AbstractLymphocytes possess serotonin 5-HT
1A and β-adrenergic receptors, which have been related to cell proliferation. In the present report, lymphocytes of rat blood were isolated by Ficoll-Hypaque gradients and differential adhesion to plastic. They were cultured in RPMI medium for 72 h in the presence of the mitogens lipopolysaccharide concanavalin A and anti-CD3 antibody. The latter two stimulated the proliferation of lymphocytes, but not the first. Serotonin (0.1100 μM) was added alone or in the presence of suboptimal concentrations of concanavalin A (2 μg/ml) or anti-CD3 antibody (0.4 μg/ml). The 5-HT
1A receptor agonists, 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin and buspirone (0.1100 μM) were also tested in the cultures. Serotonin, 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin and buspirone neither had any effect by themselves, nor modified the proliferation induced by the mitogens. Noradrenaline (251,000 μM) and the β-adrenergic receptor agonist, isoproterenol (5100 μM), produced a reduction of the activation induced by concanavalin A or anti-CD3 antibody in a dose-dependent manner. Increasing serotonin concentrations reduced the inhibitory effect of noradrenaline (300 μM). Variable concentrations of 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin or buspirone also reduced the inhibition produced by isoproterenol (100 μM). The antagonist of 5-HT
1A receptors, WAY-100,478 (0.1100 μM), inhibited concanavalin A- or anti-CD3 antibody-induced proliferation. Serotonin (0.1100 μM) impaired the inhibitory effect of the 5-HT
1A antagonist (10 μM). The inhibitor of tryptophan hydroxylase, p-chlorophenylalanine (501,000 μM), decreased the stimulatory effect of concanavalin A, serotonin (0.5100 μM) and 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (1100 μM) reverted the effect of p-chlorophenylalanine (1,000 μM). The serotonin reuptake blockers zimelidine, imipramine and clomipramine decreased concanavalin A-induced proliferation. The concentrations of serotonin and noradrenaline increased in lymphocytes cultured in the presence of concanavalin A, probably as a mechanism for modifying the final effect on proliferation. The present results indicate that 5-HT
1A receptors play a stimulatory role on rat blood lymphocytes, and they interact in a parallel and opposite manner with β-adrenergic receptors. Furthermore, endogenous serotonin is relevant in displaying its stimulatory effect.Copyright © 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel