Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.4.21.5 (thrombin)
33,306 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

(1) Thrombin, a mitogen for human cultured airway smooth muscle (HASM), has many actions that have been attributed to activation of protease-activated receptor (PARs). However, the role of PARs in the proliferative action has not been clearly identified. Moreover, thrombin elicits cytokine production in a number of cell types, but these effects have not been characterized in human ASM. (2) Thrombin (0.03-3 U ml(-1))-stimulated increases in the levels of the pro-inflammatory and fibrogenic cytokine, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were observed over the same concentration range observed for thrombin-stimulated mitogenesis. (3) Inhibition of thrombin proteolytic activity, with either D-phenylalanyl-L-prolyl-L-arginine chloromethyl ketone (PPACK)- or hirudin-treated thrombin (0.3 U ml(-1)) or in the presence of the thrombin serine protease-selective inhibitor, SDZ 217-766 (0.15 micro M), reduced the thrombin-stimulated GM-CSF levels by 91+/-3, 65+/-12 and 83+/-9% (n=8, P<0.05), respectively. PPACK treatment, hirudin and SDZ 217-766 inhibited thrombin-stimulated increase in cell number by 70+/-8, 63+/-11 and 69+/-8%, respectively. (4) PAR-selective peptides SFLLRN (PAR1; 10 micro M), SLIGKV (PAR2; 10 micro M), GYPGQV (PAR4; 100 micro M) or the combination of SFLLRN and GYPGQV elicited mitogenic responses of only 15% of that to thrombin and surprisingly, had no effect on GM-CSF levels (n=8). Nevertheless, inhibition of thrombin responses by pertussis toxin (50 ng ml(-1)) suggests that the PAR-independent actions also involve a G-protein-coupled receptor. (5) PAR1 receptor expression was evident by immunohistochemistry and these receptors were coupled to increases in intracellular calcium, but not to the phosphorylation of ERK or the increases in cyclin D1 protein levels that are essential for cell proliferation. Cross-desensitization of intracellular calcium increases by thrombin and the PAR1-selective peptide provides evidence that the PAR1 receptor responds to both ligands. (6) The failure of PAR-selective peptides to mimic thrombin responses together with the inhibition of thrombin responses by serine protease inhibitors suggest the involvement of novel proteolytic receptor targets for thrombin-induced mitogenesis and cytokine production.
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PMID:Protease-activated receptor (PAR)-independent growth and pro-inflammatory actions of thrombin on human cultured airway smooth muscle. 1264 88

Proteinase-activated receptors (PARs) are activated by either serine proteinases or synthetic peptides corresponding to the NH2-terminal tethered ligand sequences that are unmasked by proteolytic cleavage. Although PARs are highly expressed in the kidney, their roles in regulating renal function are not known. In the present study, we evaluated the impact of PAR activation on renal hemodynamics using PAR1- and PAR2-activating peptides (TFLLR-NH2 and SLIGRL-NH2) and proteinases (thrombin and trypsin) as PAR agonists in the isolated perfused rat kidney preparation. PAR1 activation resulted in renal vasoconstriction and a marked reduction in the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). In contrast, PAR2 activation caused vasodilation, partially reversing the vasoconstriction induced by TFLLR-NH2 and ANG II and increasing GFR that had been prereduced by ANG II. The vasoconstrictor actions of PAR1 activation were abolished by protein kinase C inhibition. The PAR2-induced vasodilation was only partially blocked by NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester, suggesting both nitric oxide-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Although PAR4 mRNA was detected in renal parenchyma, the PAR4-activating peptide AYPGKF-NH2 had no effect on renal perfusion flow rate. We conclude that PAR1 and PAR2 play bidirectional roles in the regulation of renal hemodynamics.
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PMID:Bidirectional regulation of renal hemodynamics by activation of PAR1 and PAR2 in isolated perfused rat kidney. 1264 41

Thrombin responses in human platelets are mediated by the protease-activated receptors (PAR), PAR1 and PAR4. The signalling pathways mediating PAR activation have not been fully delineated for human platelets. We assessed cytoplasmic Ca2+ mobilization in response to activation with thrombin and PAR1 (SFLLRN) and PAR4 (GYPGKF) peptides in two patients whose platelets were deficient in two major signalling proteins, Galphaq or phospholipase (PLC)-beta2. In normal platelets, thrombin induced a biphasic Ca2+ response with a rapid rise to a peak followed by a sustained elevation in Ca2+. The peak Ca2+ rise was impaired in both patients at lower thrombin concentrations. At higher concentrations, it was decreased in PLC-beta2-deficient platelets; the sustained Ca2+ elevation observed in normal and Galphaq-deficient platelets was reduced in PLC-beta2-deficient platelets. The response to SFLLRN was decreased in both patients at lower concentrations. The peak Ca2+ in response to GYPGKF was reduced in both patients; the sustained Ca2+ increase was markedly decreased in PLC-beta2-deficient platelets. These studies provide evidence that, in human platelets, both Galphaq and PLC-beta2 play a major role in responses to PAR1 and PAR4 activation, and that PLC-beta2 is required for the sustained Ca2+ rise upon thrombin activation.
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PMID:Role of Galphaq and phospholipase C-beta2 in human platelets activation by thrombin receptors PAR1 and PAR4: studies in human platelets deficient in Galphaq and phospholipase C-beta2. 1271 74

Protease-activated receptors (PARs) are stimulated by proteolytic cleavage of their extracellular domain, unmasking a new N-terminus acting as tethered ligand. Whereas the role of PARs in platelets is well known, their presence and function in human monocytes and other antigen-presenting cells has not been characterized. Here it is demonstrated that human peripheral monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages and dendritic cells differentially express PARs. Human monocytes express mainly PAR1 and less PAR3. Differentiation of monocytes into macrophages by either macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) elicits enhanced expression of PAR1, PAR2, and PAR3. In contrast, dendritic cells differentiated from monocytes by GM-CSF and interleukin-4 (IL-4) strongly down-regulated PAR1, PAR2, and PAR3, both at the mRNA and the protein level. Down-regulation of the PAR expression was apparently due to IL-4, because treatment of macrophages with IL-4 caused down-regulation of PAR1, PAR2, and PAR3. PAR4 mRNA expression remained undetectable in any of the cell types investigated. Stimulation of PAR1, PAR2, and PAR3 with thrombin, trypsin, or established receptor-activating peptides (PAR-APs) triggered cytosolic Ca2+ responses, indicating functionally active PARs. Further, stimulation of monocytes or macrophages with thrombin or PAR1-AP, but not with PAR2-or PAR4-AP, triggers expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) both at the mRNA and the protein level. These data demonstrate that differentiation of human monocytes is associated with differential expression of functionally active PARs that mediate distinct regulatory functions in inflammation and atherogenesis.
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PMID:Differential expression and regulation of protease-activated receptors in human peripheral monocytes and monocyte-derived antigen-presenting cells. 1280 69

Eosinophil recruitment to airway tissue is a key feature of asthma, and release of a wide variety of toxic mediators from eosinophils leads to the tissue damage that is a hallmark of asthma pathology. Factors that control the release of these toxic mediators are targets for potential therapeutic intervention. Protease-activated receptors (PARs) are a novel class of receptors that are activated by cleavage of the N terminus of the receptor by proteases such as thrombin or trypsin-like enzymes. To date, PAR1-4 have been identified, and there are several studies that have demonstrated the expression of PARs in airway tissue, particularly the respiratory epithelium. We have investigated whether eosinophils express PARs and if activation of these receptors will then trigger a functional response. Using a combination of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and flow cytometry analysis, we have demonstrated that eosinophils express PAR1 and PAR2. FACS analysis showed that PAR1 could be clearly detected on the surface of the cells, whereas PAR2 appeared to be primarily intracellular. Trypsin and the PAR2 agonist peptide were seen in trigger shape change, release of cysteinyl leukotrienes, and most obviously, generation of reactive oxygen species. In contrast, thrombin had no effect on eosinophil function. The PAR1 agonist peptide did have a minor effect on eosinophil function, but this was most likely down to its ability to activate PAR1 and PAR2. These results demonstrate that PAR2 is the major PAR receptor that is capable of modulating eosinophil function.
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PMID:Expression of and functional responses to protease-activated receptors on human eosinophils. 1283 43

To investigate the role of thrombin in regulating apoptosis, we have used CCl39 cells, a fibroblast cell line in which thrombin-induced cell proliferation has been extensively studied. Withdrawal of serum from CCl39 cells resulted in a rapid apoptotic response that was completely prevented by the inclusion of thrombin. The protective effect of thrombin was reversed by pertussis toxin, suggesting that cell-survival signalling pathways are activated via a G(i) or G(o) heterotrimeric GTPase. Serum-withdrawal-induced death required de novo gene expression and was preceded by the rapid de novo expression of the pro-apoptotic 'BH3-only' protein Bim (Bcl-2-interacting mediator of cell death). Thrombin strongly inhibited the up-regulation of both Bim protein and Bim mRNA. The ability of thrombin to repress Bim expression, and to protect cells from apoptosis, was reversed by U0126, a MEK1/2 [MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) or ERK (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase) 1/2] inhibitor, or LY294002, a phosphoinositide 3'-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, suggesting that both the Raf-->MEK-->ERK1/2 and PI3K pathways co-operate to repress Bim and promote cell survival. A PAR1p (protease-activated receptor 1 agonist peptide) was also able to protect cells from serum-withdrawal-induced apoptosis, suggesting that thrombin acts via PAR1 to prevent apoptosis.
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PMID:Thrombin inhibits Bim (Bcl-2-interacting mediator of cell death) expression and prevents serum-withdrawal-induced apoptosis via protease-activated receptor 1. 1284 49

Defining the relative importance of protease-activated receptors (PARs) for thrombin signaling in mouse endothelial cells is critical for a basic understanding of thrombin signaling in these cells and for the rational use of knockout mice to probe the roles of thrombin's actions on endothelial cells in vivo. We examined thrombin- and PAR agonist-induced increases in cytoplasmic calcium, phosphoinositide hydrolysis, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation, and gene expression in endothelial cells from wild-type and PAR-deficient mice. PAR1 and PAR4 agonists triggered responses in wild-type but not in Par1-/- and Par4-/- endothelial cells, respectively. Calcium imaging confirmed that a substantial fraction of individual endothelial cells responded to both agonists. Compared with wild-type cells, Par1-/- endothelial cells showed markedly decreased responses to low concentrations of thrombin, and cells that lacked both PAR1 and PAR4 showed no responses to even high concentrations of thrombin. Similar results were obtained when endothelial-dependent vasorelaxation of freshly isolated mouse aorta was used as an index of signaling in native endothelial cells. Thus PAR1 is the major thrombin receptor in mouse endothelial cells, but PAR4 also contributes. These receptors serve at least partially redundant roles in endothelial cells in vitro and in vivo and together are necessary for the thrombin responses measured.
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PMID:Protease-activated receptors 1 and 4 mediate thrombin signaling in endothelial cells. 1286 1

The proteinase-activated receptors (PAR) PAR1 and PAR2 mediate responses to thrombin and trypsin-like proteases, respectively. Both receptors are expressed on endothelial cells where they have been reported to transduce a similar set of intracellular responses. In cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), we observed a marked difference in shape changes induced by PAR-activating peptides (PAR-APs); unlike PAR1-AP, PAR2-AP failed to stimulate cell rounding. Objectives were to shed light on the mechanisms underlying PAR-mediated cytoskeletal responses. We examined the activation of the Rho family GTPases in HUVEC using highly selective PAR1- and PAR2-APs to do this. Both peptides induced a robust and transient activation of RhoA, with the time course of activation being more sustained for the PAR1-AP. Interestingly, divergent effects on Rac activity were observed. Addition of PAR1-AP inhibited basal Rac activity as well as the phosphorylation of the Rac effector, p21-activated kinase (PAK). In contrast, PAR2-AP induced a modest activation of Rac, phosphorylation of PAK and translocation of cortactin from the cytosol to membrane ruffles, a Rac-dependent event. In vivo, only PAR1-AP rapidly enhanced vascular permeability in a mouse skin assay. We conclude that the differential regulation of the Rac/PAK pathway by PAR1 and PAR2 agonists in endothelial cells points toward distinct roles for these receptors in the control of vascular permeability and blood vessel remodeling.
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PMID:Modulation of Rho GTPase activity in endothelial cells by selective proteinase-activated receptor (PAR) agonists. 1287 83

Thrombin activates human platelets via the cleavage of two protease-activated G-protein coupled receptors (PARs), PAR1 and PAR4 that respond to low and high concentrations of thrombin, respectively. The aim of the present study was to examine the relative contributions of GPIbalpha and ADP receptors in response to thrombin-induced PAR1 and PAR4 stimulation. Platelet responses (aggregation, secretion and calcium mobilization) elicited by low thrombin concentrations were impaired when thrombin interaction with GPIbalpha was blocked. In contrast, blockade of thrombin interaction with GPIbalpha had no effect when PAR4-coupled responses were specifically elicited by high thrombin concentrations in the presence of PAR1 antagonists or after PAR1 desensitization. These results confirmed that unlike PAR1, PAR4 does not require GPIbalpha as a cofactor for thrombin-mediated activation. Both apyrase and selective antagonists of P2Y1 and P2Y12 inhibited PAR1-coupled responses but did not modify PAR4-coupled responses, indicating that in contrast to PAR1, PAR4 signals are not reinforced by ADP secretion and binding to the platelets. These results provide the direct evidence that, in human platelets, GPIbalpha and ADP act in synergy to amplify PAR1 coupled responses while PAR4 is activated independently of GPIbalpha and ADP.
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PMID:Thrombin-induced platelet PAR4 activation: role of glycoprotein Ib and ADP. 1287 18

There are two protease-activated receptors (PARs), PAR1 and PAR4, in human platelets. It has been suggested that PAR1 mediates platelet responses to low concentrations of thrombin, whereas PAR4 mediates signaling only at high concentrations. In the present study, we used a selective PAR4 blocker, YD-3, to investigate the role of PAR4 in thrombin-induced thromboxane formation in human platelets. YD-3 completely prevented thromboxane production by either a low concentration of thrombin (0.1 U/ml) or the PAR4 agonist peptide GYPGKF. In contrast, YD-3 did not affect thromboxane production caused by the PAR1 agonist peptide SFLLRN, collagen or arachidonic acid. YD-3 also decreased [(3) H]arachidonic acid release from thrombin-stimulated platelets. Moreover, desensitization of platelets with GYPGKF prevented low thrombin-induced thromboxane formation. The decreased thromboxane production by YD-3 is linked to inhibition of calcium influx in thrombin-stimulated platelets. These results suggest that PAR4 plays an important role in the regulation of thromboxane formation in platelets responding to thrombin through prolonged elevation of [Ca(2+)](i) and activation of phospholipase A(2). These data also indicate that PAR4 can be activated by relatively low concentrations of thrombin in human platelets. The selective inhibition of thrombin-induced thromboxane production by YD-3 may be of therapeutic benefit for thrombotic diseases.
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PMID:The role of PAR4 in thrombin-induced thromboxane production in human platelets. 1288 78


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