Rheumatoid Arthritis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Rheumatoid Arthritis, including details on treatment, symptoms, causes, medication.

Decreased density of serotonin 5-HT2A receptors in rheumatoid arthritis.

Kling A, Rantapää-Dahlqvist S, Stenlund H, Mjörndal T

Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Umeå University Hospital, S-901 85 Umeå, Sweden. anders.kling@pharm.umu.se

BACKGROUND: Animal studies have indicated that 5-HT2A receptors could play a role in arthritic diseases. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the binding properties of 5-HT2A receptors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: Using a radioactive binding assay, 43 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were compared with 49 sex and age matched controls for density and affinity (measured as Bmax and Kd) of 5-HT2A serotonin receptors. Genotyping, using polymerase chain reaction, was undertaken to exclude the possibility that differences in the genetic polymorphism T102C for the 5-HT2A receptor determine differences in receptor density. RESULTS: Mean of Bmax of 5-HT2A receptors in rheumatoid patients was significantly lower than in controls, at 45.3 v 57.4 fmol/mg protein (p = 0.004), but there was no significant difference in Kd. The T102C receptor polymorphism genotypes showed a skewed distribution between the two groups. Even when adjusted for this, there was a significant difference in Bmax between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: The density of 5-HT2A serotonin receptors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis is markedly reduced. This could either reflect a difference involved in the susceptibility to the disease or be a secondary effect of the disease.

Published 15 May 2006 in Ann Rheum Dis, 65(6): 816-9.
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