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Expression of serotonin receptor genes in cells of the immune tissues of the rat

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5HT), one of the classical monoaminergic neurotransmitters in the central nervous system, has been shown to affect various functions of immune cells ; however, the specific subtypes of 5HT receptors involved, and their distribution in immune tissues not yet been defined. In the present study we used RT-PCR methods to examine the expression of 5HT receptor subtypes in rat lymphatic tissues. The expression of all 13 serotonin receptor genes cloned so far in the rat model were examined in thymus, spleen, and peripheral blood lymphocytes for 5HT-1B, 5HT-1F, 5HT-2A, 5HT-2B, 5HT-6 and 5HT-7 receptor subtypes, with no differences among the three compartments. In contrast, mRNAs for 5HT-1A, 5HT-1D, 5HT-2C, 5HT-3, 5HT-4, 5HT-5A and 5HT-5B were not detectable in any compartment. Preliminary assays have alsho shown the presence of mRNA corresponding to the 5HT-3 receptor subtype in mitogen activated, but not resting spleen cells. COnsidering the variety of transductional systems used by the different 5HT receptors, the data may help to explain conflicting serotonergic effects on immune function as found in the literature.

serotonin receptors; lymphatic tissues; mRNA; rat

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