beta2 agonists

The following is a some of the drugs that work by stimulating the β2-adrenergic receptor :

Short-acting beta2 agonists

generic name (Trade Names in brackets)

* Albtuterol sulfate, salbutamol (Albuterol, Ventolinz, Proventil)
* levosalbutamol (INN) or levalbuterol (USAN), ( Xopenex,)
* terbutaline (Brethine, Bricanyl, or Brethaire)
* pirbuterol (Maxair)
* procaterol
* metaproterenol (Alupent)
* fenoterol ( Duovent and Berodual N)
* bitolterol mesylate (Tornalate)

 Long-acting beta2 agonists

* salmeterol (Serevent Diskus)
* formoterol (Foradil)
* bambuterol  (Bambec and Oxeol)
* clenbuterol (Ventipulmin)

Ultra long-acting beta2 agonists

* indacaterol

Stimulating β2-adrenergic receptor can increase the activity of γ-secretase and can cause the increase of the production of  Amyloid beta-Protein (Aβ). This discovery shows a possible cause of Alzheimer's disease, and therefore γ-secretase is a potential target for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. [1]

See explanation of γ-Secretase in Wikipedia

Back to Alzheimer's disease page.

中國科學院上海生命科學研究院生物化學與細胞生物學研究所裴鋼院士領導的研究小組經多年研究後發現，β2腎上腺素受體被激活後，可增強γ-分泌酶的活性 ，進 而能 夠增加導致阿爾茨海默病的β-澱粉樣蛋白的產生。該發現揭示了阿爾茨海默病致病的新機制，並且提示β2腎上腺素受體有可能成為研發阿爾茨海默 病治療藥物 的新靶點 。11月19日，國際著名學術期刊《自然·醫學》網絡版在線發表了這項關於β-澱粉樣蛋白產生過程新機制的最新研究成果。

[1] Reported by Pei Gang et al of Bio-chemistry and Cell Biology Department of Shanghai Life Science Research Institute of Science Institute of China. Natural Medicine, 2007, Nov 10.

USAN: abbr. for "United States Adopted Names" are unique nonproprietary names assigned to pharmaceuticals marketed in the United States.