Psychedelics as anti-inflammatory agents

Abstract

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT)_2A receptor agonists have recently emerged as promising new treatment options for a variety of disorders. The recent success of these agonists, also known as psychedelics, like psilocybin for the treatment of anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and addiction, has ushered in a renaissance in the way these compounds are perceived in the medical community and populace at large. One emerging therapeutic area that holds significant promise is their use as anti-inflammatory agents. Activation of 5-HT_2A receptors produces potent anti-inflammatory effects in animal models of human inflammatory disorders at sub-behavioural levels. This review discusses the role of the 5-HT_2A receptor in the inflammatory response, as well as highlight studies using the 5-HT_2A agonist (R)-2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine [(R)-DOI] to treat inflammation in cellular and animal models. It also examines potential mechanisms by which 5-HT_2A agonists produce their therapeutic effects. Overall, psychedelics regulate inflammatory pathways via novel mechanisms, and may represent a new and exciting treatment strategy for several inflammatory disorders.

Keywords:

• Psychedelics
• inflammation
• (R)-DOI
• 5-HT2A receptor
• 5-HT2A agonist
• hallucinogens
• DOI

Acknowledgement

Special thanks to Blake A. DeVellis for the drafting and assembly of figures.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Additional information

Funding

Support for our work comes from a sponsored research contract from the Eleusis Benefit Corporation, and a Scholar Award from the American Asthma Foundation awarded to Charles D. Nichols.