Institute for Molecular Cardiovascular Research (IMCAR), RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
Aachen-Maastricht Institute for CardioRenal Disease (AMICARE), RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Jan 12;24(2):1549. doi: 10.3390/ijms24021549.
Serotonin, also known as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is a well-known neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS), but also plays a significant role in peripheral tissues. There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that serotonin influences immune cell responses and contributes to the development of pathological injury in cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis, as well as other diseases which occur as a result of immune hyperactivity. In particular, high levels of serotonin are able to activate a multitude of 5-HT receptors found on the surface of immune cells, thereby influencing the process of atherosclerotic plaque formation in arteries. In this review, we will discuss the differences between serotonin production in the CNS and the periphery, and will give a brief outline of the function of serotonin in the periphery. In this context, we will particularly focus on the effects of serotonin on immune cells related to atherosclerosis and identify caveats that are important for future research.
血清素，亦称 5-羟色胺（5-HT），是中枢神经系统（CNS）中一种众所周知的神经递质，但在周围组织中也起着重要作用。越来越多的证据表明，血清素影响免疫细胞的反应，并有助于心血管疾病（如动脉粥样硬化）以及其他由免疫过度活跃引起的疾病的病理性损伤的发展。特别是，高浓度的血清素能够激活免疫细胞表面上存在的多种 5-HT 受体，从而影响动脉中动脉粥样硬化斑块形成的过程。在这篇综述中，我们将讨论 CNS 和外周组织中血清素产生的差异，并简要概述血清素在周围组织中的功能。在这方面，我们将特别关注血清素对与动脉粥样硬化有关的免疫细胞的影响，并确定对未来研究很重要的注意事项。
