Definition: A receptor is a protein molecule in a cell or on the surface of a cell to which a substance (such as a hormone, a drug, or an antigen) can bind, causing a change in the activity of the cell.
It’s possible to inhibit or block a biologic process by creating drugs that bind to receptors in place of a hormone or antigen. These drugs are called receptor blockers.
Examples:
One common class of blood pressure medications, for example, is known as angiotensin-blockers. Angiotensin is a hormone that raises blood pressure. Angiotensin-blocking drugs bind to angiotensin receptors on cells, thereby blocking the angiotensin from binding to these same receptors, which would initiate the process leading to blood pressure elevation.
