Protease-activated receptors: protease signaling in the gastrointestinal tract

Amadesi, S. and Bunnett, N. (2004) Protease-activated receptors: protease signaling in the gastrointestinal tract. Current Opinion in Pharmacology, 4 (6). pp. 551-556. ISSN 1471-4892 doi: 10.1016/j.coph.2004.08.004

Abstract/Summary

Serine proteases from the circulation, inflammatory cells, digestive glands and microorganisms can signal to cells by cleaving protease-activated receptors (PARs), a family of four G-protein-coupled receptors. Proteases cleave PARs at specific sites to expose tethered ligand domains that bind to and activate the cleaved receptors. Despite this irreversible mechanism of activation, PAR signaling is tightly regulated to prevent the uncontrolled stimulation of cells. Although PARs are found in all organ systems, protease signaling is of particular interest in the gastrointestinal tract, where proteases regulate neurotransmission, secretion, motility, epithelial permeability and intestinal inflammation, and can thus contribute to disease.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/35815
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	No Reading authors. Back catalogue items Life Sciences > School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy > School of Pharmacy > Division of Pharmacology
Publisher	Elsevier
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