Effects of 5-HT2A Receptor Stimulation and Blocking on Immune Response

Abstract

Experiments on CBA mice showed that selective stimulation of 2A serotonin receptors with DOI agonist (1 mg/kg) led to suppression of the immune response and reduction of the spleen and peripheral blood CD8(+)T cell counts with the cytotoxic/suppressor function. Selective blockade of these receptors with ketanserin (1 mg/kg) had an opposite effect: immunostimulation with an increase in CD8(+)T cell count in the spleen. These data indicate the involvement of 2A serotonin receptors in immunosuppressive mechanisms of serotoninergic system.

Psychedelics

“…In mice, administration of 1 mg/kg DOI led to immune response suppression and reduction of spleen and peripheral blood CD8(+) T cell counts, with the cytotoxic/suppressor function (Davydova et al, 2010). The effect was blocked by administration of the 5-HT 2A -selective antagonist ketanserin.…”

“…Flow cytometric analysis indicated that not only was R-DOI leading to a reduction in overall Th2 cells, but that these cells were also producing fewer proinflammatory cytokines. In addition to its effect on Th2 cells, DOI also has been demonstrated to have a suppressive effect on spleen and blood peripheral CD8 + cells (Davydova et al, 2010) and the recruitment of eosinophils (Kang et al, 2013).…”

Role of 5-HT2A Receptors in Immunomodulation in Animal Models of Aggressive Behavior

“…Ketanserin was dissolved in distilled water and injected once 30 min before antigen administration. The doses, timing and administration routes of drugs were based on our previous data [15]. Control groups of rats received an equivalent volume of corresponding vehicle for the same period of time.…”

“…It has also been reported that activation of 5-HT 2A receptors, localized only postsynaptically, with their preferential agonist DOI resulted in a decrease of the rosette-forming cell numbers and cytotoxic/suppressor CD8 + T lymphocytes in the spleen of mice [15], as well as in the proliferative activity of T lymphocytes in rats [13]. At the same time, the blockade of these receptors with cyproheptadine or ketanserin induced immunostimulation [12] [15] [22].…”

Contribution of brain dopamine, serotonin and opioid receptors in the mechanisms of neuroimmunomodulation: Evidence from pharmacological analysis

“…Systemic administration of their selective agonist 4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl-isopropylamine (DOI) resulted in a decrease in the numbers of AFC, the content of CD8 + T cells with cytotoxic/suppressor function in the peripheral blood and to a lesser extent in the spleen [84], and reduced by almost 80% lymphocyte proliferation [23]. Consistent with the central 5-HT 2A -receptor involvement, microinjection (unilaterally into the lateral ventricle) of DOI resulted in a decrease in lymphocyte proliferation, as that observed following its systemic administration [23].…”