Trends in Immunology
Lymphocytes transport serotonin and dopamine: agony or ecstasy?
Section snippets
Evidence that lymphocytes carry transporters for serotonin and dopamine
Some relevant pharmacological characteristics of the transporters involved in active uptake of serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline are outlined in Table 1. Outside the brain, the most widely described of these is the serotonin transporter (SERT) in platelets.
Impact on immune function of drugs that target biogenic monoamine transporters
Here, we concisely review some of the literature pertaining to how psychotropic drugs and antidepressants that target the monoamine transporters might perturb the proper functioning of the immune system.
Is drug-induced immune disturbance mediated through lymphocyte monoamine transporters?
he existence of bi-directional communication among the immune, neuroendocrine and central nervous systems is beyond dispute, even if current insight probably represents just the tip of an iceberg 36, 37. Stress clearly perturbs immune function, as does mood and emotion. Main players mooted responsible for such crosstalk between mind and body are the sympathetic nervous system and the hyopthalmus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. Thus, with investigations in vivo, it becomes difficult to untangle
Transports of delight?
In this Review we have posed the following questions: (1) do lymphocytes express functional transporters for serotonin and catecholamines; (2) do drugs in widespread use that target these structures disturb immune behaviour; and (3) are such effects dependent on direct modulation of lymphocyte-associated transporter activity? Although there appears to be sufficient (although still far from complete) evidence to answer affirmatively to the first question there remains confusion and/or simple
Acknowledgements
We are indebted to the many who have helped construct this Review. Space constraints limit us mentioning you by name as it does our ability to cite all the references pertinent to this Review. The work of J.G. is supported by the Medical Research Council (UK) and that of N.M.B by the Wellcome Trust. J.G. is a non-Clinical MRC Research Professor.
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