

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatrics, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Strasse 2, D-97080, Würzburg, Germany

    K. O. Schwab, H. Bartels, C. Martin & E. -M. Leichtenschlag

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  1. K. O. Schwab
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  2. H. Bartels
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  3. C. Martin
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  4. E. -M. Leichtenschlag
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Schwab, K.O., Bartels, H., Martin, C. et al. Decreased β2-adrenoceptor density and decreased isoproterenol induced c-AMP increase in juvenile type I diabetes mellitus: An additional cause of severe hypoglycaemia in childhood diabetes?. Eur J Pediatr 152, 797–801 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02073373

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02073373

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