Molecular, biochemical and behavioural evidence for a novel oxytocin receptor and serotonin 2C receptor heterocomplex
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Supplementary Data
Date
2021-02
Authors
Chruścicka, Barbara
Cowan, Caitlin S. M.
Wallace Fitzsimons, Shauna E.
Borroto-Escuela, Dasiel O.
Druelle, Clémentine
Stamou, Panagiota
Bergmann, Cristian A.
Dinan, Timothy G.
Slattery, David A.
Fuxe, Kjell
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier
Published Version
Abstract
The complexity of oxytocin-mediated functions is strongly associated with its modulatory effects on other neurotransmission systems, including the serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) system. Signalling between oxytocin (OT) and 5-HT has been demonstrated during neurodevelopment and in the regulation of specific emotion-based behaviours. It is suggested that crosstalk between neurotransmitters is driven by interaction between their specific receptors, particularly the oxytocin receptor (OTR) and the 5-hydroxytryptamine 2C receptor (5-HTR2C), but evidence for this and the downstream signalling consequences that follow are lacking. Considering the overlapping central expression profiles and shared involvement of OTR and 5-HTR2C in certain endocrine functions and behaviours, including eating behaviour, social interaction and locomotor activity, we investigated the existence of functionally active OTR/5-HTR2C heterocomplexes. Here, we demonstrate evidence for a potential physical interaction between OTR and 5-HTR2C in vitro in a cellular expression system using flow cytometry-based FRET (fcFRET). We could recapitulate this finding under endogenous expression levels of both receptors via in silico analysis of single cell transcriptomic data and ex vivo proximity ligation assay (PLA). Next, we show that co-expression of the OTR/5-HTR2C pair resulted in a significant depletion of OTR-mediated G alpha q-signalling and significant changes in receptor trafficking. Of note, attenuation of OTR-mediated downstream signalling was restored following pharmacological blockade of the 5-HTR2C. Finally, we demonstrated a functional relevance of this novel heterocomplex, in vivo, as 5-HTR2C antagonism increased OT-mediated hypoactivity in mice. Overall, we provide compelling evidence for the formation of functionally active OTR/5-HTR2C heterocomplexes, adding another level of complexity to OTR and 5-HTR2C signalling functionality.This article is part of the special issue on Neuropeptides.
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Keywords
5-HT2C receptor , Intranasal oxytocin , Social cognition , Developmental-hyperserotonemia , Administered oxytocin , Vasopressin V1a , Agonist , Ligand , Trafficking , Activation
Citation
Chruścicka, B., Cowan, C. S. M., Wallace Fitzsimons, S. E., Borroto-Escuela, D. O., Druelle, C. M., Stamou, P., Bergmann, C. A., Dinan, T. G., Slattery, D. A., Fuxe, K., Cryan, J. F. and Schellekens, H. (2021) 'Molecular, biochemical and behavioural evidence for a novel oxytocin receptor and serotonin 2C receptor heterocomplex', Neuropharmacology, 183, 108394, (17pp). doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108394