Serotonin and Scleroderma (Fibrosis)

Platelet-derived serotonin links vascular
disease and tissue fibrosis 2011

Modulation of bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis by serotonin receptor antagonists in mice
A. Fabre 1 , 2 , J. Marchal-Sommé 1 , S. Marchand-Adam 1 , 3 , C. Quesnel 1 , R. Borie 1 , M. Dehoux 1 , 4 , C. Ruffié 1 , J. Callebert 5 , J-M. Launay 5 , D. Hénin 2 , P. Soler 1 and B. Crestani 1 , 3

"Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) is known to increase proliferation and collagen synthesis by fibroblasts. Two receptor subtypes, 5-HT2A and 5-HT2B, have been shown to play the most important roles in the lung. Serotonin antagonists promoted an antifibrotic environment by decreasing the lung mRNA levels of transforming growth factor-β1, connective growth factor and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 mRNA... Interestingly, the 5-HT2B receptor was strongly expressed by fibroblasts in the fibroblastic foci in human idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis samples."

Treatment of Carcinoid Fibrosis

Positive data from Lexicon LX1032 Phase 2 study on carcinoid syndrome

Potaba ® Potassium P-Aminobenzoate, U.S.P.

Development of a Scleroderma-like Illness during Therapy with L-5-Hydroxytryptophan and Carbidopa

Our data and studies in the literature suggest that two factors may be important in the pathogenesis of some scleroderma-like illness: high plasma serotonin and the abnormality associated with elevated kynurenine. (N Engl J Med. 1980; 303:782–7.)


Depression, osteoporosis, serotonin and cell membrane viscosity between biology and philosophical anthropology


At the time it is shown that the viscosity of the platelet membrane is a general influencing factor for serotonin receptor uptake, a general principle governing the handling of serotonin itself is established with regard to its relations with the depressive disorder. It may also be involved, to a certain extent, in some pathologies that recognise serotonin changes; that is, scleroderma, inflammatory bowel disease, neuroinflammation, multiple sclerosis and osteoporosis.

The high incidence of depression, in these pathological conditions, leads us to consider a general phenomenological rule rather than a specific error in gene expression or loss of enzyme function. The viscosity of the membrane appears to be a concept more plausible than the fact that it is a phenomenon to which changes may contribute more general factors compared to the exclusivity of a gene expression error and/or an abnormality of enzyme function. The serotonin receptors and their subtypes, together with the modification of gene expression of transporters, represent a very complex and intriguing network. We must understand if it is possible to find a general and common rule to explain all the different molecular aspects of the serotonin pathways, tissue connections and responsibilities in its involvement in pathologies.

Raynaud's Phenomenon and Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

Treatment of Raynaud's phenomenon with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine

Plasma free and intraplatelet serotonin in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon

Management of Vasculopathy in Connective Tissue Disease

Handb Exp Pharmacol. 2007;(178):347-63.
A novel conditional knockout strategy applied to serotonin receptors.

The Serotonin Signaling System: From Basic Understanding To Drug Development for Functional GI Disorders
Michael D. Gershon⁎, , , Jan Tack‡
Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York

Doxycycline and Serotonin

Serotonin 5HT-1A receptor density in the brain of the spontaneously hypertensive rats
After doxycycline treatment, serotonin 5HT-1A extracellular domain receptor density was significantly increased in the treated SHRs (p<0.05). These results suggest that doxycycline can increase extracellular domain receptor density.