5-HT2 receptor mRNA is overexpressed in cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells relative to normal aorta.

Abstract

Proliferation of smooth muscle cells in arteries is associated with contractile hypersensitivity to serotonin (5-HT). A possible explanation is that smooth muscle cells express increased numbers of phospholipase C (PLC)-coupled 5-HT receptors (5-HTR), which could mediate contractile and mitogenic signals via phosphatidylinositol turnover. To test this hypothesis, we performed a molecular characterization of 5-HTR subtypes in normal aorta and passaged rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASM) in culture. Northern blot analysis revealed that growth-arrested cultured cells expressed 5-HT2R mRNA at 50-fold greater levels than aorta. 5-HT1CR mRNA was not detected in either case. 5-HT stimulated intracellular Ca2+ mobilization (fivefold peak increase) and c-fos mRNA induction (10-fold peak increase); both responses were strongly inhibited by selective 5-HT2R antagonists. Specific agonists for the 5-HT1AR, 5-HT1BR, and 5-HT1DR failed to induce c-fos mRNA. Although 5-HT (10 microM) increased [3H]thymidine incorporation (28% relative to 10% calf serum), it was a weak mitogen for cultured RASM based on cell counts. Thus there is high level expression of 5-HT2R mRNA by cultured RASM relative to aorta, and the 5-HT2R appears to be the only 5-HTR subtype mediating early growth signals in these cells. These data suggest that, following arterial injury in vivo, smooth muscle cells may overexpress the 5-HT2R, resulting in 5-HT contractile hypersensitivity and increased responsiveness to other growth factors.