Toll-like receptors 2 and 4 exert opposite effects on the contractile response induced by serotonin in mouse colon: role of serotonin receptors

Abstract

What is the central question of this study? The action of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) 2 and 4 on the motor response to serotonin in mouse colon has not previously been reported. What is the main finding and its importance? Toll-like receptors 2 and 4 modulate the serotonin-induced contractile response in mouse colon by modifying the expression of serotonin (5-HT) receptors. Alterations in 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors explain the increase of the response to serotonin in TLR2−/− mice. Alterations in 5-HT2C and 5-HT4 receptors explain the suppression of the response to serotonin in TLR4−/− mice. The microbiota, through Toll-like receptors (TLRs), may regulate gastrointestinal motility by activating neuroendocrine mechanisms. We evaluated the influence of TLR2 and TLR4 in spontaneous contractions and in the serotonin (5-HT)-induced motor response in mouse colon, and assessed the 5-HT receptors involved. Muscle contractility studies to evaluate the intestinal spontaneous motility and the response to 5-HT were performed in the colon from wild-type (WT), TLR2−/−, TLR4−/− and TLR2/4 double knockout (DKO) mice. The 5-HT receptor mRNA expression was determined by real-time PCR. The amplitude and frequency of the spontaneous contractions of the colon were smaller in TLR4−/− and TLR2/4 DKO mice with respect to WT mice. In WT, TLR2−/− and TLR2/4 DKO mice, 100 μm 5-HT evoked a contractile response. The contractile response induced by 5-HT was significantly higher in TLR2−/− than in WT mice. In TLR4−/− mice, 5-HT did not evoke any contractile response. The mRNA expression of 5-HT2A was increased in TLR2−/− and TLR2/4 DKO mice. The 5-HT2C and 5-HT4 mRNA expressions were increased in TLR4−/− and TLR2/4 DKO mice. The 5-HT2C mRNA expression was diminished in TLR2−/− mice. The 5-HT3 mRNA expression was increased in TLR2−/−, TLR4−/− and TLR2/4 DKO mice. The 5-HT7 mRNA expression was diminished in TLR2/4 DKO mice. In WT, TLR2−/− and TLR2/4 DKO mice, 5-HT2, 5-HT3, 5-HT4 and 5-HT7 receptor antagonists reduced or blocked the contractile response evoked by 5-HT. We postulate that TLR2 and TLR4 modulate the serotonin contractile motor response in mouse colon in an opposing manner by modifying the expression of several serotonin receptors.