Receptors and aging: Dedicated to the memory of Paul Ehrlich for the 100th anniversary of his Nobel Prize

The initiation and evolution of the receptor concept and its application in pharmacology can be traced back to Paul Ehrlich's original experiments. Since several decades the receptor concept is in the foreground of cell biology and pharmacology. We present here a short reminder of Ehrlich's concepts on receptor action, its evolution and modifications as a result of increasing life expectancy of human societies. Results obtained by several teams on the age-dependent modifications of receptor function are reviewed with special emphasis on the age-dependent loss of receptors and of uncoupling of receptors from their intracellular transmission pathway. As a special example we summarize our results on the elastin receptor and its age-dependent modifications. These modifications result in the loss of the physiologically helpful functions mediated by this receptor, such as vasodilation by coupling with the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)-inhibition of cellular cholesterol synthesis and modulation of free radical production by inhibition of the guanine nucleotide binding protein (Gi protein)-mediated transmission pathway. Only the harmful effects such as free radical release and up-regulation of elastase production remain in “old” cells. The age-dependent modifications of receptor function play an important role in the increasing frequency and severity of age-related diseases such as athero-arteriosclerosis and emphysema as well as the loss of hormone- and drug actions. These processes and their inhibition or correction represent a new challenge for cellular pharmacology.