Serotonin inhibition of TNF-? synthesis by human monocytes

ARZT, E.; MONICA ALEJANDRA COSTAS; FINKIELMAN, S.; NAHMOD, V. E.

Life Sciences

Año: 1991 vol. 48 p. 2557 - 2562

0024-3205

Serotonin inhibited in a concentration dependent way (10(-3) M to 10(-10) M) the LPS induced Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha synthesis both, when added to the monocyte cultures from the beginning and when added together with the activating stimulus 8 hours before the end of the culture. The inhibitory effect was specifically blocked by the 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 serotonin antagonist methysergide and the 5-HT2 receptor antagonist ketanserin. This indicates that only the 5-HT2 receptor family (5-HT2 or 5-HT1C) may be involved in the inhibitory effect. Serotonin seems to play an important immunomodulatory role in macrophage functions. PMID: 2046478 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]