Receptor dysfunctions in human disease.

The characterization of binding parameters of hormones and drugs to specific receptors at various human cell types have introduced an interesting approach for the evaluation of pathogenic mechanisms involved in endocrine and metabolic disorders. The dysregulation of cellular receptors in those disease include changes in receptor number, changes in binding affinity and production of antibodies against receptor molecules. It can be concluded from these observations that altered receptor physiology may be of important value for abnormalities in cellular recognition and control mechanisms which can be observed in neoplastic, inflammatory, immune and developmental diseases.