title: Serotonin via 5-HT7 receptors activates p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and protein kinase C epsilon resulting in interleukin-6 synthesis in human U373 MG astrocytoma cells.
abstract: Serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)] is a widely distributed neurotransmitter which is involved in neuroimmunomodulatory processes. Previously, it has been demonstrated that 5-HT may induce interleukin (IL)-6 expression in primary rat hippocampal astrocytes. The present study was undertaken to investigate the molecular pathways underlying this induction of IL-6 synthesis. As a model system, we used the human astrocytoma cell line U373 MG, which synthesizes IL-6 upon stimulation with various inducers. 5-HT dose- and time-dependently induced IL-6 protein synthesis. We identified several 5-HT receptors to be expressed on U373 MG cells, including the 5-HT1D, 5-HT2A, 5-HT3 and 5-HT7 receptors. In this report, we show that the 5-HT-induced IL-6 release is mediated by the 5-HT7 receptor based on several agonist/antagonists that were used. 5-HT-induced IL-6 synthesis is inhibited by the partially selective 5-HT7 receptor antagonist, pimozide, and the selective antagonist SB269970. Furthermore, IL-6 synthesis was induced by the 5-HT7 receptor agonist carboxamidotryptamin. In addition, we found p38 MAPKs and protein kinase C (PKC) epsilon to be involved in 5-HT-induced IL-6 synthesis as specific inhibitors of these enzymes (SB202190 and RO-31-8425, respectively) blocked 5-HT-induced IL-6 synthesis. Furthermore, 5-HT mediated the phosphorylation of both p38 MAPK as well as the PKC epsilon isoform. The p42/44 MAPKs, however, were not involved in 5-HT-induced IL-6 synthesis. This study shows, for the first time, a central role of 5-HT7 receptor linked to p38 MAPK and PKC epsilon for the induction of cytokine synthesis in astrocytic cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Freiburg Medical School, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lieb
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Biersack
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Waschbisch
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Orlikowski
authors.forename: Ravi Shankar
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Akundi
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Candelario-Jalil
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hüll
authors.forename: Bernd L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Fiebich
mesh_terms: D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D051744:Protein Kinase C-epsilon; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; C104425:serotonin 7 receptor; D012701:Serotonin; C497255:PRKCE protein, human; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D051744:Protein Kinase C-epsilon; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases