title: Investigation of 5-HT2A gene expression in PBMCs of patients with allergic asthma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Asthma is an inflammatory airway disorder in which different immune cells in the blood and lungs play a fundamental role. In asthma condition, the airway inflammation accompanied by bronchial smooth muscle spasm cause airway obstruction. A study showed that high concentration of blood serotonin is associated with the intensity and exacerbation of asthma disease. Other studies showed that a subtype of serotonin receptor called 5-Hydroxytriptamine 2A receptor (5- HT2A) can enhance T-cell blastogenesis and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IFNγ.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to assess the level of 5-HT2A in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of asthmatic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  PBMCs were extracted from blood of 30 patients with asthma and 30 normal people. After synthesizing cDNAs from total mRNAs, real-time PCR was performed to amplify 5-HT2A and β-actin (as an internal control). The expression ratios were analyzed in patients with asthma in comparison with normal group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results indicated that gene expression is significantly increased in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of asthma patients in comparison with normal group (P = 0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study can suggest designing a protocol by using of the 5-HT2A receptor expression in PBMCs as a biomarker of asthma, but this requires further studies on a larger number of patients. In addition, the potential role of this receptor in bronchoconstriction can lead us to use its antagonists as a new treatment in asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Genetics, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran. ghah@nigeb.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Ghasem
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ahangari
authors.forename: Somayeh Emadi
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Koochak
authors.forename: Leila Mohammadi
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Amirabad
authors.forename: Gholamreza Derkhshan
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Deilami
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000502:physiology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A; D007371:Interferon-gamma