Serotonin Receptors
Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is widely distributed throughout the mammalian body, being synthesized from L-tryptophan in enterochromaffin cells of the gastro-intestinal tract as well as in serotonergic neurons. The monoamine is a major neurotransmitter in the CNS, but while it is avidly taken up by peripheral sympathetic neurons and co-stored with norepinephrine, evidence for discrete peripheral serotonergic neurons remains equivocal.
In the periphery the primary source of serotonin is the platelets, which sequester serotonin via an active transport mechanism and store it as a serotonin:ATP complex. It is released when platelets aggregate at a site of vascular injury, promoting hemostasis. Serotonin is also released from enterochromaffin cells following exposure to radiation or cancer chemotherapeutic agents such as cisplatin. The ensuing activation of 5-HT3 receptors on vagal afferents in the gut wall and/or within the area postrema promotes nausea and vomiting. Hence in both of these situations the monoamine stimulates a host organism defense response.
The classification and nomenclature of serotonin receptors is organized according to criteria established by the IUPHAR Subcommittee for the Classification and Nomenclature of Serotonin Receptors. Thirteen distinct human subtypes of serotonin receptor are recognized on the basis of structural, transductional and operational characteristics. A fourteenth putative subtype (5-ht5B) has been identified in rodents, but not in the human where its coding sequence is interrupted by stop codons. These receptor subtypes fall into seven structurally-defined classes (5-HT1 to 5-HT7). However, in a few cases, unambiguous physiological roles have still not been demonstrated hence a lower case appellation is ascribed e.g. 5-ht1E, 5-ht1F to distinguish these gene products from receptors with proven operational functionality.
Further structural and operational diversity arises from allelic polymorphism and alternative splicing. For example, seven isoforms of the 5-HT4 receptor and four isoforms of the human 5-HT7 receptor are known to be produced by alternative splicing of the receptor mRNA. In addition, up to seven isoforms of the 5-HT2C receptor, varying in the amino acid composition of the second intracellular loop, have been shown to be produced by editing of the receptor pre-mRNA. All of these isoforms exhibit different tissue distributions, implying tissue-specific functions. While precise roles remain uncertain, these differences may govern rates of receptor desensitization/internalization, intracellular trafficking and the specificity and/or efficiency of coupling to G proteins. One final form of receptor diversity may be represented by receptor homo- and hetero-dimerization. This has been shown for 5-HT1B and 5-HT1D receptors in recombinant systems, though its relevance in a native setting has yet to be demonstrated.
In the last 50 years, drugs directly or indirectly targeting serotonin receptors have emerged as an important category of therapeutic agents, providing treatments for a broad range of clinical conditions. Chief among these drugs are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) which are widely used in the treatment of depression and various anxiety disorders. By selectively blocking the serotonin transporter, these drugs are thought to work via modulation of 5-HT1A receptors, a concept reinforced by the proven efficacy of 5-HT1A receptor agonists, such as buspirone, in the treatment of anxiety. Selective antagonists at 5-HT3 receptors have transformed cancer therapy by preventing chemotherapy- and radiation-induced vomiting. Likewise, selective 5-HT1B receptor agonists, exemplified by sumatriptan, zolmitriptan and riztriptan, have established a new standard in the acute treatment of migraine headache. Other 5-HT receptor subtypes being targeted by emerging treatments include: the 5-HT2A receptor, where antagonists are being sought for the treatment of schizophrenia; the 5-HT2B receptor, antagonism of which offers promise in both irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and migraine prophylaxis; the 5-HT2C receptor, at which selective agonists are pedicted to increase satiety and reduce obesity; the 5-HT4 receptor, at which antagonists or low efficacy agonists are sought as potential treatments for IBS and finally, the putative 5-ht6 receptor, selective blockade of which may offer potential in the treatment of cognitive dysfunction.
The Tables below contain accepted modulators and additional information. For a list of additional products, see the Materials section below.
Footnotes
a) Human receptors now assume primacy in serotonin receptor nomenclature - Trends Pharmacol. Sci., 17, 103-105 (1996). The terms 5-HT1B and 5-HT1D now refer to the human receptors previously termed 5-HT1Db and 5-HT1Da, respectively. Non-human orthologs are subsumed within these classes.
b) The use of lower case denotes the identification of a gene product only.
c) Rodent ortholog exhibits different pharmacology: Selective agonist - CP-93,129, selective antagonist - cyanopindolol; radioligand - [125I]-iodocyanopindolol.
Abbreviations
BRL 15572: 3-[4-(3-Chlorophenyl)piperazine-1-yl]-1,1-diphenyl-2-propanol
BRL 54443: 3-(1-Methylpiperidin-4-yl)-1H-indol-5-ol
CGS12066: 7-Trifluoromethyl-4-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxaline
8-OH-DPAT: 8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin
GR 55562: 3-[3-Dimethylamino)propyl]-4-hydroxy-N-[4-pyridinyl)phenyl]benzamide
GR 125743: N-[4-Methoxy-3-(4-methyl-1-piperizinyl)phenyl]3-methyl-4-(4-pyrindinyl) benzamide
GR 127935: N-[Methoxy-3-(4-methyl-1-piperizinyl)phenyl]-2’-methyl-4’(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)[1,1-biphenyl]-4-carboxamide
L-694,247: 2-[5-[3-(4-Methylsulphonylamino)benzyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl]1H-indol-3-yl]ethanamine
LSD: Lysergic acid diethylamide
LY-334370: 4-Fluoro-N-[3-(1-methyl-4-piperidinyl)-1H-indol-5-yl]-benzamide
LY-344864: (R)-N-[3-Dimethylamino-2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-carbazol-6-yl]-4-fluorobenzamide
NAN-190: 1-(2-Methoxyphenyl)-4-(4-[2-phthalimido]butyl)-piperazine
SB-216641: N-[3-(2-Dimethylamino)ethoxy-4-methoxyphenyl]-2’-methyl-4’-(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadizaol-3-yl)-(1,1’-biphenyl)-4-carboxamide
SB-224289: 2,3,6,7-Tetrahydro-1'-methyl-5-[2'-methyl-4'(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazo l-3-yl)biphenyl-4-carbonyl]furo[2,3f]indole-3-spiro-4'-piperidine hydrochloride
U-92016A: (+)-R-2-Cyano-N,N-dipropyl-8-amino-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-3H-benz[e]indole
UH-301: 5-Fluoro-8-hydroxy-2-dipropylamino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene
WAY 100635: N-(2-(4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl)ethyl)-N-(2-pyridyl)-cyclohexanecarboxamide trichloride
Footnotes
a) Up to seven functional isoforms are produced by mRNA editing.
Abbreviations
AMI-193: 8-[3-(4-Fluorophenoxy)propyl]-1-phenyl-1,3,8-triazaspiro[4,5]decan-4-one
BW723C86: 1-[5(2-Thienylmethoxy)-1H-3-indolyl]propan-2-amine hydrochloride
m-CPP: 1-(m-Chlorophenyl)piperazine
DOB: 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-bromoamphetamine
DOI: 1-(2,5-Dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane
EGIS-7625: (1-Benzyl-4-[(2-nitro-4-methyl-5-amino)-phenyl]-piperazine)
LY272015: 6-Methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-[3,4-dimethoxyphenyl) methyl-9H-pyrido[3,4b]indole] hydrochloride
MDL 100,907: (±)-2,3-Dimethoxyphenyl-1-[2-(4-piperidine)-methanol]
R 102444: (2R,4R)-4-Lauroyloxy-2-[2-[2-[2-(3-methoxy)phenyl]ethyl]phenoxy]ethyl-1-methylpyrrolidine hydrochloride
RS 102221: 8-[5-(5-Amino 2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-5-oxopentyl]-1,3,8-triazaspiro[4,5]decane-2,4-dione
RS 127445: 2-Amino-4-(4-fluoronapthyl-1-yl)-6-isopropylpyrimidine
SB-200646: N-(1-Methyl-5-indolyl)-N-(3-pyridyl)urea hydrochloride
SB-204741: N-(1-Methyl-5-indolyl)-N-(3-methyl-5-isothiazolyl)urea
SB-242084: 6-Chloro-5-methyl-1-[2-(2-methylpyridyl-3-oxy)-pyrid-5-yl carbamoyl]indoline
SB-206553: N-3-Pyridinyl-3,5-dihydro-5-methyl-benzo(1,2-b:4,5-b’)dipyrrole-1(2H)carboxamide
Tegaserod: 2-[(5-Methoxy-1H-indol-3-yl)methylene]-N-pentylhydrazinecarboximedamide
YM348: S-2-(7-Ethyl-1H-furo[2,3-g]indazol-1-yl)-1-methylethylamine
Footnotes
a) Two genes encoding putative 5-ht5 receptors have been identified in rodents and termed 5-ht5A and 5-ht5B. No human ortholog of the 5-ht5B has been found.
b) The use of lower case denotes the identification of a gene product only.
c) Splice variants of the α-subunit exist in mouse.
d) Splice variants are denoted [a], [b] etc.
e) Putative rat rodent 5-ht5B receptor: 371 370 aa.
Abbreviations
BIMU 8: (endo-N-8-Methyl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3-yl)-2,3-dihydro-3-isopropyl-2-oxo-1H-benzimidazol-1-carboxamide hydrochloride
5-CT: 5-Carboxamidotryptamine
GR 113808: [1-2[(Methylsuphonyl)amino]ethyl]-4-piperidinyl]methyl-1-methyl-1H-indole-3-carboxylate
5-HTQ: N,N,N-Trimethylserotonin iodide
LSD: Lysergic acid diethylamide
ML 10302: 2-(1-Piperidinyl)ethyl-4-amino-5-chloro-2-methoxybenzoate
Ro 04-6790: 4-Amino-N-(2,6 bis-methylamino-pyrimidin-4-yl)-benzene sulfonamide
Ro 63-0563: 4-Amino-N-(2,6 bis-methylamino-pyridin-4-yl)-benzene sulfonamide
RS 67506: 1-(4-Amino-5-chloro-2-methoxyphenyl)-3-(1-n-butyl-4-piperidinyl)-1-propanone
RS 100235: 1-(8-Amino-7-chloro-1,4-benzodioxan-5-yl)-5-((3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)prop-1-yl)piperidin-4-yl)propan-1-one
SB-204070: 1-Butyl-4-piperidinylmethyl-8-amino-7-chloro-1,4-benzoioxan-5-carboxylate
SB-207710: 1-Butyl-4-piperidinylmethyl-8-amino-7-iodo-1,4-benzodioxan-5-carboxylate
SB-258719: (R)-3,N-Dimethyl-N-[1-methyl-3-(4-methylpiperidin-1-yl)propyl]benzenesulfonamide
SB-269970: (R)-1-[3-Hydroxyphenyl)sulfonyl]-2-[2-(4-methyl-1-piperidinyl)ethyl]pyrrolidine
SC 53116: (1S-cis)-4-Amino-5-chloro-N-[(hexahydro-1H-pyrrolizin-1-yl)methyl]-2-methoxybenzamide
SR 57227A: 4-Amino-(6-chloro-2-pyridyl)-1-piperidine hydrochloride.
h: human
r: rat
References
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