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Serotonin (5-HT) has traditional roles as a key neurotransmitter in the central nervous system and as a regulatory hormone controlling a broad range of physiological functions. Perhaps the most classically-defined functions of 5-HT are centrally in the control of mood, sleep and anxiety and peripherally in the modulation of gastrointestinal motility. A more recently appreciated role for 5-HT has emerged, however, as an important metabolic hormone contributing to glucose homeostasis and adiposity, with a causal relationship existing between circulating 5-HT levels and metabolic diseases. Almost all peripheral 5-HT is derived from specialised enteroendocrine cells, called enterochromaffin (EC) cells, located throughout the length of the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. EC cells are important luminal sensory cells that can detect and respond to an array of ingested nutrients, as well as luminal gut microbiota and their associated metabolites. Intriguingly, the interaction between gut microbiota and EC cells is dynamic in nature and has strong implications for host physiology. In this review, we discuss the traditional and modern functions of 5-HT and highlight an emerging pathway by which gut microbiota influences host health. Serotonin, also known as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), is an important neurotransmitter, growth factor and hormone that mediates a range of physiological functions. In mammals, serotonin is synthesized from the essential amino acid tryptophan by the rate-limiting enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH), for which there are two isoforms expressed in distinct cell types throughout the body. Tph1 is mainly expressed by specialized gut endocrine cells known as enterochromaffin (EC) cells and by other non-neuronal cell types such as adipocytes (Walther et al., 2003). Tph2 is primarily expressed in neurons of the raphe nuclei of the brain stem and a subset of neurons in the enteric nervous system (ENS) (Yabut et al., 2019). As 5-HT cannot readily cross the blood-brain barrier, the central and peripheral pools of 5-HT are anatomically separated and as such, act in their own distinct manners (Martin et al., 2017c). In this review we discuss the peripheral roles of serotonin, with particular focus on the interaction of gut-derived serotonin with the gut microbiota, and address emerging evidence linking this relationship with host homeostasis., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Gut-derived serotonin (5-HT) is released from enterochromaffin (EC) cells in response to nutrient cues, and acts to slow gastric emptying and modulate gastric motility. Rodent studies also evidence a role for gut-derived 5-HT in the control of hepatic glucose production, lipolysis and thermogenesis, and in mediating diet-induced obesity. EC cell number and 5-HT content is increased in the small intestine of obese rodents and human, however, it is unknown whether EC cells respond directly to glucose in humans, and whether their capacity to release 5-HT is perturbed in obesity. We therefore investigated 5-HT release from human duodenal and colonic EC cells in response to glucose, sucrose, fructose and α-glucoside (αMG) in relation to body mass index (BMI). EC cells released 5-HT only in response to 100 and 300 mM glucose (duodenum) and 300 mM glucose (colon), independently of osmolarity. Duodenal, but not colonic, EC cells also released 5-HT in response to sucrose and αMG, but did not respond to fructose. 5-HT content was similar in all EC cells in males, and colonic EC cells in females, but 3 to 4-fold higher in duodenal EC cells from overweight females (p < 0.05 compared to lean, obese). Glucose-evoked 5-HT release was 3-fold higher in the duodenum of overweight females (p < 0.05, compared to obese), but absent here in overweight males. Our data demonstrate that primary human EC cells respond directly to dietary glucose cues, with regional differences in selectivity for other sugars. Augmented glucose-evoked 5-HT release from duodenal EC is a feature of overweight females, and may be an early determinant of obesity.

Background Enterochromaffin ( EC) cells within the gastrointestinal ( GI) tract provide almost all body serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5- HT]). Peripheral 5- HT, released from EC cells lining the gut wall, serves diverse physiological roles. These include modulating GI motility, bone formation, hepatic gluconeogenesis, thermogenesis, insulin resistance, and regulation of fat mass. Enterochromaffin cells are nutrient sensors, but which nutrients they are responsive to and how this changes in different parts of the GI tract are poorly understood. Methods To accurately undertake such an examination, we undertook the first isolation and purification of primary mouse EC cells from both the duodenum and colon in the same animal. This allowed us to compare, in an internally controlled manner, regional differences in the expression of nutrient sensors in EC cells using real-time PCR. Key Results Both colonic and duodenal EC cells expressed G protein-coupled receptors and facilitative transporters for sugars, free fatty acids, amino acids, and lipid amides. We find differential expression of nutrient receptor and transporters in EC cells obtained from duodenal and colonic EC cells. Duodenal EC cells have higher expression of tryptophan hydroxylase-1, sugar transporters GLUT2, GLUT5, and free fatty acid receptors 1 and 3 ( FFAR1 and FFAR3). Colonic EC cells express higher levels of GLUT1, FFAR2, and FFAR4. Conclusions & Inferences We highlight the diversity of EC cell physiology and identify differences in the regional sensing repertoire of EC cells to an assortment of nutrients. These data indicate that not all EC cells are similar and that differences in their physiological responses are likely dependent on their location within the GI tract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gut-derived serotonin (5-HT) is released from enterochromaffin (EC) cells in response to nutrient cues, and acts to slow gastric emptying and modulate gastric motility. Rodent studies also evidence a role for gut-derived 5-HT in the control of hepatic glucose production, lipolysis and thermogenesis, and in mediating diet-induced obesity. EC cell number and 5-HT content is increased in the small intestine of obese rodents and human, however, it is unknown whether EC cells respond directly to glucose in humans, and whether their capacity to release 5-HT is perturbed in obesity. We therefore investigated 5-HT release from human duodenal and colonic EC cells in response to glucose, sucrose, fructose and α-glucoside (αMG) in relation to body mass index (BMI). EC cells released 5-HT only in response to 100 and 300 mM glucose (duodenum) and 300 mM glucose (colon), independently of osmolarity. Duodenal, but not colonic, EC cells also released 5-HT in response to sucrose and αMG, but did not respond to fructose. 5-HT content was similar in all EC cells in males, and colonic EC cells in females, but 3 to 4-fold higher in duodenal EC cells from overweight females (p < 0.05 compared to lean, obese). Glucose-evoked 5-HT release was 3-fold higher in the duodenum of overweight females (p < 0.05, compared to obese), but absent here in overweight males. Our data demonstrate that primary human EC cells respond directly to dietary glucose cues, with regional differences in selectivity for other sugars. Augmented glucose-evoked 5-HT release from duodenal EC is a feature of overweight females, and may be an early determinant of obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]