Circannual variation in the expression of β2-adrenoceptors on human peripheral mononuclear leukocytes (MNLs)

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Abstract
Peripheral mononuclear leukocytes (MNLs) are widely used as a tissue model in studies of β-adrenoceptor disturbances in hypertension and asthmatic diseases. The β2-adrenoceptor density (Bmax), however, depends not only on the gender of the person under study and on the time of day the blood specimens are obtained. Evidence is now reported for a circannual variation in the expression of β2-adrenoceptor sites on peripheral MNLs. In male volunteers the 24-h mean was found to be highest in the men studied in April/May (1135±10 sites/cell) and decreased to 891±16 sites/cell in August and to 712±90 sites/cell in December (±SE,PP<0.05, April/May compared to December). The circadian acrophase remained constant (190°±30° equivalent to 12 h 40 min±2 h 00 min, ±SE).