title: The roles of peripheral serotonin in metabolic homeostasis.
abstract: Metabolic homeostasis in the organism is assured both by the nervous system and by hormones. Among a plethora of hormones regulating metabolism, serotonin presents a number of unique features. Unlike classical hormones serotonin is produced in different anatomical locations. In brain it acts as a neurotransmitter and in the periphery it can act as a hormone, auto- and/or paracrine factor, or intracellular signaling molecule. Serotonin does not cross the blood-brain barrier; therefore the two major pools of this bioamine remain separated. Although 95% of serotonin is produced in the periphery, its functions have been ignored until recently. Here we review the impact of the peripheral serotonin on the regulation of function of the organs involved in glucose and lipid homeostasis.
authors.affiliation: Rudolf Virchow Center for Experimental Biomedicine University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, Haus D15, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Rabih
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: El-Merahbi
authors.affiliation: Rudolf Virchow Center for Experimental Biomedicine University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, Haus D15, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Löffler
authors.affiliation: Rudolf Virchow Center for Experimental Biomedicine University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, Haus D15, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.affiliation: Rudolf Virchow Center for Experimental Biomedicine University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, Haus D15, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany. Electronic address: grzegorz.sumara@uni-wuerzburg.de.
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sumara
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005943:Gluconeogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000502:physiology; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D012701:Serotonin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D005947:Glucose
keywords: Adipocyte; Diabetes; Hepatocyte; Pancreatic β cell; Peripheral serotonin