A method of reproducibility measuring human leukocyte beta-adrenergic receptor density and affinity has been developed and applied to the study of receptor regulation in man. The method has the advantages of using a membrane preparation which binds highly specifically and employing techniques such as using low concentrations of [3H]dihydroalprenol, analyzing the data by computer modelling techniques, and providing data from both granulocytes and lymphocytes in the same individual to minimize measurement errors. Using this methodology, human beta-adrenergic receptor regulation is examined. Cortisone acetate was found to induce an acute rise in granulocyte beta-adrenergic receptor density and adenylate cyclase activity and an acute fall in lymphocyte beta-adrenergic receptor density. This potentially differential regulation of a single receptor subtype in two lines of leukocytes has important implications for the study of receptor regulation in man using leukocyte models.

beta-Adrenergic agonists form high affinity complexes with receptors, resulting in activation of the associated adenylate cyclase. To examine the formation of the high affinity state of the receptor, curves were constructed for the competition of the full beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol, partial agonists cobefrin and soterenol, and the antagonist propranolol for [3H]dihydroalprenolol binding to beta-adrenergic receptors on human neutrophil membranes. Curve modeling by computer yielded a two-state binding model for the agonists, with distinct dissociation constants for the high (KH) and low (KL) affinity states. The ratio of dissociation constants (KL/KH) was found to be well correlated (P less than 0.01) with the drug's intrinsic activity for stimulation of adenylate cyclase. Thus, the degree of coupling of receptor occupation with adenylate cyclase activation is correlated with the magnitude of KL/KH. Administration of cortisone to humans resulted in a substantial rise in the proportion of receptors in the high affinity state and in the KL/KH determined from isoproterenol competition curves, as well as a rise in adenylate cyclase activity. Furthermore, in vitro exposure of human neutrophils to hydrocortisone resulted in a similar rise in KL/KH determined from isoproterenol competition curves. Therefore, one mechanism by which cortisone modulates beta-adrenergic receptor function appears to be through facilitating the formation of the high affinity state of the receptor, resulting in greater coupling of receptor occupation with adenylate cyclase activation.