Mianserin-induced down-regulation of human 5-hydroxytryptamine2A and 5-hydroxytryptamine2C receptors stably expressed in the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y.

We have assessed the ability of the serotonergic antagonist mianserin to modulate the number and functional activity of human 5-hydroxytryptamine2A (5-HT2A) and 5-HT2C receptors stably expressed in the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y. Incubation of cells expressing the 5-HT2A receptor with mianserin (100 nM) for 24 h caused a significant decrease (48%) in the binding capacity of [3H] ketanserin. This receptor down-regulation was associated with a corresponding decrease in the maximal production of inositol phosphates induced by 5-HT but not by carbachol. Exposure of cells expressing the 5-HT2C receptor to mianserin (100 nM) for 72 h but not for 24 h similarly resulted in a significant reduction (44%) in [3H]mesulergine binding. Corresponding analysis of inositol phosphate production by 5-HT at the 5-HT2C receptor after incubation with mianserin showed no change in maximal response after 24 h. No change in the binding capacity of either radioligand was seen after incubation with mianserin for 1 h. A decrease in the binding affinity of both radioligands was also observed after mianserin treatment, but this decrease was similar after 1 h of incubation to that seen after 24 or 72 h, and was probably due to the retention of mianserin within the tissue. We conclude that antagonist down-regulation is evident at human 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors stably expressed in a human neuroblastoma cell line and is probably mediated by a direct action of mianserin at the receptor.