Serotonin research: Crossing scales and boundaries

Di Giovanni G(1), De Deurwaerdère P(2).

Author information:
(1)Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry,
Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta; Neuroscience
Division, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK. Electronic
address: .
(2)Centre National de La Recherche Scientifique, UMR CNRS 5287, Bordeaux Cedex,
France. Electronic address: .

Nearly 100 years after the discovery of serotonin, its role remains elusive.
Modulation of serotonin transmission is considered in numerous central nervous
system (CNS) diseases including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia,
obsessive-compulsive disorders, addiction, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s
disease. The therapeutic strategies based on serotonin systems have evolved
thanks to better identification of the involvement of serotonin in various
diseases, the better use of animal models, a better understanding of the
molecular environment of serotonin receptors, and ultimately the better
understanding of the interaction of serotonin neurotransmission with other
biological systems. Some 5-HT receptors are still the object of numerous
investigations including 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, and 5-HT6 receptor subtypes. It is
noteworthy that the direction of research is moving towards a simultaneous action
at multiple targets either through different 5-HT targets or the consideration of
both 5-HT and other targets to achieve better therapeutic responses.

Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

 

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