Gene Expression and In Vitro Pharmacogenetic Studies of Dopamine and Serotonin Gene Receptors in Tuberculosis

Dopamine and serotonin receptors are present in lymphocytes, macrophages, and neutrophils, and have a mediating role in the immune system to respond to infections, including bacterial tuberculosis. In this study, at first, the changes in the expression pattern of 5 dopamine and 2 serotonin (5HTR2B & 5HTR2C) gene receptors were examined in the two groups of healthy and Tuberculosis patients using Real-Time PCR. Then pharmacogenetic studies aimed to induce autophagy on a lung monocyte cell line (THP1) infected with the standard strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (H37RV) were performed. Stimulation of the pro-inflammatory pathway by secreting cytokines before and after drug efficacy was investigated. According to the result, dopamine receptor 2 genes showed decreased expression in patients with tuberculosis compared to normal individuals, and serotonin receptor genes showed increased expression. Additionally, with the effects of Bromocriptine and Fluoxetine, pro-inflammatory pathways were activated in macrophages infected with H37RV, and ELISA results showed that the levels of IL6 and TNFα secreted in these cells were significantly increased. According to the results, these receptors agonists or antagonists can activate the autophagy pathway to kill TB bacteria.