4.1. 5-HT and Gut Inflammation
Accumulating evidence through clinical and animal studies indicates that 5-HT, as a signaling molecule in the intestine, plays a pivotal role in intestinal inflammation (
Figure 2). 5-HT signaling has been investigated in an animal model of intestinal inflammation, including 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis
[80] and ileitis
[5][81][82][83], dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis
[4][84], and trichinella spiralis infection-induced intestinal inflammation
[85]. Several studies have revealed that 5-HT is a key proinflammatory signaling molecule in gut inflammation because of the enhanced concentration of intestinal 5-HT and downregulation of SERT expression under intestinal inflammation
[6][86][87][88]. Because of the knockout of
TPH1, the concentration of 5-HT in the GI tract was significantly reduced, followed by alleviation in clinical severity and histological damage scores by pharmacological adjustment of mucosal 5-HT in DSS- or dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (DNBS)-induced colitis
[89]. Consistently, several studies have reported that a THP1 or TPH inhibitor alleviates the severity of colitis and plays a protective role in colitis
[90][91]. Additionally, SERT transcription is reduced during intestinal inflammation, which contributes to impaired absorption of 5-HT
[2][92].
5-HT plays an important role in the proinflammatory or anti-inflammatory process through binding to different receptors
[5][93]. The anti-inflammatory role of 5-HT is accompanied by the activation of epithelial 5-HTR1A and 5-HTR4. Compared to control, the severity of experimental colitis in mice was enhanced through intraluminal administration of a 5-HTR1A and 5-HTR4 antagonist
[4][93]. Upregulation of 5-HTR4 expression protects the large intestine from DSS- or TNBS-induced colitis by maintaining epithelial integrity, stimulating the proliferation of crypt epithelial cells, and reducing apoptosis
[93]. A study reported that treatment with a 5-HTR2A antagonist (Ketanserin) alleviates intestinal inflammation by improving gut integrity, reducing the production of inflammatory cytokines in macrophages, and inhibiting the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in experimental colitis; this result further confirmed the deleterious role of 5-HTR2A on intestinal inflammation
[94]. However, the 5-HT receptors involved in the proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory processes reported in the current literature are contradictory. Spohn et al. demonstrated that chemical activation of 5-HTR4 reduced the severity of TNBS- and DSS-induced colitis
[93]. In contrast, Rapalli et al. found that the inhibition of 5-HTR4 improves the progression and pathological outcome of TNBS-induced colitis, thus suggesting the detrimental effect of 5-HTR4 on TNBS-induced colitis
[5]. Kim et al. also reported that the inhibition of 5-HTR7 signaling reversed acute and chronic colitis induced by DSS or TNBS
[95]. In contrast, several research studies have demonstrated that the development of colitis was not affected by 5-HTR7
[4][5]. Thus, further studies are required to determine the role of 5-HT receptors on experimental colitis to reveal the association between 5-HT receptors and the downstream signaling pathways under inflammatory conditions (
Figure 2).
The immune response to inflammation involves the extensive proliferation of immune cells and aberrant production of immune mediators and cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 and their related signaling pathways
[96][97]. 5-HT receptors have been identified in human and rodent immune cells
[44]. EC cells are in close proximity with immune cells in the gut mucosa, suggesting the existence of interaction between EC cells and immune cells
[98]. Immune cells, including dendritic cells, macrophages, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and B lymphocytes, proliferate in the 5-HT-mediated proinflammatory response
[4][99], suggesting that 5-HT plays a vital part in the immune response. Recent studies have shown that 5-HT signaling is altered by proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IFN-γ, as well as the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 by regulating the expression and function of SERT. Intriguingly, several studies have found that IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-6 and a low concentration of IL-10 caused a significant decrease in the function and activity of epithelial SERT
[4][100][101][102].
4.3. 5-HT and Energy Homeostasis
Metabolic homeostasis is regulated by nerves and hormones. Several recent studies have shown that 5-HT, an important endocrine substance and hormone, regulates the metabolic function of many tissues and influences obesity and energy metabolism
[1][50][108][109]. The liver, a pivotal organ in an organism’s metabolism, plays a central role in regulating plasma glucose metabolism and energy metabolism
[110]. 5-HT cannot be produced by hepatocytes; hence, all the peripheral 5-HT in the liver is derived from the gut. A previous study revealed that 5-HT produced during fasting promotes gluconeogenesis by enhancing the activity of two key gluconeogenesis rate-limiting enzymes (glucose 6-phosphatase and fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase) through 5-HTR2B
[77]. The cyclic AMP that is the downstream of 5-HTR2B is enhanced at transcriptional level after the elevated activity of two key enzymes; subsequently, cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) and CREB are activated
[111]. Additionally, gut-derived 5-HT in hepatocytes prevents glucose uptake in a GLUT2-dependent manner, thereby further favoring the maintenance of blood glucose levels
[77]. Because
TPH1 is expressed in adipocytes, the regulation of 5-HT in adipose tissue is more complicated than that in the liver. TPH1-produced 5-HT in adipocytes regulates the metabolism of adipose tissue through local autocrine signals
[50][112][113]. In white adipocytes, 5-HT synthesized in EC cells enhances the phosphorylation and activity of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) through binding to the 5-HT2B receptor, therefore elevating circulatory free fatty acids and glycerol
[77]. There are two possible pathways to promote lipolysis and inhibit lipogenesis: (1) HSL is activated indirectly by cAMP and cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA); (2) perilipin is phosphorylated by PKA and, consequently, stimulates phosphorylation of HSL
[114]. Enhanced glycerol acts as a fuel of gluconeogenesis and is converted into acetyl-CoA by β-oxidation for the synthesis of ketone bodies
[1]. Because of the complexity of the serotonergic system in adipose tissue, more studies are required to elucidate the underlying responsible role for 5-HT in the future.
4.4. 5-HT and Bone Remodeling
5-HT and its role in bone metabolism are receiving great interest from researchers. Bone remodeling and renewal is a highly integrated process, which includes bone resorption through osteoclasts and bone formation through osteoblasts. These two processes are dynamically balanced, which contributes to the maintenance of bone
[115]. Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-5 (Lrp5) is essential for Wnt signaling to form bones
[116][117][118]. Previous studies have reported that Lrp5 is expressed in osteoblasts and EC cells in the GI tract
[119]. However, Lrp5 could act in EC cells in the gut, not in osteoblast, to regulate bone-mass accrual via a Wnt-independent pathway
[120]. Lrp5 inhibits the expression of TPH1, thereby reducing 5-HT concentration in the blood. Less 5-HT binds to 5-HTR1B in osteoblasts and 5-HTR1B signaling is reduced in osteoblasts. As a result, the expression and function of cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB) is enhanced, which promotes cyclin expression and results in enhanced osteoblasts differentiation and proliferation
[120]. In this process, 5-HT derived from the GI tract and transported through the circulation is detrimental to bone formation through inhibiting osteoblast proliferation
[120] (
Figure 3). Consistently, some studies have supported that gut-derived 5-HT could suppress bone growth in rats
[121][122]. Thus, pharmacological inhibition of gut-derived 5-HT synthesis through the inhibitor of THP1 may be a potential bone anabolic treatment for low bone mass
[123][124]. Additionally, there are conflicting results in the model where Lrp5 regulates bone mass through duodenal 5-HT. A study conducted by Cui et al. demonstrated that gut-derived 5-HT synthesis is not associated with Lrp5
[117]. Growing evidence has shown that 5-HT plays an important role in bone metabolism. However, because of the different synthesis sites of 5-HT, including brain-derived 5-HT
[125], gut-derived 5-HT
[120][123][126], and bone-derived 5-HT
[127], 5-HT has different roles in bone metabolism (
Figure 3).