Sensitized serotonin-mediated vasodilation in a mouse model of carcinoid disease
Authors: Choi Deanna , Kuehn Sydney , Penrose Sofia , Lee Byron , Pommier Rodney F. , Walker Ashley E. , McCully Belinda H. 
Published: May 2024

Background: Carcinoid tumors secrete vasoactive hormones such as serotonin that impact cardiovascular function. In consequence, patients with metastatic carcinoid disease are at risk for carcinoid syndrome, characterized by profound cutaneous flushing, hypotension, and syncope. Our recent work demonstrates that in patients with carcinoid metastases, higher serotonin levels are associated with lower vascular resistance. However, it is unknown if the vascular sensitivity to serotonin is affected by carcinoid disease. The receptor that mediates the potential vasodilatory effects of serotonin in carcinoid disease is also unknown. Therefore, we hypothesize that serotonin-mediated vasodilation is increased by carcinoid metastases. To test this, we assessed vascular reactivity to serotonin ex vivo in a mouse model of carcinoid disease. Methods: J:Nu nude mice (10 weeks) received intrasplenic injection of 2x107 BON1 neuroendocrine tumor cells (BON1, n=5) or PBS-vehicle (VEH, n=5), and were monitored for 10 weeks to allow the development of liver carcinoid metastases. Animals were then euthanized, and mesentery arteries were harvested. Isolated, pressurized mesentery arteries were pre-constricted with phenylephrine. The dose-response vasodilation to serotonin and acetylcholine was measured. These dose responses were repeated in the presence of 5-HT2B receptor antagonist LY272015 or nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME. Endothelium-independent vasodilation to sodium nitroprusside was also assessed. Data are mean ± SEM. Results: Mesentery arteries from BON1 mice had a greater vasodilation in response to serotonin compared with arteries from VEH mice (65±6% vs. 44±8%, p=0.04). Incubation with L-NAME partially inhibited the vasodilation to serotonin in the BON1 arteries (42±10%, p=0.04), but not in VEH arteries (30±11%, p=0.17). LY272015 did not affect the serotonin-induced vasodilation in the BON1 or VEH arteries (BON1: 52±10%, p=0.14, VEH: 49±17%, p=0.39). In contrast to serotonin, the vasodilation to acetylcholine did not differ between BON1 and VEH arteries (77±9% vs. 61±16%, p=0.19). There were also no differences in the vasodilation to sodium nitroprusside between groups (p=0.42). Arteries from BON1 mice had a trend for greater vasoconstriction in phenylephrine compared with VEH mice (51±7% vs. 37±9%, p=0.06). Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that serotonin-mediated vasodilation is sensitized in a mouse model of carcinoid disease. This is potentially accompanied by enhanced α-adrenergic-mediated vasoconstriction, which may be a compensatory mechanism in response to sensitized vasodilatory mechanisms.

Western University of Health Sciences Intramural Grant (BHM).

This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.