BackgroundPatients with postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) have exaggerated orthostatic tachycardia often following a viral illness, suggesting autoimmunity may play a pathophysiological role in POTS. We tested the hypothesis that they harbor functional autoantibodies to adrenergic receptors (AR).Methods and ResultsFourteen POTS patients (7 each from 2 institutions) and 10 healthy subjects were examined for α1AR autoantibody‐mediated contractility using a perfused rat cremaster arteriole assay. A receptor‐transfected cell‐based assay was used to detect the presence of β1AR and β2AR autoantibodies. Data were normalized and expressed as a percentage of baseline. The sera of all 14 POTS patients demonstrated significant arteriolar contractile activity (69±3% compared to 91±1% of baseline for healthy controls, P<0.001) when coexisting β2AR dilative activity was blocked; and this was suppressed by α1AR blockade with prazosin. POTS sera acted as a partial α1AR antagonist significantly shifting phenylephrine contractility curves to the right. All POTS sera increased β1AR activation (130±3% of baseline, P<0.01) and a subset had increased β2AR activity versus healthy subjects. POTS sera shifted isoproterenol cAMP response curves to the left, consistent with enhanced β1AR and β2AR agonist activity. Autoantibody‐positive POTS sera demonstrated specific binding to β1AR, β2AR, and α1AR in transfected cells.ConclusionsPOTS patients have elevated α1AR autoantibodies exerting a partial peripheral antagonist effect resulting in a compensatory sympathoneural activation of α1AR for vasoconstriction and concurrent βAR‐mediated tachycardia. Coexisting β1AR and β2AR agonistic autoantibodies facilitate this tachycardia. These findings may explain the increased standing plasma norepinephrine and excessive tachycardia observed in many POTS patients.

AimsPostural tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a common and debilitating cardiovascular disorder, is characterized by an exaggerated heart rate increase during orthostasis and a wide spectrum of adrenergic-related symptoms. To determine the aetiology of POTS, we examined a possible pathophysiological role for autoantibodies against α1-adrenergic (α1AR) and β1/2-adrenergic receptors (β1/2AR).Methods and resultsImmunoglobulin G (IgG) derived from 17 POTS patients, 7 with recurrent vasovagal syncope (VVS), and 11 normal controls was analysed for its ability to modulate activity and ligand responsiveness of α1AR and β1/2AR in transfected cells and to alter contractility of isolated rat cremaster arterioles in vitro. Immunoglobulin G activation of α1AR and β1/2AR was significantly higher in POTS compared with VVS and controls in cell-based assays. Eight, 11, and 12 of the 17 POTS patients possessed autoantibodies that activated α1AR, β1AR and β2AR, respectively. Pharmacological blockade suppressed IgG-induced activation of α1AR and β1/2AR. Eight of 17 POTS IgG decreased the α1AR responsiveness to phenylephrine and 13 of 17 POTS IgG increased the β1AR responsiveness to isoproterenol irrespective of their ability to directly activate their receptors. Postural tachycardia syndrome IgG contracted rat cremaster arterioles, which was reversed by α1AR blockade. The upright heart rate correlated with IgG-mediated β1AR and α1AR activity but not with β2AR activity.ConclusionThese data confirm a strong relationship between adrenergic autoantibodies and POTS. They support the concept that allosteric-mediated shifts in the α1AR and β1AR responsiveness are important in the pathophysiology of postural tachycardia.

These data support a probable pathophysiological role for AT1R autoantibodies in PA and thereby raise important etiological and therapeutic implications.

BackgroundBoth the adrenergic and renin‐angiotensin systems contribute to orthostatic circulatory homeostasis, which is impaired in postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Activating autoantibodies to the α1‐adrenergic and β1/2‐adrenergic receptors have previously been found in sera from patients with POTS. We hypothesized that patients with POTS might also harbor activating autoantibodies to the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) independently of antiadrenergic autoimmunity. This study examines a possible pathophysiological role for AT1R autoantibodies in POTS.Methods and ResultsSerum immunoglobulin G from 17 patients with POTS, 6 patients with recurrent vasovagal syncope, and 10 normal controls was analyzed for the ability to activate AT1R and alter AT1R ligand responsiveness in transfected cells in vitro. Of 17 subjects with POTS, 12 demonstrated significant AT1R antibody activity in immunoglobulin G purified from their serum. No significant AT1R antibody activity was found in the subjects with vasovagal syncope or healthy subjects. AT1R activation by POTS immunoglobulin G was specifically blocked by the AT1R blocker losartan. Moreover, POTS immunoglobulin G significantly shifted the angiotensin II dosage response curve to the right, consistent with an inhibitory effect. All subjects with POTS were positive for one or both autoantibodies to the AT1R and α1‐adrenergic receptor.ConclusionsMost patients with POTS harbor AT1R antibody activity. This supports the concept that AT1R autoantibodies and antiadrenergic autoantibodies, acting separately or together, may exert a significant impact on the cardiovascular pathophysiological characteristics in POTS.

Agonistic autoantibodies to the β-adrenergic and muscarinic receptors are a novel investigative and therapeutic target for certain orthostatic disorders. We have identified the presence of autoantibodies to β2-adrenergic and/or M3 muscarinic receptors by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 75% (15 of 20) of patients with significant orthostatic hypotension. Purified serum IgG from all 20 patients and 10 healthy control subjects were examined in a receptor-transfected cell-based cAMP assay for β2 receptor activation and β-arrestin assay for M3 receptor activation. There was a significant increase in IgG-induced activation of β2 and M3 receptors in the patient group compared to controls. A dose response was observed for both IgG activation of β2 and M3 receptors and inhibition of their activation with the non-selective β blocker propranolol and muscarinic blocker atropine. The antibody effects on β2 and/or M3 (via production of nitric oxide) receptor-mediated vasodilation were studied in a rat cremaster resistance arteriole assay. Infusion of IgG from patients with documented β2 and/or M3 receptor agonistic activity produced a dose-dependent vasodilation. Sequential addition of the β blocker propranolol and the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester partially inhibited IgG-induced vasodilation (% of maximal dilatory response: from 57.7±10.4 to 35.3±4.6 and 24.3±5.8, respectively, p<0.01, n=3), indicating antibody activation of vascular β2 and/or M3 receptors may contribute to systemic vasodilation. These data support the concept that circulating agonistic autoantibodies serve as vasodilators and may cause or exacerbate orthostatic hypotension.