Search

Manfred Göthert, who had served Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch Pharmacol as Managing Editor from 1998 to 2005, deceased in June 2019. His scientific oeuvre encompasses more than 20 types of presynaptic receptors, mostly on serotoninergic and noradrenergic neurones. He was the first to identify presynaptic receptors for somatostatin and ACTH and described many presynaptic receptors, known from animal preparations, also in human tissue. In particular, he elucidated the pharmacology of presynaptic 5-HT receptors. A second field of interest included ligand-gated and voltage-dependent channels. The negative allosteric effect of anesthetics at peripheral nACh receptors is relevant for the peripheral clinical effects of these drugs and modified the Meyer-Overton hypothesis. The negative allosteric effect of ethanol at NMDA receptors in human brain tissue occurred at concentrations found in the range of clinical ethanol intoxication. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of gabapentinoids on P/Q Ca 2+ channels and the subsequent decrease in AMPA-induced noradrenaline release may contribute to their clinical effect. Another ligand-gated ion channel, the 5-HT 3 receptor, attracted the interest of Manfred Göthert from the whole animal via isolated preparations down to the cellular level. He contributed to that molecular study in which 5-HT 3 receptor subtypes were disclosed. Finally, he found altered pharmacological properties of 5-HT receptor variants like the Arg219Leu 5-HT 1A receptor (which was also shown to be associated with major depression) and the Phe124Cys 5-HT 1B receptor (which may be related to sumatriptan-induced vasospasm). Manfred Göthert was a brilliant scientist and his papers have a major impact on today's pharmacology., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

About 40% of the papers within the scientific oeuvre of Manfred Göthert (1939-2019) were dedicated to serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT). He was not only the witness of the gradual definition of the fourteen 5-HT receptor subtypes but also was involved directly by identifying 5-HT 1B , 5-HT 1D and 5-HT 3 receptors. Moreover, he identified presynaptic 5-HT receptors on central and/or peripheral serotoninergic, noradrenergic and/or cholinergic neurones. Two inhibitory (5-HT 1B , 5-HT 1D ) and two facilitatory (5-HT 3 , 5-HT 4 ) receptors were found, the 5-HT 1B receptor representing a possible target for antidepressant drugs. Ten years earlier than electrophysiologists, he identified ligand-gated receptors like the 5-HT 3 and the nicotinic acetylcholine (nACh) receptor as targets of halothane. Simultaneously with, but independent of, other authors he found that ethanol allosterically inhibits N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, which are affected at an even lower concentration than 5-HT 3 and nACh receptors. The latter two receptors were shown to be subject to allosteric inhibition also by cannabinoids via a mechanism unrelated to cannabinoid CB 1 or CB 2 receptors; cannabinoid inhibition of 5-HT 3 receptors may represent a new target for the treatment of neuropathic pain.

The serotonin (5-hydroxtryptamine, 5-HT) system plays a role in analgesia and emesis. The aim of this study was to test whether opioids or ketamine inhibit the human 5-HT transporter and whether this increases free plasma 5-HT concentrations. HEK293 cells, stably transfected with the human 5-HT transporter cDNA, were incubated with morphine, hydromorphone, fentanyl, alfentanil, pethidine (meperidine), tramadol, ketamine, and the reference substance citalopram (specific 5-HT transporter inhibitor). The uptake of [(3)H]5-HT was measured by liquid scintillation counting. In a second series of experiments, study drugs were incubated with plasma of ten healthy blood donors and change of 5-HT plasma-concentrations were measured (ELISA). The end point was the inhibition of the 5-HT transporter by different analgesics either in HEK293 cells or in human platelets ex vivo. Tramadol, pethidine, and ketamine suppressed [(3)H]5-HT uptake dose-dependently with an IC50 of 1, 20.9, and 230 μM, respectively. These drugs also prevented 5-HT uptake in platelets with an increase in free plasma 5-HT. Free 5-HT concentrations in human plasma were increased by citalopram 1 μM, tramadol 20 μM, pethidine 30 μM, and ketamine 100 μM to 280 [248/312]%, 269 [188/349]%, and 149 [122/174]%, respectively, compared to controls without any co-incubation (means [95 % CI]; all p < 0.005). No change in both experimental settings was observed for the other opioids. Tramadol and pethidine inhibited the 5-HT transporter in HEK293 cells and platelets. This inhibition may contribute to serotonergic effects when these opioids are given in combination, e.g., with monoamine oxidase inhibitors or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

The aim of this study was to analyze functional properties of the naturally occurring C23S variant of the human 5-HT2C receptor. In HEK293 cells transiently expressing the unedited forms of the variant receptor (VR) or the wild-type receptor (WTR), surface expression was determined by [3H]mesulergine binding to membrane fragments. Function was examined by an aequorin luminescence-based Ca2+ assay. Surface expression of the VR was 116% of that of the WTR. The 5-HT-induced increase in cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i), and its inhibition by the inverse agonist SB 206553 did not differ between VR- or WTR-expressing cells. Preexposure of VR- or WTR-expressing cells to 0.5 μM 5-HT (3 min-4.5 h) led to a practically identical time course and extent in the reduction of the 5-HT-induced increase in [Ca2+]i. In contrast, prolonged preexposure to the inverse agonist SB 206553 (1 μM) elevated the 5-HT-induced increase in [Ca2+]i for both isoreceptors. A preexposure time of 4.5 h was necessary to significantly elevate the Ca2+ response of the WTR, but the VR produced this elevation within 1 h with virtually no further effect after 4.5 h of preexposure. In conclusion, prolonged preexposure to 5-HT caused equally rapid and strong desensitization of both isoreceptors. The different time course of SB 206553-induced resensitization of the two isoreceptors might be therapeutically relevant for drugs exhibiting inverse agonist properties at 5-HT2C receptors, such as atypical antipsychotics and certain antidepressants.

Objectives: The 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 (5-HT3) receptor, a ligand-gated ion channel, is known to be involved in gut motility and peristalsis, the mediation of pain and psychiatric diseases. 5-HT3 receptor antagonists are effectively used to treat chemotherapy-induced emesis and irritable bowel syndrome. We have characterized the impact of four naturally occurring variants in the HTR3B gene leading to amino acid exchanges within the respective subunit of heteromeric 5-HT3A/B receptors on a functional and expressional level., Methods and Results: For functional characterization, a Ca influx assay based on aequorin bioluminescence was used. Radioligand-binding studies with the 5-HT3 receptor antagonist [H]GR65630 were carried out to determine expression levels of heteromeric 5-HT3A/B receptors. Transiently transfected human embryonic kidney 293 cells using 5-HT3A and 5-HT3B complementary DNA constructs were shown to coexpress homopentameric 5-HT3A next to heteromeric 5-HT3A/B receptors. The variant p.V183I decreased surface expression, whereas p.Y129S and p.S156R led to pronounced increases of 5-HT maximum responses, despite nearly unaltered surface expression levels of heteromeric 5-HT3A/B receptors., Conclusion: These results may help to explain earlier reported association findings of the frequent p.Y129S and p.V183I variants with psychiatric diseases. Replication studies with larger sample pools, especially regarding the rare p.S156R variant would be useful, to obtain an idea about the predisposing role of these single nucleotide polymorphisms as susceptibility variants.

1 The influence of sodium ion substitutes on the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-induced flux of the organic cation [14C]guanidinium through the ion channel of the mouse 5-HT3 receptor and on the competition of 5-HT with the selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist [3H]GR 65630 was studied, unless stated otherwise, in mouse neuroblastoma N1E-115 cells. 2 Under physiological conditions (135 mm sodium), 5-HT induced a concentration-dependent [14C]guanidinium influx with an EC50 (1.3 microm) similar to that in electrophysiological studies. 3 The stepwise replacement of sodium by increasing concentrations of the organic cation hydroxyethyl trimethylammonium (choline) concentration dependently caused both a rightward shift of the 5-HT concentration-response curve and an increase in the maximum effect of 5-HT. Complete replacement of sodium resulted in a 34-fold lower potency of 5-HT and an almost two times higher maximal response. A low potency of 5-HT in choline buffer was also observed in other 5-HT3 receptor-expressing rodent cell lines (NG 108-15 or NCB 20). 4 Replacement of Na+ by Li+ left the potency and maximal effects of 5-HT almost unchanged. Replacement by tris (hydroxymethyl) methylamine (Tris), tetramethylammonium (TMA) or N-methyl-d-glucamine (NMDG) caused an increase in maximal response to 5-HT similar to that caused by choline. The potency of 5-HT was only slightly reduced by Tris, to a high degree decreased by TMA (comparable to the decrease by choline), but not influenced by NMDG. 5 The potency of 5-HT in inhibiting [3H]GR65630 binding to intact cells was 35-fold lower when sodium was completely replaced by choline, but remained unchanged after replacement by NMDG. 6 The results are compatible with the suggestion that choline competes with 5-HT for the 5-HT3 receptor; the increase in maximal response may be partly due to a choline-mediated delay of the 5-HT-induced desensitization. For studies of 5-HT-evoked [14C]guanidinium flux through 5-HT3 receptor channels, NMDG appears to be an 'ideal' sodium substituent since it increases the signal-to-noise ratio without interfering with 5-HT binding.

The aim of this study, performed in stably transfected HEK293 cells, was to investigate whether expression of the naturally occurring Pro279Leu variant of the h5-HT7(a) receptor (located in the third intracellular loop) is associated with changes in the pharmacological properties and/or second messenger formation compared to the wild-type receptor. Radioligand binding of [3H]5-carboxamidotryptamine ([3H]5-CT) to membranes and stimulation of [3H]cAMP formation in whole cells evoked by 5-HT receptor agonists were determined. Maximum binding (B(max)) to, and affinity (K(D)) of [3H]5-CT for, the variant receptor and the wild-type receptor were equal. All agonists and antagonists investigated exhibited no differences in affinity between the variant receptor and the wild-type receptor. However, the intrinsic activity of the 5-HT receptor agonists 5-HT, 5-CT, RU24969 and 8-OH-DPAT in stimulating [3H]cAMP accumulation in the cells expressing the Pro279Leu variant was almost abolished and their potency was 2.9-4.3-fold lower. Despite its affinity for both receptor isoforms, sumatriptan did not stimulate the accumulation of cAMP. In individuals expressing the Pro279Leu variant of the h5-HT7(a) receptor, a considerable attenuation of its function may be predicted. This may have relevance for the action of new classes of drugs which affect circadian rhythm or psychiatric diseases, such as schizophrenia.

Excised outside-out patches from HEK293 cells stably transfected with the human (h) 5-HT3A receptor cDNA were used to determine the effects of cannabinoid receptor ligands on the 5-HT-induced current using the patch clamp technique. In addition, binding studies with radioligands for 5-HT3 as well as for cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors were carried out. The 5-HT-induced current was inhibited by the following cannabinoid receptor agonists (at decreasing order of potency): 9-THC, WIN55,212-2, anandamide, JWH-015 and CP55940. The WIN55,212-2-induced inhibition was not altered by SR141716A, a CB1 receptor antagonist. WIN55,212-3, an enantiomer of WIN55,212-2, did not affect the 5-HT-induced current. WIN55,212-2 did not change the EC50 value of 5-HT in stimulating current, but reduced the maximum effect. The CB1 receptor ligand [3H]-SR141716A and the CB1/CB2 receptor ligand [3H]-CP55940 did not specifically bind to parental HEK293 cells. In competition experiments on membranes of HEK293 cells transfected with the h5-HT3A receptor cDNA, WIN55,212-2, CP55940, anandamide and SR141716A did not affect [3H]-GR65630 binding, but 5-HT caused a concentration dependent-inhibition. In conclusion, cannabinoids stereoselectively inhibit currents through recombinant h5-HT3A receptors independently of cannabinoid receptors. Probably the cannabinoids act allosterically at a modulatory site of the h5-HT3A receptor. Thus the functional state of the receptor can be controlled by the endogenous ligand anandamide. This site is a potential target for new analgesic and antiemetic drugs.

Nearly 30% of patients treated with metformin experience gastrointestinal side effects. Since release of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) from the intestine is associated with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, we examined whether metformin induces 5-HT release from the intestinal mucosa. In 40% of tissue biopsy specimens of human duodenal mucosa, metformin (1, 10, and 30 microM) caused an increase in 5-HT outflow by 35, 70, and 98%, respectively. Peak increases in 5-HT outflow were observed after 10-15 min exposure to metformin, returning to baseline levels after 25 min. Tetrodotoxin (1 microM) reduced by about 50% the metformin-evoked increase in 5-HT outflow (P<0.05). Metformin-evoked release was not affected by scopolamine + hexamethonium, propranolol, the 5-HT3 receptor antagonist dolasetron, naloxone, or the NK1 receptor antagonist L703606. In the presence of tetrodotoxin (1 microM), somatostatin (1 microM) further reduced metformin-induced 5-HT release by 15-20%. In view of the 5-HT releasing effects of selective 5-HT3 receptor agonists to which metformin (N-N-dimethylbiguanide) is structurally related, we investigated whether metformin directly interacts with 5-HT3 receptors. Receptor binding (inhibition of [3H]-GR65630 binding) and agonist effects (stimulation of [14C]-guanidinium influx) at 5-HT3 receptors were studied in murine neuroblastoma N1E-115 cells, which express functional 5-HT3 receptors. Metformin up to 0.3 mM failed to inhibit [3H]-GR65630 binding and to modify displacement of [3H]-GR65630 binding induced by 5-HT. 5-HT (3 microM) stimulated the influx of [14C]-guanidinium in intact N1E-115 cells. Metformin up to 1 mM failed to modify basal influx, 5-HT-induced influx, and 5-HT+ substance P-induced influx of [14C]-guanidinium. Our results indicate that metformin induces 5-HT3 receptor-independent release of 5-HT from human duodenal mucosa via neuronal and non-neuronal mechanisms. Part of the gastrointestinal side effects observed during treatment with metformin could, thus, be produced by the release of 5-HT and other neurotransmitter substances within the duodenal mucosa.

1. The carrier-mediated uptake of labelled 5-hydroxytryptamine (3H-5-HT) in rabbit platelets (defined as the difference between uptake observed in the absence and presence of 10 mumol l-1 imipramine) was studied after inhibition of monoamine oxidase and after a 1:13 dilution of the platelet-rich plasma (PRP) with Tris-containing buffer. 2. Irrespective of whether the rabbits were pretreated with reserpine or not, initial rates of 3H-5-HT uptake were maintained for at least 15 s. 3. Analysis of the saturation kinetics of 3H-5-HT uptake using Hill's equation yielded Km, Vmax and nH values of 130 nmol l-1, 116 pmol 10(8) platelets-1 min-1 and 1.40, respectively. Pretreatment of the animals with reserpine did not affect any of these kinetic parameters, but depleted more than 99% of the platelets' 5-HT stores. 4. The nH value remained greater than unity when the duration of incubation with 3H-5-HT was extended from 15 to 30 s and when the uptake of 3H-5-HT was inhibited by the presence of imipramine (10-40 nmol l-1). However, it was reduced to unity (with a consequential increase in Km) when 300 nmol l-1 ketanserin was present. This concentration of ketanserin did not affect 3H-5-HT uptake at substrate concentrations far below Km. 5. Imipramine inhibited 3H-5-HT uptake by increasing the Km for 3H-5-HT without changing Vmax. The Ki for this interaction was 18 nmol l-1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

1: The influence of sodium ion substitutes on the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-induced flux of the organic cation [14C]guanidinium through the ion channel of the mouse 5-HT3 receptor and on the competition of 5-HT with the selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist [3H]GR 65630 was studied, unless stated otherwise, in mouse neuroblastoma N1E-115 cells. 2: Under physiological conditions (135?mM sodium), 5-HT induced a concentration-dependent [14C]guanidinium influx with an EC50 (1.3?µM) similar to that in electrophysiological studies. 3: The stepwise replacement of sodium by increasing concentrations of the organic cation hydroxyethyl trimethylammonium (choline) concentration dependently caused both a rightward shift of the 5-HT concentration-response curve and an increase in the maximum effect of 5-HT. Complete replacement of sodium resulted in a 34-fold lower potency of 5-HT and an almost two times higher maximal response. A low potency of 5-HT in choline buffer was also observed in other 5-HT3 receptor-expressing rodent cell lines (NG 108-15 or NCB 20). 4: Replacement of Na+ by Li+ left the potency and maximal effects of 5-HT almost unchanged. Replacement by tris (hydroxymethyl) methylamine (Tris), tetramethylammonium (TMA) or N-methyl-D-glucamine (NMDG) caused an increase in maximal response to 5-HT similar to that caused by choline. The potency of 5-HT was only slightly reduced by Tris, to a high degree decreased by TMA (comparable to the decrease by choline), but not influenced by NMDG. 5: The potency of 5-HT in inhibiting [3H]GR65630 binding to intact cells was 35-fold lower when sodium was completely replaced by choline, but remained unchanged after replacement by NMDG. 6: The results are compatible with the suggestion that choline competes with 5-HT for the 5-HT3 receptor; the increase in maximal response may be partly due to a choline-mediated delay of the 5-HT-induced desensitization. For studies of 5-HT-evoked [14C]guanidinium flux through 5-HT3 receptor channels, NMDG appears to be an ‘ideal’ sodium substituent since it increases the signal-to-noise ratio without interfering with 5-HT binding.British Journal of Pharmacology (2004) 142, 501-508. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0705788 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearly 30% of patients treated with metformin experience gastrointestinal side effects. Since release of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) from the intestine is associated with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, we examined whether metformin induces 5-HT release from the intestinal mucosa. In 40% of tissue biopsy specimens of human duodenal mucosa, metformin (1, 10, and 30 µM) caused an increase in 5-HT outflow by 35, 70, and 98%, respectively. Peak increases in 5-HT outflow were observed after 10–15 min exposure to metformin, returning to baseline levels after 25 min. Tetrodotoxin (1 µM) reduced by about 50% the metformin-evoked increase in 5-HT outflow (P<0.05). Metformin-evoked release was not affected by scopolamine + hexamethonium, propranolol, the 5-HT3 receptor antagonist dolasetron, naloxone, or the NK1 receptor antagonist L703606. In the presence of tetrodotoxin (1 µM), somatostatin (1 µM) further reduced metformin-induced 5-HT release by 15–20%. In view of the 5-HT releasing effects of selective 5-HT3 receptor agonists to which metformin (N-N-dimethylbiguanide) is structurally related, we investigated whether metformin directly interacts with 5-HT3 receptors. Receptor binding (inhibition of [3H]-GR65630 binding) and agonist effects (stimulation of [14C]-guanidinium influx) at 5-HT3 receptors were studied in murine neuroblastoma N1E-115 cells, which express functional 5-HT3 receptors. Metformin up to 0.3 mM failed to inhibit [3H]-GR65630 binding and to modify displacement of [3H]-GR65630 binding induced by 5-HT. 5-HT (3 µM) stimulated the influx of [14C]-guanidinium in intact N1E-115 cells. Metformin up to 1 mM failed to modify basal influx, 5-HT-induced influx, and 5-HT+ substance P-induced influx of [14C]-guanidinium. Our results indicate that metformin induces 5-HT3 receptor-independent release of 5-HT from human duodenal mucosa via neuronal and non-neuronal mechanisms. Part of the gastrointestinal side effects observed during treatment with metformin could, thus, be produced by the release of 5-HT and other neurotransmitter substances within the duodenal mucosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]