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Minireview: A skeleton in serotonin's closet?
Masanobu Kawai1, Clifford J Rosen
1Center for Translational Research, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, Maine 04074, USA.
Endocrinology
|July 28, 2010
Summary
Serotonin influences mammalian homeostasis and unexpectedly impacts bone remodeling. Gut serotonin suppresses bone formation, while central nervous system serotonin affects the skeleton via sympathetic pathways.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Endocrinology
- Bone Biology
Background:
- Serotonin is a key regulator of mammalian homeostasis, acting as a neurotransmitter, gut mediator, and hormone.
- Emerging evidence implicates serotonin in modulating skeleton health and bone remodeling.
- Clinical drugs like SGAs and SSRIs affect bone remodeling, but mechanisms remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent findings on the link between serotonin and skeletal biology.
- To discuss the dual role of serotonin in bone formation and regulation.
- To explore future research directions in serotonin's skeletal effects.
Main Methods:
- Review of clinical data and findings from genetically engineered mouse models.
- Analysis of serotonin's influence on bone remodeling pathways.
- Investigation of central and peripheral serotonin signaling in skeletal homeostasis.
Main Results:
- Gut-derived serotonin, regulated by Wnt/Lrp/beta-catenin, systemically suppresses bone formation.
- Central nervous system serotonin, activated by leptin, modulates sympathetic outflow to the skeleton.
- Pharmacological modulation of serotonin signaling impacts bone remodeling.
Conclusions:
- Serotonin plays a complex, bimodal role in regulating skeletal homeostasis.
- Understanding serotonin's skeletal actions offers new therapeutic avenues for bone diseases.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the precise mechanisms of serotonin's skeletal effects.
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