Long-term Stress with Hyperglucocorticoidemia-induced Hepatic Steatosis with VLDL Overproduction Is Dependent on both 5-HT2 Receptor and 5-HT Synthesis in Liver.

Hepatic triglycerides production and adipose lipolysis are pivotal for long-term stress (LTS) or hyperglucocorticoidemia-induced insulin resistance. 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) has been demonstrated to induce hepatic lipid metabolic abnormality by activating mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). In present study, we explored whether 5-HT is involved in LTS effects in liver using restraint stress-exposed rats and cultured primary rat hepatocytes and HepG2 cells. LTS with hyperglucocorticoidemia induced hepatic 5-HT synthetic increase with tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (Tph1) up-regulation, and 5-HT2 receptor (5-HT2R, including 5-HT2A, 2B receptor) up-regulation in liver and visceral adipose, as well as hepatic mTOR activation with triglycerides and VLDL overproduction with steatosis, and visceral adipose lipolytic increase with high blood free fatty acids (FFAs) level. 5-HT exposure exhibited LTS-like effects in both tissues, and both LTS and 5-HT effects could be abolished significantly by blocking 5-HT2R. In HepG2 cells dexamethasone or palmitate-induced mTOR activation with triglycerides and VLDL overproduction were accompanied by up-regulations of 5-HT synthesis and 5-HT2R, which were significantly abolished by gene silencing Tph1 or 5-HT2R and were almost fully abolished by co-silencing of both, especially on VLDL overproduction. Chemical inhibition of Tph1 or/and 5-HT2R in both hepatocytes exhibited similar abolishment with genetic inhibition on dexamethason-induced effects. 5-HT-stimulated effects in both hepatocytes were fully abolished by blocking 5-HT2R, while 5-HT itself also up-regulated 5-HT2R. In conclusion, up-regulated hepatic 5-HT synthesis and 5-HT2R induced by both glucocorticoid and FFAs are crucial for LTS-induced hepatic steatosis with VLDL overproduction, while 5-HT by acting on 5-HT2R mediates mTOR activation in liver.

Investigations on 5-HT4 receptor expression and effects of tegaserod on human platelet aggregation in vitro.

A meta-analysis of 29 clinical studies on tegaserod revealed an imbalance of cardiovascular ischemic events in patients treated with drug versus placebo. Because increased platelet activity is known to attribute to cardiovascular events, we examined the presence of serotonin receptor type 4 (5-HT4) receptors and the effects of tegaserod on in vitro aggregation of human platelets. Blood samples were obtained from 20 healthy volunteers and 20 subjects with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation. Samples of whole blood-citrate mixtures were incubated with different tegaserod concentrations mimicking human Cmax values (10 nM), 3.3 times, and 10 times Cmax for at least 1 hour. Conventional plasma platelet aggregation was induced by adenosine diphosphate, collagen, thrombin receptor activating peptide, epinephrine, and serotonin plus adenosine diphosphate. Gene expression analyses targeting 5-HT4 and serotonin receptor type 2 receptors were carried out using human platelet RNA. The presence of 5-HT4 receptor protein was investigated by Western blot analysis using membrane fractions from human platelets. Preincubation with tegaserod resulted in mild but statistically significant increases in platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate, collagen, epinephrine, or serotonin, mostly at supratherapeutic concentrations of tegaserod. The effects were comparable using thrombocytes obtained from healthy volunteers and patients with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation. Expression analysis revealed that mRNA encoding both 5-HT4 and serotonin receptor type 2 receptors was present in human platelets. The expression of 5-HT4 receptor mRNA was approximately eightfold lower than serotonin receptor type 2 receptor mRNA. Results from Western blot analyses examining the presence of 5-HT4 receptor protein in human platelets were in agreement with the findings of the mRNA expression analysis. In platelets harvested from normal persons and patients with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation and exposed in vitro to tegaserod, we detected small but statistically significant concentration-dependent increases in induced platelet aggregation. The relationship of these in vitro effects to clinical cardiovascular ischemic events is presently unclear. Western blot analysis findings suggest the presence of 5-HT4 receptor protein on human platelets. Further investigations on the potential role of 5-HT4 receptors in human platelets may be warranted.

Antipsychotic drugs up-regulate tryptophan hydroxylase in ADF neurons of Caenorhabditis elegans: role of calcium-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II and transient receptor potential vanilloid channel.

Antipsychotic drugs produce acute behavioral effects through antagonism of dopamine and serotonin receptors, and long-term adaptive responses that are not well understood. The goal of the study presented here was to use Caenorhabditis elegans to investigate the molecular mechanism or mechanisms that contribute to adaptive responses produced by antipsychotic drugs. First-generation antipsychotics, trifluoperazine and fluphenazine, and second-generation drugs, clozapine and olanzapine, increased the expression of tryptophan hydroxylase-1::green fluorescent protein (TPH-1::GFP) and serotonin in the ADF neurons of C. elegans. This response was absent or diminished in mutant strains lacking the transient receptor potential vanilloid channel (TRPV; osm-9) or calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII; unc-43). The role of calcium signaling was further implicated by the finding that a selective antagonist of calmodulin and a calcineurin inhibitor also enhanced TPH-1::GFP expression. The ADF neurons modulate foraging behavior (turns/reversals off food) through serotonin production. We found that short-term exposure to the antipsychotic drugs altered the frequency of turns/reversals off food. This response was mediated through dopamine and serotonin receptors and was abolished in serotonin-deficient mutants (tph-1) and strains lacking the SER-1 and MOD-1 serotonin receptors. Consistent with the increase in serotonin in the ADF neurons induced by the drugs, drug withdrawal after 24-hr treatment was accompanied by a rebound in the number of turns/reversals, which demonstrates behavioral adaptation in serotonergic systems. Characterization of the cellular, molecular, and behavioral adaptations to continuous exposure to antipsychotic drugs may provide insight into the long-term clinical effects of these medications.

[Effect of long-term cold adaptation on the mRNA expression of serotonin 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors].

The mRNA expression of serotonin receptors 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A was investigated by the quantitative method RT-PCR in rats adapted to cold (5 weeks at +4 -(+6) degrees C) and in control (5 weeks at +20-22 degrees C). Four brain regions were examined: frontal cortex, hypothalamus, hippocampus, and midbrain. The influence of cold adaptation on the mRNA expression of 5-HT15 receptor was not found to be absent. The mRNA expression of 5-HT2A receptor changed under long-term cold exposure. These changes in different brain regions were various: in hypothalamus, there was an increase of the 5-HT2A receptor mRNA expression; in the cortex, a decrease; in the hippocampus and midbrain, significant changes of the mRNA expression were absent. The findings appear bo te adaptive and, according to their localization in the central nervous system, regulatory. They also suggest involvement of brain serotoninergic system in mechanism of adaptive reorganization of temperature regulation.

Serotonin-2 (5-HT2) receptor-mediated signal transduction in human ciliary muscle cells: role in ocular hypotension.

PURPOSE AND METHODS: The aim of this study was to characterize the serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) receptors that mediate phosphoinositide (PI) hydrolysis and intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) mobilization in isolated cells of human ciliary muscle (h-CM) from multiple donors using a variety of agonists and antagonists. An additional aim was to visualize the mRNAs and receptor binding sites for 5-HT2 receptors in human ciliary body (h-CB), CM, and other tissues by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and quantitative autoradiography techniques, respectively, and to correlate with ocular hypotensive activity of such compounds. RESULTS: CBs isolated from several donor eyes revealed the presence of 5-HT(2A2C) receptor mRNAs. [3H]-5-HT and [3H]-ketanserin autoradiography on sections of human eyes revealed a high density of 5-HT2 receptor binding sites in the iris, ciliary epithelium, and longitudinal CM. In isolated h-CM cells, the agonists alpha-methyl-5-HT (EC50=63+/-17 nM), 5-HT (EC50=85+/-16 nM), (R)-DOI (EC50=165+/-47 nM), and 5-methoxy alpha-methyl tryptamine (EC50=1200+/-270 nM) differentially stimulated PI turnover. These agonists also mobilized [Ca2+]i in h-CM cells with the following potencies (EC50s): 5-methoxy-tryptamine=42+/-11 nM; alpha-methyl-5-HT=36+/-11 nM; (R)-DOI=120 nM; 5-HT=130+/-36 nM; MK-212=470 nM; mCPP>1 microM; BW723C86=1766 nM. The agonist-induced [Ca2+]i mobilization in h-CM cells was potently blocked by the 5-HT2A-selective antagonist M-100907 (IC50=1.2+/-0.4 nM) but less potently by the antagonists for 5-HT2B (RS-127445, IC50>10 microM) and 5-HT2C (RS-102221, IC50=5.8+/-2.3 microM) receptors. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, h-CB, h-CM, and CM cells express mRNAs and proteins for 5-HT2 receptor subtypes, of which the predominant functionally active subtype is the 5-HT2A receptor, as defined by agonist and antagonist activities. These receptors may be responsible for mediating the intraocular pressure reduction observed in recent literature with a number of 5-HT2 agonists, such as (R)-DOI, alpha-methyl-5HT, and AL-34662.