title: Activation of the JAK/STAT pathway in vascular smooth muscle by serotonin.
abstract: Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is a vasoconstrictor and mitogen whose levels are elevated in diabetes. Previous studies have shown the presence of 5-HT2A, 5-HT2B, and 5-HT1B receptors in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). There are currently no data regarding 5-HT2B and 5-HT1B receptor activation of the JAK/STAT pathway in VSMCs and resultant potential alterations in 5-HT signaling in diabetes. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that 5-HT differentially activates the JAK/STAT pathway in VSMCs under conditions of normal (5 mM) and high (25 mM) glucose. Treatment of rat VSMCs with 5-HT (10(-6) M) resulted in time-dependent activation ( approximately 2-fold) of JAK2, JAK1, and STAT1, but not STAT3 (maximal at 5 min, returned to baseline by 30 min). The 5-HT2B receptor agonist BW723C86 and the 5-HT1B receptor agonist CGS12066A (10(-9)-10(-5) M, 5-min stimulation) did not activate the JAK/STAT pathway. Treatment with the 5-HT2A receptor antagonist ketanserin (10 nM) inhibited JAK2 activation by 5-HT. Treatment of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats with ketanserin (5 mg.kg-1.day-1) reduced activation of JAK2 and STAT1 but not STAT3 in endothelium-denuded thoracic aorta in vivo. 5-HT (10(-6) M) treatment resulted in increased cell proliferation and increased DNA synthesis, which were inhibited by the JAK2 inhibitor AG490. Further studies with apocynin, diphenyleneiodonium chloride, catalase, and virally transfected superoxide dismutase had no effect at either glucose concentration on activation of the JAK/STAT pathway by 5-HT. Therefore, we conclude that 5-HT activates JAK2, JAK1, and STAT1 via the 5-HT2A receptors in a reactive oxygen species-independent manner under both normal and high glucose conditions.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia, CB-3301, Augusta, GA 30912-2500, USA. abanes@mcg.edu
authors.forename: Amy K L
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Banes
authors.forename: Seán M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Amany
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tawfik
authors.forename: Bela P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Safia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ogbi
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fulton
authors.forename: Mario B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Marrero
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000503:physiopathology; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005947:Glucose; D007650:Ketanserin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D015534:Trans-Activators; D012701:Serotonin; D007650:Ketanserin; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D005947:Glucose