A short history of the 5-HT2C receptor: from the choroid plexus to depression, obesity and addiction treatment

This paper is a personal account on the discovery and characterization of the 5-HT2C receptor (first known as the 5- HT1C receptor) over 30 years ago and how it translated into a number of unsuspected features for a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) and a diversity of clinical applications. The 5-HT2C receptor is one of the most intriguing members of the GPCR superfamily. Initially referred to as 5-HT1CR, the 5-HT2CR was discovered while studying the pharmacological features and the distribution of [3H]mesulergine-labelled sites, primarily in the brain using radioligand binding and slice autoradiography. Mesulergine (SDZ CU-085), was, at the time, best defined as a ligand with serotonergic and dopaminergic properties. Autoradiographic studies showed remarkably strong [3H]mesulergine-labelling to the rat choroid plexus. [3H]mesulergine-labelled sites had pharmacological properties different from, at the time, known or purported 5-HT receptors. In spite of similarities with 5-HT2 binding, the new binding site was called 5-HT1C because of its very high affinity for 5-HT itself. Within the following 10 years, the 5-HT1CR (later named 5- HT2C) was extensively characterised pharmacologically, anatomically and functionally: it was one of the first 5-HT receptors to be sequenced and cloned. The 5-HT2CR is a GPCR, with a very complex gene structure. It constitutes a rarity in theGPCR family: many 5-HT2CR variants exist, especially in humans, due to RNA editing, in addition to a few 5-HT2CR splice variants. Intense research led to therapeutically active 5-HT2C receptor ligands, both antagonists (or inverse agonists) and agonists: keeping in mind that a number of antidepressants and antipsychotics are 5- HT2CR antagonists/inverse agonists. Agomelatine, a 5-HT2CR antagonist is registered for the treatment of major depression. The agonist Lorcaserin is registered for the treatment of aspects of obesity and has further potential in addiction, especially nicotine/ smoking. There is good evidence that the 5-HT2CR is involved in spinal cord injury-induced spasms of the lower limbs, which can be treated with 5-HT2CR antagonists/inverse agonists such as cyproheptadine or SB206553. The 5-HT2CR may play a role in schizophrenia and epilepsy. Vabicaserin, a 5-HT2CR agonist has been in development for the treatment of schizophrenia and obesity, but was stopped. As is common, there is potential for further indications for 5-HT2CR ligands, as suggested by a number of preclinical and/or genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on depression, suicide, sexual dysfunction, addictions and obesity. The 5-HT2CR is clearly affected by a number of established antidepressants/antipsychotics and may be one of the culprits in antipsychotic-induced weight gain

Nucleotides cycliques et muscle lisse vasculaire : etude pharmacologique sur l'aorte de rat

SIGLECNRS TD Bordereau / INIST-CNRS - Institut de l'Information Scientifique et TechniqueFRFranc

Functional activity of the multiligand analog SOM230 at human recombinant somatostatin receptor subtypes supports its usefulness in neuroendocrine tumors.

Functional gastroenteropancreatic tumors express all 5 somatostatin receptor subtypes (sst) in different quantities. Octreotide and lanreotide treat patients with these tumors by binding preferentially to sst2 and, to a lesser extent, to sst3 and sst5 receptors, thereby controlling prominent symptoms caused by hormone hypersecretion (diarrhea and flushing). Although symptoms initially improve in most patients, a loss of response occurs in about 50% during continuous treatment. The functional activity at sst receptors of SOM230, a new multiligand somatostatin analog, has been described and compared with that of somatostatin (SRIF-14) and octreotide. These data show that SOM230 is a full agonist with nanomolar potency at sst(1,2,3) and sst5 receptors. The multiligand activity profile of SOM230, together with its nondesensitizing inhibitory effect on growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I secretion in rats, may underlie its successful use in clinical trials and its potential for use in refractory patients with carcinoid tumors

Spontaneous rhythmic contractions of human saphenous veins isolated from old subjects are sensitive to cyclooxygenase inhibitors

Spontaneous rhythmic contractions were observed in some preparations of human isolated saphenous veins from old (greater than 60 years) subjects. These contractions were insensitive to adrenergic and histaminergic blockers, but were abolished by the cyclooxygenase inhibitors, aspirin and indomethacin, indicating the participation of endogenous eicosanoids

Antihistaminic properties of cicletanine in human isolated coronary arteries.

Cicletanine was tested as an antagonist of the various actions of histamine in coronary artery rings isolated from old (mostly atherosclerotic) and young (non-atherosclerotic) patients. Histamine mainly induced concentration-dependent contractions in arteries from old patients. Cicletanine antagonized this effect with a pA2 value of 6.9 (slope factor of 0.94), revealing in some cases a relaxant effect of histamine. In addition, cicletanine increased the threshold concentration of histamine required to trigger spastic, indomethacin-sensitive rhythmic contractions in (some) rings of the oldest patient. At variance with what occurred in coronary rings from old patients, the predominant effect of histamine in rings from young patients was relaxation. This relaxation remained unaltered by cicletanine (1 microM). As a whole, these results extend the histamine H1 antagonistic activity of cicletanine to human coronary arteries. If histamine is involved in the promotion of vasospasm, then cicletanine could be of potential benefit to patients, without apparently affecting the relaxant response to histamine in non-cardiac patients

Histamine receptors in the smooth muscle of human internal mammary artery and saphenous vein

The effects of histamine were characterized and compared in the vascular smooth muscle of two human isolated blood vessels, the human internal mammary artery (HIMA) and the human saphenous vein (HSV). Segments of these vessels were obtained during aortocoronary bypass surgery and their intimal surface was rubbed in order to eliminate any possible influence of the endothelium. Histamine contracted both types of vessels in a concentration-dependent manner and this effect was antagonized by the H1 receptor antagonists mepyramine and cicletanine. In the case of HIMA only this antagonism was found to be competitive (pA2 values of 9.3 and 7.7 for mepyramine and cicletanine, respectively). Histamine-induced contractions were not significantly affected by phentolamine (0.3 microM). In HSV, but not HIMA, indomethacin (5 microM) significantly depressed histamine-induced contractions (by about 30%). In the presence of the H2 receptor antagonist cimetidine (10 microM), concentration-response curves of histamine-induced contractions were significantly shifted to the left in both HIMA and HSV, suggesting the presence of H2 receptors mediating relaxation. HIMA and HSV precontracted by noradrenaline could be partially and concentration dependently relaxed by histamine, only in the presence of a H1 receptor antagonist. This relaxation was inhibited by cimetidine. The results show that in de-endothelialized HIMA and HSV histamine induced mainly contraction which is sensitive to the H1 receptor antagonists. Only in HIMA, nevertheless, was competitive antagonism established. In addition, histamine-induced relaxation, antagonized by cimetidine, could be demonstrated in both precontracted vessels, indicating the presence of H2 receptors