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Proteinase‐activated receptors (PARs) and bronchial smooth muscle functions
Author(s) -
Geppetti Pierangelo,
Trevisani Marcello
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
drug development research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.582
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1098-2299
pISSN - 0272-4391
DOI - 10.1002/ddr.10316
Subject(s) - receptor , biology , bradykinin , tachykinin receptor , mammal , cell type , microbiology and biotechnology , neuroscience , cell , immunology , neuropeptide , biochemistry , substance p , zoology
Proteinase‐activated receptors (PARs) have been found to be present in the airway tissue of different mammal species. As for many other receptors, including the bradykinin or tachykinin receptors, their distribution is not restricted to one single cell type, and accordingly, their activation results in the production of diverse and often opposing responses. Remarkable variations have been found in different mammal species regarding the distribution and function of PARs. This first observation may explain the substantial differences observed occasionally in the role of various PARs and their agonists in the modulation of bronchomotor activity and in other airway functions. In addition, these considerations should result in caution in drawing conclusions from findings obtained in one single mammal species and applying them to human tissues and human diseases. The present article will focus on the distribution and function of PARs in the airway tissues from experimental animals and humans. Particular emphasis will be given to the distribution and function of PAR 2 because this receptor type has been shown to produce a large variety of responses of potential interest for airway pathophysiology. Drug Dev. Res. 60:24–28, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.