RESUMEN
Objective To investigate the expression of protease-activated receptors (PARs) in colon mucosal tissue of patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (D-IBS). Methods Colon mucosa tissues were obtained from 28 D-IBS patients and 18 normal controls by colonoscopy.The expression of PARs was detected using Western blotting and real-time PCR. Data were analysed by SPSS 18. 0 softwave, and comparisons between groups were done using Mann-Whitney U test.Results There was no difference in expression of PAR1 between D-IBS patients and normal controls (P=0. 300). The expressions of PAR2 and PAR4 were higher in D-IBS patients than those in normal controls (0.99±0.67 vs 0.63±0.38, P=0.038 and 0.37±0. 14 vs 0.25±0. 11, P=0.013,respectively). The results of real-time PCR were in accordance with those of Western blotting.Conclusion The increased expressions of PAR2 and PAR4 in colon mucosa of D-IBS patients indicate that these two PAR receptors may be involved in the process of D-IBS.