Expression of 5HT1a receptors on activated human T cells. Regulation of cyclic AMP levels and T cell proliferation by 5-hydroxytryptamine.

The neurotransmitter, serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5HT), has been shown to affect function of cells of the immune system. More recently, specific 5HT receptors have been identified and partially characterized on Jurkat cells. Results presented here characterize the receptor on Jurkat cells as the 5HT1a receptor subtype and show that mitogen-activated but not resting human T cells also express the 5HT1a receptor subtype. Analysis of mRNA in Jurkat cells and activated and resting T cells by PCR or by Northern analysis revealed the presence of 5HT1a receptor. Pharmacologic analysis of this receptor demonstrated that the receptors on Jurkat cells and activated T cells are similar to each other and that they resemble the 5HT1a receptor found in the brain. Analysis of the second messenger pathways activated by the 5HT1a receptor show that ligand-binding to the Jurkat cell 5HT1a receptor results in elevation of intracellular inositol phosphates and Ca2+ and that ligand binding to the 5HT1a receptor on activated T cells modulated intracellular levels of cAMP.