OBJECTIVE: To develop a monoclonal antibody that recognises an epitope of the native β 3-adrenoceptor expressed on the extracellular surface of human cells and tissues.

DESIGN: A high affinity monoclonal antibody, Mab72c, was raised against the human β 3-adrenoceptor expressed on a transfected mammalian cell line.

RESULTS: In CHO (Chinese hamster ovary) cells transfected with β 3-adrenoceptor cDNA, antibody labelling was found to be proportional to receptor density measured by the binding of the radiolabelled β-adrenoceptor antagonist,[125 I]-iodocyanopindolol. The use of Mab 72c has demonstrated the expression of the β 3-adrenoceptor in a variety of human tissues, including gall bladder, prostate and colon, where a mRNA signal had been detected previously. This study also provides the first direct demonstration of the expression of β 3-adrenoceptors in human skeletal muscle, atrium and adipose tissue.

CONCLUSION: The development of this antibody represents an important addition to the armentarium of reagents that are available to study the localisation of β 3-adrenoceptors in human tissues.