title: Serotonin upregulates mitogen-stimulated B lymphocyte proliferation through 5-HT1A receptors.
abstract: Serotonin is a well-known neurotransmitter and neuroimmunomodulator which has been reported to modulate T cell and NK cell proliferation. In this study we investigated whether serotonin could regulate mitogen-stimulated proliferation of the mature B lymphocyte. Mouse and rat spleen cells were cultured with serotonin in the presence or absence of a combination of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide and dextran sulfate, and proliferation was assessed by [3H]thymidine uptake or propidium iodide staining of DNA. Serotonin alone had no effect on spleen cell proliferation, while it increased mitogen-stimulated B cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. These effects were reproduced by the selective 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT. Serotonin- or 8-OH-DPAT-induced increase in proliferation could be blocked by the 5-HT1A receptor antagonists (+)WAY 100135 and propranolol. Moreover, lipopolysaccharide-activated mouse spleen cells expressed specific binding sites for [3H]8-OH-DPAT. These results show that serotonin upregulates mitogen-stimulated B lymphocyte proliferation through 5-HT1A receptors, thus providing an important link between this neurotransmitter and the immune system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iken
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chheng
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fargin
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Goulet
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kouassi
mesh_terms: D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016264:Dextran Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D044263:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT1; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D044263:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT1; D012701:Serotonin; D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin; D016264:Dextran Sulfate