Monoamine neurotransmitter transporters (MATs) (MATs)

Monoamine reuptake systems, primarily comprising the serotonin (SERT), norepinephrine (NET), and dopamine (DAT) transporters, are integral membrane proteins belonging to the solute carrier 6 (SLC6) family (Kristensen et al., 2011). These transporters play a pivotal role in regulating neurotransmission by facilitating the sodium-dependent reuptake of monoamines from the synaptic cleft back into the presynaptic neuron, thereby terminating the signal and recycling the neurotransmitter (StatPearls, 2023). Dysregulation of these transport mechanisms is a hallmark of various neuropsychiatric conditions, including major depressive disorder, anxiety, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (NIH, 2023). Pharmacological agents that target these systems, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), are widely used to treat these disorders by increasing the extracellular concentration of neurotransmitters (PubMed, 2022). While highly effective, these drugs can also be associated with safety concerns like serotonin syndrome or cardiovascular side effects, and some agents targeting the dopamine transporter carry a high risk for abuse and dependency (StatPearls, 2023).

Other names

Monoamine reuptake systemsMonoamine transportersMATsBiogenic amine transportersSLC6 neurotransmitter transporters

Inhibition of the reuptake of serotonin, norepinephrine, and/or dopamine from the synaptic cleft into the presynaptic terminal, thereby increasing the extracellular concentration and prolonging the signaling of these neurotransmitters (Kristensen et al., 2011; StatPearls, 2023).