Cell Receptors in Disease

Intercellular transfer of information is frequently accomplished through receptors that recognize specific chemical signals such as hormones or neurotransmitters and respond to their presence by initiating a chain of events leading to an appropriate biologic response.1 Recognition results from specific, high-affinity binding of the chemical signal. At present, the mechanisms by which binding results in propagation of the signal are obscure. Even the widely held belief that the most immediate response to β-adrenergic binding is activation of adenylate cyclase must be questioned because of evidence that an earlier response may intervene between these two events.2 , 3 It is clear that failure . . .