β1-Adrenoceptor autoimmunity in cardiomyopathy

A growing body of studies have confirmed that autoantibodies against β1-adrenoceptors are present in different types of cardiomyopathy. This suggests that they play a role in the pathophysiology of the disease. This article will review the data indicating the presence of anti-β1-adrenoceptor autoantibodies in cardiomyopathy. It will focus upon their structural and functional properties which could explain their possible role in the induction and development of cardiomyopathic diseases.