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WIREs Membr Transp Signal

Serotonergic signaling: multiple effectors and pleiotropic effects

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Serotonin (5‐HT) is a neurotransmitter which exerts both central and peripheral control on numerous physiological functions such as sleep/wake cycle, thermoregulation, food intake, nociception, locomotion, sexual behavior, gastrointestinal motility, blood coagulation, and cardiovascular homeostasis. These multiple effects are mediated by a family of serotonin receptors which comprises at least 13 distinct G‐protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs) of the A type and a combination of ligand‐gated cation channel heteropentameric receptors of the conserved 5‐HT3 Cys‐loop type. Many of these receptors are targets of pharmaceutical drugs justifying the wide interest to elucidate their functioning. Over the past decades, substantial investigations have led to the current understanding of the complex signal transduction mechanisms which these receptors initiate. The idea of a unique coupling of a receptor to a linear pathway has evolved into a multiplicity of alternative bifurcations and feedback mechanisms. The emerging signaling model includes the capacity of 5‐HT receptors GPCR superfamily to couple and initiate transduction through several G proteins depending on the tissue and/or the presence of interacting proteins. In turn, these G proteins may activate many effectors. On the other hand, the complexity increases further with the capacity of 5‐HT receptors to transduce signals through G‐protein‐independent pathways. These multiple couplings often participate in the control of gene transcription, thereby resulting in 5‐HT‐mediated long‐term (neuroplastic) adaptive functional changes. WIREs Membr Transp Signal 2012, 1:685–713. doi: 10.1002/wmts.50

Figure 1.

5‐HT1A receptor signaling pathways. The 5‐HT1AR is negatively coupled to AC/PKA/cAMP signaling via Gαi/o proteins. Its activation decreases neurotransmitter release in neurons through opposite changes in K+ (increase) and Ca2+ (decrease) conductances. 5‐HT1AR stimulation also regulates ERK phosphorylation. See Appendix for the list of abbreviations. Blue arrow, inhibition; red arrow, stimulation.

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Figure 2.

5‐HT1B receptor signaling pathways. The 5‐HT1BR is negatively coupled to AC/PKA/cAMP signaling via Gαi protein. Its activation decreases neurotransmitter release in neurons through opposite changes in K+ and Ca2+ conductances. Stimulation of nuclear ERK translocation (transcription activation) following 5‐HT1BR activation depends on kinases' cascade. See Appendix for the list of abbreviations. Blue arrow, inhibition; red arrow, stimulation.

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Figure 3.

5‐HT2A receptor signaling pathways in muscle and vascular system. The 5‐HT2AR stimulation induces several pathways via Gαq protein (PLC/DAG/PKC/ Ca2+) and ERK phosphorylation leading to muscular contraction. See Appendix for the list of abbreviations. Blue arrow, inhibition; red arrow, stimulation.

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Figure 4.

5‐HT2A receptor signaling pathways in neurons. 5‐HT2AR coupling to PLC /DAG/AC/PKC‐activated pathways produces an inhibition of Ca2+ and Na+ conductances. The coupling to PLA2 evokes the release of arachidonic acid. Several kinases' pathways are implicated in modulation of neuron morphology and plasticity via a direct interaction of the C‐terminus with interacting proteins. See Appendix for the list of abbreviations. Blue arrow, inhibition; red arrow, stimulation.

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Figure 5.

5‐HT2A receptor signaling pathways in mesangial kidney cells. The 5‐HT2AR is coupled to PLC and PLD via Gαq protein and plays a role in the control of cell proliferation and fibrosis. See Appendix for the list of abbreviations. Red arrow, stimulation.

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Figure 6.

5‐HT2B receptor signaling pathways. The 5‐HT2BR exhibits a wide register of coupling depending on the expressing cell type. Its major coupling lies in an increase in Ca2+ flux via PLC/Gαqcoupling; it may also be coupled to PLA2. The 5‐HT2BR activation controls cell proliferation, differentiation, or remodeling using different pathways according to the cell type such as fibroblast, lung vessel cells, or bone mesoblastic cell. See abbreviations' list. Red arrow, stimulation.

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Figure 7.

5‐HT2C receptor signaling pathways. The 5‐HT2CR is coupled to PLC in neurons and choroid plexus, and its activation leads to an accumulation of IP3. It inhibits K+ conductance in both neurons and choroid plexus and stimulates an apical Cl conductance in choroid plexus. It may also be coupled to PLD in transfected cells and choroid plexus. See Appendix for the list of abbreviations. Blue arrow, inhibition; red arrow, stimulation.

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Figure 8.

5‐HT3 receptor signaling pathways in neurons. The 5‐HT3R, as a member of the ligand‐gated cation channel family, mainly controls Na+, K+, and Ca2+ movements through its channel. Intracellular coupling depends on Ca2+ permeability and therefore on subunit composition of the pentamer. See Appendix for the list of abbreviations. Red arrow, stimulation.

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Figure 9.

5‐HT4 receptor signaling pathways. The 5‐HT4R is positively coupled to AC through Gαs and its activation raises cAMP levels. 5‐HT4R stimulation inhibits K+ channel (GIRK) conductance in neurons, but stimulates Ca2+ channels in cardiomyocytes resulting in an increased Ca2+ transient in heart. The 5‐HT4R is also implicated in cell survival and spine growth. See Appendix for the list of abbreviations. Blue arrow, inhibition; red arrow, stimulation.

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Figure 10.

5‐HT5 receptor signaling pathways. The 5‐HT5R is negatively coupled to AC/PKA/cAMP signaling via Gαi/o protein. The 5‐HT5R may also inhibit ADP‐ribosyl cyclase in C6 glioma cells and therefore regulates Ca2+ levels. See Appendix for the list of abbreviations. Blue arrow, inhibition; red arrow, stimulation.

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Figure 11.

5‐HT6 receptor signaling pathways. The 5‐HT6 receptor is positively coupled to AC/cAMP pathway via Gαs protein. Its stimulation inhibits K+ channel (GIRK) conductance in neurons and activates kinases via a direct interaction of the receptor C‐terminus with interacting proteins, which produces ERK phosphorylation or Jun translocation to the nucleus. See Appendix for the list of abbreviations. Blue arrow, inhibition; red arrow, stimulation.

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Figure 12.

5‐HT7 receptor signaling pathways. 5‐HT7R activation elicits Gαs‐mediated increase in AC activity and cAMP accumulation, and neuronal depolarization by modulating K+ and Na+conductances. In hippocampal neurons, ERK phosphorylation induced by 5‐HT7R activation depends on neuronal firing rate. In astrocytoma cells, the 5‐HT7R stimulation enhances IL‐6 synthesis. See Appendix for the list of abbreviations. Blue arrow, inhibition; red arrow, stimulation.

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