title: Serotonin and GI Disorders: An Update on Clinical and Experimental Studies.
abstract: The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the largest producer of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)) in the body, and as such it is intimately connected with GI function and physiology. 5-HT produced by enterochromaffin (EC) cells is an important enteric mucosal signaling molecule and has been implicated in a number of GI diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease and functional disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome. This review will focus on what is known of basic 5-HT physiology and also on the emerging evidence for its novel role in activation of immune response and inflammation in the gut. Utilizing pubmed.gov, search terms such as "5-HT," "EC cell," and "colitis," as well as pertinent reviews, were used to develop a brief overview of EC cell biology and the association between 5-HT and various GI disorders. It is the aim of this review to provide the readers with an update on EC cell biology and current understanding on the role of 5-HT in GI disorders specifically in inflammatory conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manocha
authors.forename: Waliul I
authors.initials: WI
authors.lastname: Khan