New therapeutic opportunities for 5-HT2 receptor ligands

Serotonergic dysfunction is mainly associated with neuropsychiatric and cardiovascular disorders but has also been linked with many other pathological conditions. Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) mediates numerous physiological functions in the brain and the periphery by activating a variety of receptors. 5-HT receptors are divided into four classes, three of which belong to the G protein-coupled receptor family. This review provides an overview of the recent pharmacological developments involving the Gq-coupled 5-HT2 receptor subfamily as well as the pathological implications of this receptor subfamily with regard to fibrosis, the central nervous system, cardiovascular disorders, and cancer. The final section highlights new therapeutic opportunities and emerging research revealing unexplored medical opportunities for this class of 5-HT receptors. The development of biased 5-HT2 receptor ligands appears to be an interesting topic in various areas. In light of recent discoveries, the need for the development of new and safer drugs should take into account the risk of cardiovascular side effects such as pulmonary hypertension and heart valve disease. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.