Serotonin’s Surprising Role in Cancer Development
Serotonin is commonly known as the “happiness chemical” due to its role in regulating mood. However, recent research suggests that this molecule may have an unexpected impact on cancer development, not through its influence on the brain, but by interacting with DNA in various parts of the body.
While serotonin is often associated with the brain, nearly 95% of the body’s serotonin is actually produced in the gut. This neurotransmitter travels through the bloodstream to different organs and tissues, such as the liver, pancreas, muscles, bones, fat tissue, and immune cells.
Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York discovered that serotonin can enter cells and directly interact with DNA. By binding to molecular “switches” that control gene activity, serotonin can turn specific genes on, including those involved in cancer growth.
Studies have shown that this mechanism of serotonin binding to cancer-related genes is present in brain, liver, and pancreatic cancers, suggesting a potential role in the development of various cancer types.
Scientists at the University of Limerick in Ireland are currently investigating the interaction between serotonin and DNA to gain a deeper understanding of how it influences cancer. By identifying the specific sites where serotonin binds to cancer-related genes, they hope to develop targeted epigenetic therapies that can control gene activity without altering the DNA sequence.
Epigenetic therapies aim to reprogram cancer cells by selectively turning off harmful genes and activating beneficial ones. These therapies could provide a more precise and effective way to target cancer cells compared to traditional methods like surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.
One approach being explored is the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), commonly used as antidepressants. SSRIs block the transport channels through which cells take up serotonin, limiting its entry into cancer cells and preventing its cancer-promoting effects.
Understanding how serotonin from the gut reaches cancer cells could help in managing serotonin levels in patients, potentially through dietary changes, maintaining a healthy gut microbiome, or using SSRIs.
While brain and gut serotonin operate independently, SSRIs that increase serotonin levels in the brain do not appear to drive cancer growth. In fact, early studies suggest that SSRIs may have beneficial effects against certain cancers, although further clinical trials are needed to confirm this.
Research on serotonin’s role in cancer may lead to the development of more precise and effective therapies in the future. By understanding how serotonin interacts with cancer-related genes and developing accurate delivery systems for epigenetic drugs, researchers aim to make tumors less aggressive and easier to treat.
A comprehensive understanding of serotonin’s functions in the body, spanning mood, metabolism, and cancer, could pave the way for innovative treatments that target cancer cells with greater precision and effectiveness.
Jeremiah Stanley, Postdoctoral Researcher, Viral and Cancer Genes, University of Limerick
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here.
