Abstract
Trypsin and mast cell tryptase cleave proteinase-activated receptor 2 and, by unknown mechanisms, induce widespread inflammation. We found that a large proportion of primary spinal afferent neurons, which express proteinase-activated receptor 2, also contain the proinflammatory neuropeptides calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P. Trypsin and tryptase directly signal to neurons to stimulate release of these neuropeptides, which mediate inflammatory edema induced by agonists of proteinase-activated receptor 2. This new mechanism of protease-induced neurogenic inflammation may contribute to the proinflammatory effects of mast cells in human disease. Thus, tryptase inhibitors and antagonists of proteinase-activated receptor 2 may be useful anti-inflammatory agents.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 151-158 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Nature Medicine |
Volume | 6 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 2000 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology