Antibodies to Adrenergic Receptors

Introduction: Adrenergic receptors (ARs) are members of the 7-transmembrane domain G-protein-coupled receptor superfamily that bind the endogenous catecholamines epinephrine and norepinephrine.

Pharmacological, structural, and molecular cloning data indicate significant heterogeneity within this receptor family. Nine receptor subtypes have been identified thus far including three alpha-1 AR subtypes (1A/D, 1B, and 1C), three alpha-2 AR (2A, 2B, and 2C), and three beta AR subtypes (1, 2, and 3).

ARs participate in either the onset or maintenance of several disease states including hypertension, cardiac dysfunction (congestive heart failure, ischemia, arrhythmias), diabetes, glaucoma, depression, and impotence.

A1AR subtypes are found in numerous tissues and have been shown to be involved in the regulation of blood pressure due to changes in vascular tone and cardiac output. Effects on uterine contraction, hepatic glucose metabolism, heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), proto-oncogene expression, and mitogenesis have been linked to A1AR activation. Norepinephrine can increase nitric oxide synthase (NOS) levels in the hypothalamus by activating alpha-1 AR which may indirectly suppress the release of luteinizing hormone (LH), the androgens, estrogen, and progesterone.

A2AR subtypes inhibit adenylyl cyclase, suppress voltage-sensitive calcium channels, and activate receptor-dependent potassium channels. All of the A2AR subtypes inhibit adenylyl cyclase through coupling to members of the Gi/Go class of G proteins. They are an essential component of the neural circuitry regulating cardiovascular physiology. The physiological function of the A2ARs in the kidney is to regulate sodium/hydrogen exchange although the role of A2AR subtypes remains to be precisely determined.

Beta ARs participate in diverse processes including development, behavior, cardiac function, smooth muscle tone, and metabolism. In gene-knockout experiments, the majority of mice that lack the B1AR gene die prenatally and those that do survive until adulthood display abnormal cardiac function. Other studies have shown that the direct regulation of cardiac B1AR density by thyroid hormones occurs at the transcriptional level and is modulated by the catecholamine sensitive-adenylyl cyclase system. Evidence for the effects of cAMP on B1AR regulation has come from a study of members of the cAMP response element (CRE) modulator (CREM) family of transcription factors in transformed cell lines.

The beta-2 adrenoceptor (B2AR ) is an Adrenergic Receptor expressed in smooth muscle and metabolic tissues. Activation of this receptor induces a decrease in gastrointestinal motility, bronchodilation, vasodilation in skeletal and cardiac muscle, and glycogenolysis in liver. The beta-2 adrenoceptor is also a major lipolytic receptor in human fat cells and may be involved in obesity.

Beta-3 Adrenoceptor (B3AR ) is an Adrenergic Receptor that stimulates lipolysis and increases fatty acids in the blood. Stimulation of the B3AR leads to lipolysis in white adipocytes and nonshivering thermogenesis in brown fat. The beta-3 adrenoceptor has also been suggested to affect the physiological control of cardiac and vascular contractility; beta-3 adrenoceptor stimulation decreases cardiac contractility through activation of a nitric oxide synthase pathway.

Antibody Tools for the Detection of Adrenergic Receptors

Acris Antibodies offers a broad range of antibodies to Adrenergic Receptors, suitable for immunological detection methods like immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence microscopy, Western blotting and other applications.

Available antibody panel to Adrenergic Receptor Family

Adrenergic receptor alpha 1 (A1AR), Adrenergic receptor alpha 1b (A1bAR, alpha 1b adrenoceptor), Adrenergic receptor alpha 1c (A1cAR, alpha 1c adrenoceptor), Adrenergic receptor alpha 2a (A2aAR, alpha 2a-adrenoceptor), Adrenergic receptor alpha 2b (A2bAR, alpha 2b-adrenoceptor), Adrenergic receptor alpha 2c (A2cAR, alpha 2c-adrenoceptor), Adrenergic receptor beta 1 (B1AR, beta-1 adrenoceptor), Adrenergic receptor beta 2 (B2AR, beta-2 adrenoceptor), Adrenergic receptor beta 3 (B3AR, beta-3 adrenoceptor) -antibodies