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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-HT2A 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-HT2A receptor in the inflammatory response, as well as highlight studies using the 5-HT2A 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-HT2A 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.
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“Other animal studies have proposed that psychedelics may elicit their antidepressant effect through anti-inflammatory processes, by inhibiting proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6, which have been found to be associated with depression [40].”
From The psychological processes of classic psychedelics in the treatment of depression: a systematic review protocol (2022) · cites this paper as [40]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Flanagan, T. W., & Nichols, C. D.
- Affiliations
- Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans (US)
- Corresponding author
- Nichols, Charles D.
- ORCID
- Nichols, Charles D.
- Venue
- International Review of Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2018-07-04
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 363-375
- ISSN
- 0954-0261 (ISSN-L)
- 1369-1627
- OpenAlex
- W2886249511
- Cited by
- 267
- References
- 151
- Citations by year
- 2026: 37 · 2025: 46 · 2024: 39 · 2023: 54 · 2022: 38 · 2021: 32 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 5
- FWCI
- 15.30
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Review of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychedelics and Drug Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Keywords
- psychedelics, 5-HT2A receptor agonists, anti-inflammatory activity, serotonin, psilocybin, inflammatory diseases, inflammatory signaling, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, addiction
- MeSH terms
- Amphetamines, Animals, Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Anxiety, Behavior, Animal, Depression, Hallucinogens, Humans, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Psilocybin, Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A
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