CLONING AND FUNCTIONAL-CHARACTERIZATION OF THE HUMAN 5-HT2B SEROTONINRECEPTOR

Recently, we have reported the cloning of the rat 5-HT2B receptor cDNA . This receptor is particularly interesting since it may be involved i n diseases such as migraine. Here, we describe the isolation of a huma n 5-HT2B receptor clone from a cDNA library derived from SH-SY5Y cells . Although the receptor sequence was only 80% homologous to the rat se quence, the exon-intron distribution was conserved between the two spe cies. In the human body, the receptor mRNA was detected in most periph eral organs. Only low expression levels were found in the brain. After expression in HEK 293 cells, activation of the receptor stimulated th e production of phosphatidylinositol. The pharmacology of this functio nal response correlated well with that of the rodent receptor.