title: 5-HT7 receptor signaling: improved therapeutic strategy in gut disorders.
abstract: Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) is most commonly known for its role as a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS). However, the majority of the body's 5-HT is produced in the gut by enterochromaffin (EC) cells. Alterations in 5-HT signaling have been associated with various gut disorders including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and enteric infections. Recently, our studies have identified a key role for 5-HT in the pathogenesis of experimental colitis. 5-HT7 receptors are expressed in the gut and very recently, we have shown evidence of 5-HT7 receptor expression on intestinal immune cells and demonstrated a key role for 5-HT7 receptors in generation of experimental colitis. This review summarizes the key findings of these studies and provides a comprehensive overview of our current knowledge of the 5-HT7 receptor in terms of its pathophysiological relevance and therapeutic potential in intestinal inflammatory conditions, such as IBD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University Hamilton, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Janice J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, McMaster University Hamilton, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Waliul I
authors.initials: WI
authors.lastname: Khan
keywords: inflammatory bowel disease; serotonin receptor type 7