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Emerging Roles for Serotonin in Regulating Metabolism

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Endocrinology and Metabolism".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 July 2025 | Viewed by 2144

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Biochemistry Unit, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy
Interests: determination and role of serotonin in integrating nervous, behavioral and neuroendocrine stress responses in mammals and fish; metabolism study of animal plasma and serum proteoglycans (PGs) and acid glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and their antioxidant activity; characterization of plasma and erythrocyte membranes phospholipid composition in animal species and their relationship with GAGs; stress response of Sparus aurata by investigating the functional properties of the hemoglobin system and globin gene expression
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E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Via Palatucci Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy
Interests: circulation serotonin concentration as a pivotal biomarker of animal stress; studies of ecotoxicology and risk from xenobiotics; investigation on the effects of xenobiotics with potential endocrine or carcinogenic activity on fish models; studies on the in vivo and in vitro effects of anti-inflammatory substances; research for contaminants in fresh and processed foods for humans
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Physical and psychological stress in humans is most frequently monitoring by means of the adrenocortical response and blood parameters. Serotonin (5-Hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is a biogenic amine that functions as a neurotransmitter and as a stress response mediator. The serotoninergic system is anatomically and functionally largely conserved across vertebrate species where the neurotransmitter serotonin is known to modulate different biological functions, either centrally or peripherally: it can regulate a wide range of immunomodulatory effects, and there is evidence that high 5-HT concentrations appear to stabilize HPA axis activity. In addition, monoamines and their associated enzymes as well as receptors are also present in peripheral tissues, including the gastrointestinal tract, where they are thought to be involved in the regulation of nutrient absorption, blood flow, and gut motility. There are two sites for the production of 5-HT in the gut by specific epithelial cells called enterochromaffin (EC) cells and enteric serotoninergic neurons. Tryptophan is the essential amino acid precursor of 5-HT, in a two-step process, strongly conserved in the animal kingdom, by the action of the enzymes tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) and 5-hydroxy tryptophan decarboxylase. TPH expression is limited to a few specific cells. Two TPH enzymes exist, including peripheral (TPH-1), which are found in EC cells, and central (TPH-2) isoforms, uniquely found in both the brain and intestine. The serotoninergic system in mammals is modulated by a variety of environmental factors, and it is a target for several environmental stressors that may interfere with the physiological and pathological modulation of 5-HT by seasonal influences, including photoperiods, diurnal variations, temperature, diet, influences of sex steroid hormones, and so on.

Dr. Giuseppe Bruschetta
Prof. Dr. Patrizia Licata
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • serotonin
  • cortisol
  • phospholipids
  • glycosaminoglycans
  • oxidative stress
  • veterinary anesthesia and analgesia

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Review

29 pages, 1666 KiB  
Review
The Involvement of Serotonin in the Obesity Pathway—A Last Decade Systematic Review of the Literature
by Radu-Cristian Cîmpeanu, Emilia-Mariana Caragea, Lorena-Maria Mustață, Dragoș Forțofoiu, Ioana-Gabriela Dragne, Raluca-Elena Alexa, Anastasia Balta, Alexandr Ceasovschih, Laurențiu Șorodoc and Larisa-Daniela Săndulescu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(7), 3081; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26073081 - 27 Mar 2025
Viewed by 600
Abstract
Obesity represents a complex, multifactorial syndrome that represents a high burden for public health systems worldwide. Serotonin is an important factor in feeding behavior and weight regulation and their interplay implies multiple mechanisms that could explain the correlation with obesity, so understanding these [...] Read more.
Obesity represents a complex, multifactorial syndrome that represents a high burden for public health systems worldwide. Serotonin is an important factor in feeding behavior and weight regulation and their interplay implies multiple mechanisms that could explain the correlation with obesity, so understanding these interconnections is essential for developing targeted therapeutic strategies. A systematic review of the literature was conducted using PubMed and Scopus databases, using articles published between 1 January 2015 and 1 December 2024, based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. After the selection process, 22 studies were selected for detailed analysis, focusing on the role of serotonin in obesity. Serotonin significantly influences appetite control and energy homeostasis through multiples pathways, including insulin resistance, high-fat diets, gut microbiota, low-grade inflammation, interferences with tryptophan metabolism, psychiatric modifications, genetic alterations of serotonin receptors, serotonin implications in eating behavior, and neurohormonal regulation of appetite. This review highlights the multidimensional characteristics of the serotonin–obesity association, along with its significance in metabolic and psychiatric pathologies. In order to develop more efficient methods for managing obesity, future studies should concentrate on serotonergic regulation and complex management strategies involving the neurohormonal axis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Roles for Serotonin in Regulating Metabolism)
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14 pages, 1143 KiB  
Review
The Coordinated Changes in Platelet Glycan Patterns with Blood Serotonin and Exosomes
by Fusun Kilic
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(22), 11940; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252211940 - 6 Nov 2024
Viewed by 896
Abstract
The structures of glycans, specifically their terminal positions, play an important role as ligands for receptors in regulating the adhesion ability of platelets. Recent advances in our understanding of free/unbound serotonin (5-HT) in blood plasma at supraphysiological levels implicate it as one of [...] Read more.
The structures of glycans, specifically their terminal positions, play an important role as ligands for receptors in regulating the adhesion ability of platelets. Recent advances in our understanding of free/unbound serotonin (5-HT) in blood plasma at supraphysiological levels implicate it as one of the most profound influencers in remodeling the platelet’s surface N-glycans. Proteomic analysis of the membrane vesicles identified enzymes, specifically glycosyltransferases, only on the surface of the platelets isolated from the supraphysiological level of 5-HT-containing blood plasma. However, these enzymes can only be effective on the cell surface under certain biological conditions, such as the level of their substrates, temperature, and pH of the environment. We hypothesize that exosomes released from various cells coordinate the required criteria for the enzymatic reaction on the platelet surface. The elevated plasma 5-HT level also accelerates the release of exosomes from various cells, as reported. This review summarizes the findings from a wide range of literature and proposes mechanisms to coordinate the exosomes and plasma 5-HT in remodeling the structures of N-glycans to make platelets more prone to aggregation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Roles for Serotonin in Regulating Metabolism)
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