Title:Investigation of 5-HT2A gene expression in PBMCs of patients with allergic asthma
Volume: 14
Issue: 1
Author(s): Ghasem Ahangari, Somayeh Emadi Koochak, Leila Mohammadi Amirabad and Gholamreza Derkhshan Deilami
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Allergic asthma, 5-HT2A> receptor, real time PCR, serotonin, serotonin receptor 2A gene.
Abstract: Background: Asthma is an inflammatory airway disorder in which different immune cells in
the blood and lungs play a fundamental role. In asthma condition, the airway inflammation
accompanied by bronchial smooth muscle spasm cause airway obstruction. A study showed that high
concentration of blood serotonin is associated with the intensity and exacerbation of asthma disease.
Other studies showed that a subtype of serotonin receptor called 5-Hydroxytriptamine 2A receptor (5-
HT2A) can enhance T-cell blastogenesis and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IFNγ.
Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the level of 5-HT2A in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs)
of asthmatic patients.
Methods: PBMCs were extracted from blood of 30 patients with asthma and 30 normal people. After synthesizing cDNAs
from total mRNAs, real-time PCR was performed to amplify 5-HT2A and β-actin (as an internal control). The expression
ratios were analyzed in patients with asthma in comparison with normal group.
Results: The results indicated that gene expression is significantly increased in peripheral blood mononuclear cells
(PBMCs) of asthma patients in comparison with normal group (P = 0.003).
Conclusion: The results of this study can suggest designing a protocol by using of the 5-HT2A receptor expression in
PBMCs as a biomarker of asthma, but this requires further studies on a larger number of patients. In addition, the potential
role of this receptor in bronchoconstriction can lead us to use its antagonists as a new treatment in asthma.
