mRNA expression of serotonin receptors of type 2C and 5A in human resting lymphocytes

We investigated the presence of mRNA for serotonin receptors of type 2C (5-HT(2C)) in resting lymphocytes by means of RT-PCR and Southern blotting analyses, given their possible role in the pathophysiology of anxiety and eating disorders. At the same time, we explored also the presence of the specific mRNA for 5-HT(5A) receptors, a novel subtype for which still no functional data exist. Healthy subjects and patients with obsessive-compulsive or bipolar disorders were included in the study. The results showed the presence of the specific mRNAs for both 5-HT(2C) and 5-HT(5A) receptors in resting lymphocytes of the three groups of subjects. An additional band was also observed after the amplification of the 5-HT(5A) cDNA in each sample. These findings, while revealing the presence of 5-HT(2C) and 5-HT(5A) receptor mRNAs in an easily available tissue, can be considered preliminary for future quantitative analyses in patients with different psychiatric conditions.