Different patterns of 5-HT receptor and transporter dysfunction in neuropsychiatric disorders – a comparative analysis of in vivo imaging findings

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Impairment of serotonin receptor and transporter function is increasingly recognized to play a major role in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric diseases including anxiety disorder (AD), major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder (BD) and schizophrenia (SZ). We conducted a PubMed search, which provided a total of 136 <jats:italic>in vivo</jats:italic> studies with PET and SPECT, in which 5-HT synthesis, 5-HT transporter binding, 5-HT<jats:sub>1</jats:sub> receptor binding or 5-HT<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> receptor binding in patients with the primary diagnosis of acute AD, MDD, BD or SZ was compared to healthy individuals. A retrospective analysis revealed that AD, MDD, BD and SZ differed as to affected brain region(s), affected synaptic constituent(s) and extent as well as direction of dysfunction in terms of either sensitization or desensitization of transporter and receptor binding sites.</jats:p>

Phytotherapeutic effects of the fruits of Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf. on cancer, inflammation, and digestive dysfunction

“…As a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, it regulates mood and emotion. However, an imbalance in its functions leads to depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders (Nikolaus, Muller, & Hautzel, ). Despite its vital role in the central nervous system, a majority (95%) of 5‐HT is released in the GI tract by intestinal enterochromaffin cells (Berger et al, ; D. Y. Kim & Camilleri, ) that regulate prokinetic actions, such as gastric emptying, intestinal peristalsis, intestinal secretion, and colonic tone (Berger et al, ).…”

“…As a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, it regulates mood and emotion. However, an imbalance in its functions leads to depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders (Nikolaus, Muller, & Hautzel, 2016). Despite its vital role in the central nervous system, a majority Kim & Camilleri, 2000;Wouters, Farrugia, & Schemann, 2007).…”

Dopaminergic System Alteration in Anxiety and Compulsive Disorders: A Systematic Review of Neuroimaging Studies

“…Various neurotransmitters have been implicated in the pathophysiology of anxiety and compulsive disorder including dopamine (Plavén Sigray et al, 2016), serotonin (Nikolaus et al, 2016), glutamate (Spencer et al, 2014), and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) (Mohler, 2012). A meta-analysis of 1 H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) reported that no significant differences in GABA levels were found in panic disorder patients (Schür et al, 2016) while the GABA(A) receptor was reported to decrease throughout the mesolimbocortical system in anxiety disorder (Nikolaus et al, 2014).…”

Trait Openness and serotonin 2A receptors in healthy volunteers: A positron emission tomography study

“…These psychedelic effects of psilocybin are mediated primarily by its actions as an agonist at the serotonin 2A receptor (5‐HT 2A R) (Vollenweider, Vollenweider‐Scherpenhuyzen, Babler, Vogel, & Hell, ). The 5‐HT 2A R is an excitatory 5‐HT receptor in the human brain most highly expressed throughout the cerebral cortex (Beliveau & Ganz, ; Varnas, Halldin, & Hall, ), and dysfunction of 5‐HT 2A R is implicated in neuropsychiatric disorders including depression and schizophrenia (Albert, Benkelfat, & Descarries, ; Bhagwagar et al, ; Lin, Jiang, Kan, & Chu, ; Naughton, Mulrooney, & Leonard, ; Nikolaus, Muller, & Hautzel, ). It is therefore possible that 5‐HT 2A R‐mediated effects of psilocybin and other psychedelics contribute to enduring increases in trait Openness.…”