Therapeutic Potential of 5-HT7 Receptors in Mood Disorders

Serotonin (5-HT) exerts its diverse physiological and pharmacological effects through the activation of multiple receptor subtypes. One of the newest members of this family is the 5-HT7 receptor. Increasing investigations on this receptor are currently undertaken to highlight its physiological and physiopathological significance. With the development of selective 5-HT7 receptor ligands, preclinical studies have started to elucidate the functions of this receptor subtype in more details. Hence, growing body of evidence suggests that the 5-HT7 receptor is involved in biological processes such as circadian rhythm and thermoregulation, in addition to disorders in which disturbances of the latter are considered to be an important contributing factor. Moreover, preclinical data support the use of 5-HT7 receptor antagonism as a promising mechanism for the treatment of several dysfunctions such as cognitive deficits and, importantly, have also unveiled anxiolytic and antidepressant-like properties. In this review, we will report major advances in the discovery of 5-HT7 receptor roles, with special emphasis on the potential application of their antagonists as novel anxiolytic and antidepressant drugs.