Effect of protease activated receptor 2 on colonic motility in diabetes mice / 上海交通大学学报（医学版）

Objective • To observe the effect of protease activated receptor 2 (PAR2) on the colonic motility in diabetic mice and investigate the mechanism. Methods • The mouse model of type 1 diabetes mellitus was established by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. The smooth muscle strips and segments of colons were isolated. The effects of PAR2 agonist on colonic motility were observed by muscle strip tension contraction and colonic migrating motor complex experiments. The effect of small conductance calcium-activated potassium channel (SK3 channel) antagonist on it was also observed. Results • PAR2 agonist inhibited colonic motility and colonic smooth muscle was more sensitive to PAR2 agonist in diabetic mice. PAR2 agonist-induced inhibition was inhibited by SK3 channel antagonist. Conclusion • PAR2 activity in diabetic mice colons is significantly enhanced, which may inhibit colonic motility through SK3 channel.

Protease and Protease-Activated Receptor-2 Signaling in the Pathogenesis of Atopic Dermatitis

Proteases in the skin are essential to epidermal permeability barrier homeostasis. In addition to their direct proteolytic effects, certain proteases signal to cells by activating protease-activated receptors (PARs), the G-protein-coupled receptors. The expression of functional PAR-2 on human skin and its role in inflammation, pruritus, and skin barrier homeostasis have been demonstrated. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a multifactorial inflammatory skin disease characterized by genetic barrier defects and allergic inflammation, which is sustained by gene-environmental interactions. Recent studies have revealed aberrant expression and activation of serine proteases and PAR-2 in the lesional skin of AD patients. The imbalance between proteases and protease inhibitors associated with genetic defects in the protease/protease inhibitor encoding genes, increase in skin surface pH, and exposure to proteolytically active allergens contribute to this aberrant protease/PAR-2 signaling in AD. The increased protease activity in AD leads to abnormal desquamation, degradation of lipid-processing enzymes and antimicrobial peptides, and activation of primary cytokines, thereby leading to permeability barrier dysfunction, inflammation, and defects in the antimicrobial barrier. Moreover, up-regulated proteases stimulate PAR-2 in lesional skin of AD and lead to the production of cytokines and chemokines involved in inflammation and immune responses, itching sensation, and sustained epidermal barrier perturbation with easier allergen penetration. In addition, PAR-2 is an important sensor for exogenous danger molecules, such as exogenous proteases from various allergens, and plays an important role in AD pathogenesis. Together, these findings suggest that protease activity or PAR-2 may be a future target for therapeutic intervention for the treatment of AD.