Sleep deprivation rapidly upregulates serotonin 2A receptor expression via the immediate early gene Egr3
bioRxiv Preprint Server February 23, 2020 X. Zhao, K. T. Meyers, A. Mcbride et al. 1 citation preprint
Sleep deprivation for 6-8 hours increases serotonin 2A receptors (5-HT2ARs) in the frontal cortex of mice. This upregulation requires the transcription factor early growth response 3 (Egr3), which binds directly to the Htr2a gene's promoter. The finding suggests a mechanism by which environmental stimuli can rapidly alter levels of a brain receptor involved in the effects of hallucinogenic drugs, antipsychotic medications, and schizophrenia.