|
|
Blood, 15 April 2007, Vol. 109, No. 8, pp. 3139-3146.
Prepublished online as a Blood First Edition Paper on December 7, 2006December 14, 2006; DOI 10.1182/blood-2006-10-052787.
Previous Article | Next Article 
Submitted October 18, 2006
Accepted November 28, 2006
Serotonin provides an accessory signal to enhance T cell
activation by signaling through the 5-HT7
receptor
Matilde Leon-Ponte, Gerard P Ahern, and Peta J O'Connell*
The Robarts Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
Department of Pharmacology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States
Departments of Surgery, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
* Corresponding author; email: peta{at}robarts.ca.
Although typically considered a neurotransmitter, there
is substantial evidence that serotonin (5-HT) plays an
important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory
disorders. Despite these findings, the precise role of
5-HT in modulating immune function, particularly T cell
function, remains elusive. We report that naive T cells
predominantly express the type 7 5-HT receptor (5-HTR)
and expression of this protein is substantially enhanced
upon T cell activation. In addition, T cell activation
leads to expression of the 5-HT1B and 5-
HT2A receptors. Significantly, exogenous 5-
HT induces rapid phosphorylation of extracellular signal-
regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 and I B in
naive T cells. 5-HT-induced activation of ERK 1/2 and
NF B is inhibited by preincubation with a
specific 5-HT7 receptor antagonist. Thus, 5-
HT signaling via the 5-HT7 receptor may
contribute to early T cell activation. In turn, 5-HT
synthesized by T cells may act as autocrine factor.
Consistent with this hypothesis, we found that
inhibition of 5-HT synthesis with
parachlorophenylalanine (PCPA) impairs T cell activation
and proliferation. Combined, these data demonstrate a
fundamental role for 5-HT as an intrinsic co-factor in T
cell activation and function, and suggest an alternative
mechanism through which immune function is regulated by
indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-mediated catabolism of
tryptophan.

CiteULike Connotea Del.icio.us Digg Reddit Technorati What's this?
Related Article in Blood Online:
-
Serotonin: a real blast for T cells
- John Gordon and Nicholas M. Barnes
Blood 2007 109: 3130-3131.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
This article has been cited by other articles:

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. C. Bischoff, R. Mailer, O. Pabst, G. Weier, W. Sedlik, Z. Li, J. J. Chen, D. L. Murphy, and M. D. Gershon
Role of serotonin in intestinal inflammation: knockout of serotonin reuptake transporter exacerbates 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid colitis in mice
Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol,
March 1, 2009;
296(3):
G685 - G695.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
A Kling, M Seddighzadeh, L Arlestig, L Alfredsson, S Rantapaa-Dahlqvist, and L Padyukov
Genetic variations in the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor gene (HTR2A) are associated with rheumatoid arthritis
Ann Rheum Dis,
August 1, 2008;
67(8):
1111 - 1115.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|
|
|