title: Serotonin receptor activation leads to neurite outgrowth and neuronal survival.
abstract: Serotonin 5-HT1 receptors are implicated in anxiety and depression. These receptors belong to the family A of G-protein-coupled receptors and couple to inhibitory G-proteins. Recent studies show that chronic activation of 5-HT1A receptors leads to proliferation of hippocampal neurons suggesting that neurogenesis contributes to the effects of antidepressants. However, the molecular mechanisms and pathways involved are not understood. We used Neuro 2A cells transfected with 5-HT1A receptors and SK-N-SH cells endogenously expressing the receptor to examine the effect of receptor activation on neuronal survival and neurite outgrowth. We find that receptor activation leads to increased neurite outgrowth that can be blocked by the receptor selective antagonist and by treatment with pertussis toxin or lactacystin implicating inhibitory G-proteins and proteasomal degradation in this process. Interestingly, the small G-protein Rap and the transcription factor STAT-3 are also involved since reducing the levels of Rap1 (using small interfering RNA) or STAT-3 (using dominant negative STAT3) significantly blocks 5-HT1A-receptor-mediated neurite outgrowth. The observed increase in the phosphorylation of Src and STAT-3, at sites leading to their activation, further supports a crucial role for these proteins in neurite outgrowth. We also find that prolonged activation of endogenous 5-HT1A receptors leads to increased cell survival even under starving conditions; this is completely blocked by co-treatment with the antagonist. Taken together, these findings indicate that activation of the 5-HT1A receptor leads to a number of neurotropic events by activating a series of signal transduction molecules leading to long-term changes required for neurogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Biological Chemistry, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA.
authors.forename: Ashwana D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Fricker
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rios
authors.forename: Lakshmi A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Devi
authors.forename: Ivone
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gomes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000494:pharmacology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D020439:Growth Cones / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D044282:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection; D020668:rap GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D019061:src-Family Kinases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C494086:STAT3 protein, human; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; C494087:Stat3 protein, mouse; D015534:Trans-Activators; D044282:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A; D019061:src-Family Kinases; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D020668:rap GTP-Binding Proteins