Relevant effects of beta 1 -adrenoceptor autoantibodies in chronic heart failure.

Patients suffering from chronic heart failure (CHF) caused or promoted by autoantibodies against cardiac beta ₁ -adrenergic receptors (beta ₁ AR) could benefit from specific therapies aimed at tolerance induction, removal or neutralisation of beta ₁ AR autoantibodies, provided the patients can be selected for these therapies by reliable detection and quantitation of beta ₁ AR autoantibodies in their circulation and by a valid assessment of the autoantibodies's putative cardio-pathogenic potential. Here, we discuss the current state of knowledge regarding the effects of CHF-associated (auto)antibodies on beta ₁ AR function and beta ₁ AR-mediated signal tranduction and discuss the presumed role of these effects in the development and progression of CHF. Identification of disease-relevant functional autoantibody effects and their specific assessment in medical diagnostic will be a prerequesite for the implementation of novel specific therapies not only for CHF caused or promoted by beta ₁ AR autoantibodies but alos for most other diseases involving autoantibodies that target G-protein coupled receptors.