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Updated: Jul 5, 2025

Thermostabilization, Expression, Purification, and Crystallization of the Human Serotonin Transporter Bound to S-citalopram
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Thermostabilization, Expression, Purification, and Crystallization of the Human Serotonin Transporter Bound to S-citalopram

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Membrane Transporter of Serotonin and Hypercholesterolemia in Children

Dinara Sadykova1, Razina Nigmatullina2, Karina Salakhova1

  • 1Department of Hospital Pediatrics, Kazan State Medical University, 420012 Kazan, Russia.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|January 23, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Children with familial hypercholesterolemia show higher serotonin levels and transporter concentrations, linked to arterial stiffness and vascular remodeling. This highlights serotonin

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Genetics
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Serotonin membrane transporter regulates plasma serotonin, impacting cardiovascular disease via smooth muscle cell proliferation and vascular remodeling.
  • Vascular remodeling is a key factor in atherosclerosis, the primary manifestation of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH).
  • Familial hypercholesterolemia is a common genetic lipid disorder affecting 1 in 313 individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate plasma and platelet serotonin, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, and serotonin transporter levels in children with FH versus healthy controls.
  • To explore the relationship between these biomarkers and arterial vascular stiffness indicators in pediatric populations.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study involving 116 children (ages 5-17), comprising a group with familial hypercholesterolemia and a control group of healthy children.
  • Measurement of plasma and platelet serotonin, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, and serotonin transporter concentrations.
  • Assessment of arterial vascular stiffness using indicators like pulse wave velocity (PWV).

Main Results:

  • Children with familial hypercholesterolemia exhibited significantly higher concentrations of plasma and platelet serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid compared to controls.
  • Platelet serotonin transporter concentration was 1.3 times higher in healthy children than in the FH group.
  • Positive correlations were found between serotonin levels (5-HT), serotonin transporter (SERT), and arterial stiffness indicators (PWV).

Conclusions:

  • Elevated serotonin and serotonin transporter concentrations are associated with increased arterial stiffness in children with familial hypercholesterolemia.
  • These findings suggest a potential role for serotonin and its transporter in the vascular remodeling processes associated with pediatric FH.
  • Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise mechanisms and therapeutic implications of serotonin pathway involvement in pediatric cardiovascular health.

Keywords:
SERTcardiovascular diseaseschildrenfamilial hypercholesterolemiaserotoninvascular remodeling

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