A regulatory role for protease-activated receptor-2 in motivational learning in rats.

Serine proteases such as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), thrombin and neuropsin influence hippocampal plasticity involved in learning and memory by facilitating both synaptic remodelling and long-term potentiation. Given our previous findings that trypsin and its receptor, protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR2), are both highly expressed in pyramidal neurons of the hippocampus and that activation of PAR2 attenuates 'pathogenic' plasticity related to epilepsy, we wished to determine the role for PAR2 in normal, non-pathological hippocampal plasticity related to learning and memory. In a strain of rat that show high basal levels of anxiety, the Genetic Absence Epilepsy Rats from Strasbourg (GAERS), peripheral administration of the PAR2 peptide agonist, SLIGRL (1.5 mg/kg s.c.), induced distinct deficits in experience-dependent learning both in the test-retest paradigm of the elevated-plus maze and in the Morris water maze. In separate, conscious rats with indwelling intra-cerebroventricular cannulae, SLIGRL rapidly appeared in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) following peripheral administration and had a half-life in CSF of approximately 25 min. These results suggest that activation of central PAR2 with brain accessible peptide agonists causes a temporary deficit in the formation and/or recollection of experience-dependent learning and memory.

Protease-activated receptor-2 regulates trypsin expression in the brain and protects against seizures and epileptogenesis.

Protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR(2)), primarily involved in inflammation, is highly expressed in limbic regions of the brain such as the hippocampus. Although extracellular proteolysis is involved in normal and stress-related neuronal plasticity associated with learning, memory and inflammatory disease states, little is known about the role of PAR(2) and its physiological agonist, trypsin, in the brain. We show immunohistochemically that trypsin co-localises with tissue plasminogen activator within granular-like structures in PAR(2)-positive pyramidal neurons of the rat hippocampus. Central administration of the PAR(2) peptide agonist, SLIGRL, inhibited electrical amygdala kindling-induced epileptogenesis and abolished kindling-induced over-expression of trypsin in the hippocampus. SLIGRL similarly attenuated kindling when administered subcutaneously. Non-enzymatic activation of neuronal PAR(2) using SLIGRL may thus activate feedback mechanisms to inhibit the over-production of trypsin and possibly other proteases during brain insults and thereby attenuate pathogenesis. Prophylactic systemic administration of non-proteolytic PAR(2) agonists may therefore represent a novel approach to protect against epileptogenic brain insults.

B2 kinin receptor activation is the predominant mechanism by which trypsin mediates endothelium-dependent relaxation in bovine coronary arteries.

The roles of kinin and protease-activated receptors (PAR) in endothelium-dependent relaxations to the serine protease, trypsin, were examined in rings of bovine left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). Trypsin (0.01-30 U/ml) caused biphasic, endothelium-dependent relaxations-a high potency (0.01-0.3 U/ml), low efficacy relaxation [maximum relaxation (R (max)), 9.0 +/- 5.1%] followed by a lower potency (1-30 U/ml) but high efficacy (R (max), 90.4 +/- 5.5%) relaxation, which was abolished by aprotinin. Captopril (10 microM) caused an approximately 10-fold leftward shift of the second phase response such that the first phase was masked. The second phase relaxation to trypsin was inhibited in a concentration-dependent, non-surmountable manner by the B2 antagonist, HOE-140. At 3 nM HOE-140, the second phase response to trypsin was abolished unmasking the first phase. Kallikrein (0.0003-0.3 U/ml) caused monophasic, endothelium-dependent relaxations (R (max), 33.7 +/- 14.6%), which were potentiated by captopril (R (max), 94.2 +/- 1.0%) and abolished by HOE-140. In the presence of captopril, the second phase relaxation to trypsin was only minimally inhibited by either N(G)-nitro-L: -arginine (100 microM) or 67 mM [K(+)](o) alone but markedly reduced when these two treatments were combined (R (max), 26.1 +/- 11.6% versus 98.6 +/- 2.9% in controls). The PAR1-activating peptide, SFLLRN (0.1-30 microM), but not the PAR2-activating peptide, SLIGRL, caused concentration-dependent relaxations (pEC(50), 5.9 +/- 0.0%; R (max), 43.3 +/- 8.3%). In conclusion, trypsin causes endothelium-dependent relaxations in the bovine LAD predominantly via release of endogenous BK, which in turn activates endothelial B2 receptors. Only a minor role for PAR1-like receptors was evident in this tissue.

Endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization as a remote anti-atherogenic mechanism.

Endothelial cell injury and the loss of cytoprotective mechanisms that involve nitric oxide, prostacyclin and endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization (EDH) are thought to underlie atherosclerosis, although how these mechanisms are anti-atherogenic is unclear. This is particularly so because thrombus formation, one of the major initiators of the disease, usually occurs at discrete luminal sites; thus, only small numbers of endothelial cells can be recruited to initiate anti-inflammatory responses. However, we, and others, have demonstrated that locally generated EDH spreads to endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells throughout a vessel to cause remote vasodilatation. In this article, we propose that, in addition to a widespread inhibitory signalling mechanism, EDH produced by the endothelium also initiates remote anti-inflammatory actions that prevent large blood vessels developing atherosclerosis.

Role of the epithelium and acetylcholine in mediating the contraction to 5-hydroxytryptamine in the mouse isolated trachea.

1. The 5-HT receptor subtype that mediates bronchocontraction and the involvement of neuronal and non-neuronal acetylcholine was assessed in murine isolated tracheae. 2. Atropine (1-10 nM) caused a rightward shift of the methacholine concentration-effect curves (pA(2)=9.0) but reduced the maximum response to 5-HT, suggesting that 5-HT acts as an indirect agonist. The potency of 5-HT receptor agonists (alpha-methyl-5-HT approximately 5-HT>5-carboxamidotryptamine), together with the competitive antagonism of 5-HT by ketanserin (pA(2)=9.4), suggests the involvement of the 5-HT(2A) receptor. 3. While cholinergic twitch responses to electrical field stimulation were abolished by the fast sodium channel inhibitor tetrodotoxin (300 nM), as well as by combined blockade of N-, P- and Q-type voltage-operated calcium channels by omega-conotoxin GVIA (30 nM) and agatoxin IVA (100 nM), responses to 5-HT were unaffected. Similarly, botulinum toxin A (50 nM) inhibited EFS twitch responses, but not contractions to 5-HT. 4. Choline acetyltransferase immunoreactivity was localised to ganglia and nerve fibres as well as approximately half the epithelial cells in the preparation. Removal of the epithelial layer markedly attenuated the contractile response to 5-HT, but had no effect on contractions to either methacholine or EFS. 5. These findings suggest that 5-HT, acting at 5-HT(2A) receptors on mouse tracheal epithelial cells, stimulates these cells to release acetylcholine, which then causes contraction of airway smooth muscle. This phenomenon should be borne in mind in when interpreting studies of murine models of airway disease.

Enzymatic activation of endothelial protease-activated receptors is dependent on artery diameter in human and porcine isolated coronary arteries.

Protease-activated receptor (PAR)-mediated vascular relaxations have been compared in coronary arteries of different diameters isolated from both humans and pigs. Thrombin, trypsin, and the PAR1-activating peptide, TFLLR, all caused concentration-dependent relaxation of both large (epicardial; approximately 2 mm internal diameter) and small (intramyocardial; approximately 200 microm internal diameter) human coronary arteries. EC(50) values for thrombin (0.006 u ml(-1) in epicardial, 1.69 u ml(-1) in intramyocardial) and trypsin (0.02 u ml(-1) in epicardial, 1.05 u ml(-1) in intramyocardial) were significantly (P<0.01) greater in intramyocardial arteries. By contrast, EC(50) values for TFLLR were not different between epicardial (0.35 microM) and intramyocardial (0.43 microM) arteries. In porcine coronary arteries, EC(50) values for relaxations to thrombin (0.03 u ml(-1) in epicardial 0.17 u ml(-1) in intramyocardial) were also significantly (P<0.01) greater in the smaller arteries. EC(50) values for both TFLLR and the PAR2-activating peptide, SLIGKV, were not different between the two different-sized pig coronary arteries. PAR1-immunoreactivity was localized to the endothelium of human epicardial and intramyocardial arteries and both PAR1- and PAR2-immunoreactivity was observed in endothelial cells of equivalent porcine arteries. These findings indicate that enzymatic activation of endothelial cell PARs in human (PAR1) and porcine (PAR1 and PAR2) coronary arteries is markedly reduced in intramyocardial arteries when compared with epicardial arteries, suggesting increased regulation of PAR-mediated vascular responses in resistance-type arteries.

Hepta and octapeptide agonists of protease-activated receptor 2.

Protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR(2)) is a G protein-coupled cell surface receptor for trypsin-like enzymes. Proteolytic cleavage at a specific site in the extracellular N-terminus exposes a receptor-activating sequence, the 'tethered ligand', which binds intramolecularly to initiate receptor signalling. Peptide or small molecule agonists for PAR(2), devoid of the non-specific and proteolytic effects of enzyme activators, may be promising therapeutic agents for proliferative and inflammatory diseases reportedly mediated by PAR(2). Synthetic hexapeptides that correspond to the native tethered ligand of human or rodent PAR(2) (SLIGKV and SLIGRL, respectively) can activate the receptor independently of proteolytic cleavage; however, known peptide agonists have much lower potency compared to protease-mediated activation. Here, we investigated the agonist activity of 94 hepta and octapeptide derivatives of the human and rodent PAR(2)-tethered ligand sequences in human airway epithelial (A549) cells which endogenously express PAR(2). Thirty synthetic peptides were found to be as potent as or more potent than SLIGRL on the basis of intracellular Ca(2+) responses. The more active peptide agonists were also examined for agonist cross-reactivity at PAR(1) in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells that endogenously express functional PAR(1) but not PAR(2). Two potent and PAR(2)-selective agonists were further examined for their capacity to relax phenylephrine-contracted rat aortic rings. Our findings reveal an important role for carboxyl extensions to native PAR(2) activating peptides in potentiating agonist activity.

Lipopolysaccharide induces epithelium- and prostaglandin E(2)-dependent relaxation of mouse isolated trachea through activation of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 agonist, causes airway hyperreactivity through nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB). Because NF-kappaB induces cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) to increase synthesis of prostaglandins (PGs), including the potent airway anti-inflammatory and smooth muscle relaxant PGE(2), we investigated whether LPS causes short-term PGE(2)-dependent relaxation of mouse isolated trachea. In rings of trachea contracted submaximally with carbachol, LPS caused slowly developing, epithelium-dependent relaxations that reached a maximum within 60 min. Fluorescence immunohistochemistry revealed TLR4-like immunoreactivity localized predominantly to the epithelium. The LPS antagonist polymixin B; the nonselective COX inhibitor indomethacin; the selective COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitors 5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazole (SC560) and 4-[5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]-benzenesulfonamide (SC236), respectively; the transcription inhibitor actinomycin D; the translation inhibitor cycloheximide; the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) inhibitor 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(4-methylsulfinylphenyl)-5-(4-pyridyl)-1H-imadazole (SB203580); and a combination of the mixed DP/EP1/EP2 receptor antagonist 6-isopropoxy-9-xanthone-2-carboxylic acid (AH6809) and the EP4 receptor antagonist 4'-[3-butyl-5-oxo-1-(2-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-1-5-dihydro-[1,2,4]triazol-4-ylmethyl]-biphenyl-2-sulfonic acid (3-methyl-thiophene-2-carbonyl)-amide (L-161982) all abolished relaxation to LPS, giving instead slowly developing, small contractions over 60 min. The cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)) inhibitor 1,1,1-trifluoro-6Z,9Z, 12Z,15Z-heneicosateraen-2-one significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited the relaxation to LPS, whereas the NF-kappaB proteasomal inhibitor Z-Leu-Leu-Leu-aldehyde (MG-132) had no affect on the relaxation in the first 20 min, after which it reversed the response to a contraction. In conclusion, our data indicate that LPS activates airway epithelial TLR4 to cause release of PGE(2) and subsequent EP2 and EP4 receptor-dependent smooth muscle relaxation. Activation of both COX-1 and COX-2 seems to be essential for this novel response to LPS, which also involves cPLA(2), p38 MAPK, NF-kappaB, and an unidentified NF-kappaB-independent, labile regulatory protein.

Protease-activated receptor-2 peptides activate neurokinin-1 receptors in the mouse isolated trachea.

Protective roles for protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR(2)) in the airways including activation of epithelial chloride (Cl(-)) secretion are based on the use of presumably PAR(2)-selective peptide agonists. To determine whether PAR(2) peptide-activated Cl(-) secretion from mouse tracheal epithelium is dependent on PAR(2), changes in ion conductance across the epithelium [short-circuit current (I(SC))] to PAR(2) peptides were measured in Ussing chambers under voltage clamp. In addition, epithelium- and endothelium-dependent relaxations to these peptides were measured in two established PAR(2) bioassays, isolated ring segments of mouse trachea and rat thoracic aorta, respectively. Apical application of the PAR(2) peptide SLIGRL caused increases in I(SC), which were inhibited by three structurally different neurokinin receptor-1 (NK(1)R) antagonists and inhibitors of Cl(-) channels but not by capsaicin, the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist CGRP(8-37), or the nonselective cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin. Only high concentrations of trypsin caused an increase in I(SC) but did not affect the responses to SLIGRL. Relaxations to SLIGRL in the trachea and aorta were unaffected by the NK(1)R antagonist nolpitantium (SR 140333) but were abolished by trypsin desensitization. The rank order of potency for a range of peptides in the trachea I(SC) assay was 2-furoyl-LIGRL > SLCGRL > SLIGRL = SLIGRT > LSIGRL compared with 2-furoyl-LIGRL > SLIGRL > SLIGRT > SLCGRL (LSIGRL inactive) in the aorta relaxation assay. In the mouse trachea, PAR(2) peptides activate both epithelial NK(1)R coupled to Cl(-) secretion and PAR(2) coupled to prostaglandin E(2)-mediated smooth muscle relaxation. Such a potential lack of specificity of these commonly used peptides needs to be considered when roles for PAR(2) in airway function in health and disease are determined.

Pharmacologically distinct intracellular calcium pools regulate tonic and oscillatory responses in porcine thoracic duct.

The present study investigated the mechanisms by which the thromboxane A2 mimetic U46619 can elicit phasic and tonic contractions in the pig thoracic duct, whereas other agonists like 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) produce tonic contractions only. Tonic contractions in response to either agonist were abolished by the l-type voltage-operated calcium channel (VOCC) inhibitor nifedipine, the store-operated calcium channel inhibitor SKF 96365, the calcium-sensitive chloride channel (ClCa) inhibitor niflumic acid, and by removal of extracellular Cl-. Superimposed phasic responses to U46619 were abolished by only nifedipine. Inhibitors of K+ channels did not prevent phasic contractions to U46619. The IP3 receptor antagonist 2-APB attenuated tonic contractions only, whereas ryanodine and removal of extracellular Na+ selectively abolished phasic contractions to U46619. Therefore, selective initiation of phasic contractions by U46619 appears to depend on intracellular Ca2+ from a ryanodine-sensitive store that causes depolarization via Na+/Ca2+ exchange, whereas tonic contractions to U46619 and 5-HT are mediated primarily by release of IP3-mobilized intracellular Ca2+ that subsequently causes ClCa opening, membrane depolarization, and Ca2+ entry via l-type VOCC.

Protease-activated receptor-2 activating peptide SLIGRL inhibits bacterial lipopolysaccharide-induced recruitment of polymorphonuclear leukocytes into the airways of mice.

Protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR2) acts as a receptor for trypsin and trypsin-like enzymes. The role of this receptor in airway inflammation is uncertain. In this study we assessed the effect of activation of PAR2 following intranasal administration of the peptide activator of PAR2, SLIGRL, over 72 h in mice. The extent of immune cell infiltration into the airways and activities of matrix metalloprotease-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 were assessed in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) by differential cell counts and gelatin zymography, respectively. SLIGRL did not cause a change in the number or types of cells retrieved in BAL at any time point and did not alter the levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 present in BAL. In contrast, similar intranasal administration of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) caused a large influx of neutrophilic polymorphonuclear leukocytes, which was associated with increased MMP-2 at 3 h only and MMP-9 activity from 3-72 h. Simultaneous administration of SLIGRL and LPS transiently potentiated increased MMP-9 activity at 3 h but markedly inhibited neutrophil influx and elevated MMP-2 activity at 3 h. These findings suggest that PAR2 agonists may be useful therapeutic molecules in pulmonary inflammatory diseases.