title: Serotoninergic receptors on human airway epithelial cells.
abstract: There is accumulating evidence that points to a role of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) in the pathophysiology of asthma. Therefore, we analyzed the expression of serotoninergic receptors (5-HTR), its linkage to intracellular calcium homeostasis, and its influence on the production and secretion of IL-6, prostaglandin E(2), the CCL-Chemokine CCL5/Rantes, and the CXC-chemokines CXCL8/IL-8, CXCL9/MIG, CXCL10/IP-10, and CXCL11/I-TAC in primary alveolar epithelial cells type II and the human lung cell lines A549 and BEAS-2B. Employing a PCR approach we were able to demonstrate mRNA expression of several 5-HTR, such as the heptahelical receptors 5-HTR1A, 5-HTR1B, 5-HTR1E, 5-HTR1F, 5-HTR2A, 5-HTR4, 5-HTR6, and 5-HTR7, as well as the ligand-gated ion channel 5-HTR3 in alveolar epithelial cells type II (AEC-II), A549, and BEAS-2B cells. To verify functional expression of 5-HTR subtypes, Ca(2+)-transients were analyzed. This enabled us to show that 5-HT induced an increase in intracellular calcium. Further experiments with isotype-selective receptor agonists allowed us to demonstrate that 5-HT induced calcium transients via activation of 5-HTR1, 5-HTR2, and 5-HTR3 in A549 and BEAS-2B cells. Moreover, we revealed that stimulation of 5-HTR1 and 5-HTR2 induced Ca(2+) mobilization from intracellular stores, whereas activation of 5-HTR3 induced Ca(2+) influx from the extracellular space. Functional studies indicated that activation of 5-HTR1B, 5-HTR1E/F, 5-HTR2, 5-HTR3, 5-HTR4, and 5-HTR7 regulated the release of the cytokine IL-6 and the CXC-chemokine CXCL8/IL-8. Our study shows that 5-HT stimulates different signaling pathways and regulates cytokine release in airway epithelial cells. In summary, our data implicate a pathophysiologic role of 5-HT in the asthmatic inflammatory responses in human airway epithelial cells.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Freiburg, Department of Pneumology, Hugstetterstrasse 55, D-79106 Freiburg i Br, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bayer
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Myrtek
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sorichter
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ziegenhagen
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Norgauer
authors.forename: Gernot
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zissel
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Idzko
mesh_terms: D001693:Biological Transport, Active; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D015232:Dinoprostone; D002118:Calcium