Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UNIPROT:P20366 (substance P)
 21,176 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

To study the elements of neurogenic inflammation in psoriatic skin, morphological contacts were examined between mast cells and sensory nerves containing the neuropeptides substance P (SP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) or vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). Because mast cells in psoriatic lesions appear in great numbers at the basement membrane (BM) zone, neuropeptide-mast cell contacts with the BM were also counted. A double stain for active mast cell tryptase and the neuropeptides was applied and the contacts were quantitated morphometrically. Sensory nerve-mast cell contacts were also studied three-dimensionally with a confocal laser scanning microscope. Increases in the contact values of SP and CGRP with mast cells, as well as with the BM, were obtained in developing (1-3 weeks) lesions when compared with their non-lesional controls. This increase reached statistical significance in mature lesions. In contrast, the corresponding contact values for VIP were decreased. By confocal microscopy, a close association between mast cells and sensory nerves was observed in the lesional dermis. Since tryptase is known to degrade CGRP but not SP, neurogenic stimuli, mainly via SP, can result in degranulation of mast cells, which release substances to enhance inflammation. At the BM zone in psoriatic lesions, the numerous mast cells loaded with tryptase can promote degradation of BM components and allow entry of various mediators to interact with keratinocytes.
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PMID:Quantitative histochemical analysis of mast cells and sensory nerves in psoriatic skin. 897 81

1. Proteases regulate cells by cleaving proteinase-activated receptors (PARs). Thrombin and trypsin cleave PAR-1 and PAR-2 on neurons and astrocytes of the brain to regulate morphology, growth and survival. We hypothesized that thrombin and mast cell tryptase, which are generated and released during trauma and inflammation, regulate enteric neurons by cleaving PAR-1 and PAR-2. 2. We detected immunoreactive PAR-1 and PAR-2 in > 60 % of neurons from the myenteric plexus of guinea-pig small intestine in primary culture. A large proportion of neurons that expressed substance P, vasoactive intestinal peptide or nitric oxide synthase also expressed PAR-1 and PAR-2. We confirmed expression of PAR-1 and PAR-2 in the myenteric plexus by RT-PCR using primers based on sequences of cloned guinea-pig receptors. 3. Thrombin, trypsin, tryptase, a filtrate from degranulated mast cells, and peptides corresponding to the tethered ligand domains of PAR-1 and PAR-2 increased [Ca2+]i in > 50 % of cultured myenteric neurons. Approximately 60 % of neurons that responded to PAR-1 agonists responded to PAR-2 agonists, and > 90 % of PAR-1 and PAR-2 responsive neurons responded to ATP. 4. These results indicate that a large proportion of myenteric neurons that express excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters and purinoceptors also express PAR-1 and PAR-2. Thrombin and tryptase may excite myenteric neurons during trauma and inflammation when prothrombin is activated and mast cells degranulate. This novel action of serine proteases probably contributes to abnormal neurotransmission and motility in the inflamed intestine.
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PMID:Thrombin and mast cell tryptase regulate guinea-pig myenteric neurons through proteinase-activated receptors-1 and -2. 1035 15

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.
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PMID:Agonists of proteinase-activated receptor 2 induce inflammation by a neurogenic mechanism. 1065 2

There is increasing evidence that the cutaneous nervous system modulates physiological and pathophysiological effects including cell growth and differentiation, immunity and inflammation as well as tissue repair. Both cutaneous nervous fibers and inflammatory cells are able to release neuromediators and thereby activate specific receptors on target cells in the skin or transient immunocompetent cells. Cutaneous neuromediators include classical neurotransmitters such as catecholamines and acetylcholine being released from the automatic nervous system or cutaneous cells. On the other hand neuropeptides including substance P, calcitonin gene related peptide (CRGP), vasointestinal peptide (VIP) or proopiomelanocortin (POMC) derived peptides such as alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone (alphaMSH) may be released from sensory or autonomic nerve fibers and several epidermal as well as dermal cells. Neuropeptides are known to activate a variety of cutaneous cells through high affinity neuropeptide receptors or by direct activation of intracellular G-protein signalling cascades. Via the modulation of transcription factor activation (NF-kappaB, AP-1, STAT-3) they regulate the expression of adhesion molecules and proinflammatory cytokines in different cells and thereby function as modulators of immune and inflammatory reactions. Accordingly, neuropeptides such as CGRP or alphaMSH in vitro were found to downregulate costimulatory molecule expression on dendritic cells and in vivo via the generation of suppressor T-lymphocytes to induce hapten specific tolerance. Proteinases such as tryptase or neural endopeptidase inactivate neuropeptides in the extracellular space or at the cell surface thereby terminating neuropeptide induced inflammatory or immune responses. Proteinase-activated receptors (PAR) are recently described receptors that may have high impact in regulating cutaneous neurogenic inflammation. In the skin PAR-2 being expressed on sensory neurons and endothelial cells is self activated by tethered peptide ligands that are exposed after extracellular amino-terminal cleavage by trypsin or mast cell tryptase. PAR-2 agonists were found to induce the release of CGRP and SP which mediate vasodilation, plasma extravasation as well as the expression of adhesion molecules on vascular endothelial cells and thus elicit neurogenic inflammation. These findings indicate that the neuromediator network including neuropeptide receptors as well as proteinases play an important role in the maintenance of tissue integrity and the regulation of inflammatory and immune responses in the skin.
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PMID:Neuromediators--a crucial component of the skin immune system. 1241 63

Inflammatory proteases (mast cell tryptase and trypsins) cleave protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) on spinal afferent neurons and cause persistent inflammation and hyperalgesia by unknown mechanisms. We determined whether transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor 1 (TRPV1), a cation channel activated by capsaicin, protons, and noxious heat, mediates PAR2-induced hyperalgesia. PAR2 was coexpressed with TRPV1 in small- to medium-diameter neurons of the dorsal root ganglia (DRG), as determined by immunofluorescence. PAR2 agonists increased intracellular [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]i) in these neurons in culture, and PAR2-responsive neurons also responded to the TRPV1 agonist capsaicin, confirming coexpression of PAR2 and TRPV1. PAR2 agonists potentiated capsaicin-induced increases in [Ca2+]i in TRPV1-transfected human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells and DRG neurons and potentiated capsaicin-induced currents in DRG neurons. Inhibitors of phospholipase C and protein kinase C (PKC) suppressed PAR2-induced sensitization of TRPV1-mediated changes in [Ca2+]i and TRPV1 currents. Activation of PAR2 or PKC induced phosphorylation of TRPV1 in HEK cells, suggesting a direct regulation of the channel. Intraplantar injection of a PAR2 agonist caused persistent thermal hyperalgesia that was prevented by antagonism or deletion of TRPV1. Coinjection of nonhyperalgesic doses of PAR2 agonist and capsaicin induced hyperalgesia that was inhibited by deletion of TRPV1 or antagonism of PKC. PAR2 activation also potentiated capsaicin-induced release of substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide from superfused segments of the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, where they mediate hyperalgesia. We have identified a novel mechanism by which proteases that activate PAR2 sensitize TRPV1 through PKC. Antagonism of PAR2, TRPV1, or PKC may abrogate protease-induced thermal hyperalgesia.
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PMID:Protease-activated receptor 2 sensitizes the capsaicin receptor transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor 1 to induce hyperalgesia. 1512 44

In the adventitia of large arteries, dendritic cells are located between nerve fibers, some of which contain substance P. The aim of the present study was to examine whether neurokinin 1 receptor (NK-1R) was expressed by dendritic cells in the arterial wall. Parallel sections of aortic and carotid artery segments were immunostained with anti-NK-1R and cell-type-specific antibodies. Dendritic cells in the arterial wall expressed NK-1R, albeit at a low level. Other cells, which intensely expressed NK-1R, were located along the border between the media and adventitia. They did not co-express any dendritic cell markers, including fascin, CD1a, S100, or Lag-antigen, and were negative for CD68, CD3, and mast cell tryptase. These NK-1R(+) cells were laser-capture microdissected and studied by means of electron-microscopic analysis. The microdissected cells were in direct contact with nerve endings, and their ultrastructure was typical of the interstitial cells of Cajal present in the gastrointestinal tract. Further systematic electron-microscopic analysis revealed that the cells displaying the features typical of interstitial cells of Cajal were a basic element of the human arterial wall architectonics. Arterial interstitial cells of Cajal were negative for c-kit but they expressed vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor 1 (VIPR1). Destructive alterations of contacts between arterial interstitial cells of Cajal and nerve endings were observed in arterial segments with atherosclerotic lesions. The functional significance of the arterial interstitial cells of Cajal and their possible involvement in atherosclerosis and other vascular diseases need clarification.
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PMID:Subset of cells immunopositive for neurokinin-1 receptor identified as arterial interstitial cells of Cajal in human large arteries. 1590 5

Protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) is activated by trypsin and mast cell tryptase to induce widespread inflammation by unknown mechanisms. Trypsin and tryptase were shown to activate sensory neurons to release substance-P and related peptides to mediate neurogenic inflammation. In the present study, the expression of PAR2 and tachykinins were investigated in rat trigeminal neurons that were identified by retrograde labeling with rhodamine dye from the nasal mucosa by using neuronal tracing in combination with immunohistochemistry. We found that large subpopulation of all trigeminal neurons (43.5+/-2.6%) identified by the pan-neuronal marker PGP 9.5 were stained with PAR2-immunoreactivity. Of all trigeminal neurons, 7.5+/-2.1% were immunoreactive for tachykinins and PAR2, and only 3.9+/-1.7% of all trigeminal neurons expressed tachykinins, but not PAR2-immunoreactivity. The present study also found that a large number trigeminal neurons innervating the nasal mucosa expressed PAR2-immunoreactivity. Of the rhodamine-labeled trigeminal neurons, 52.5+/-1.8% were immunoreactive for only PAR2 expression, 7.3+/-1.9% contained tachykinins and PAR2, and 3.1+/-0.4 of the rhodamine-labeled trigeminal neurons were non-immunoreactive PAR2, but were positive for tachykinins-immunoreactivity. In conclusion, based on the co-localization of PAR2 and tachykinins in trigeminal sensory neurons innervating the nasal mucosa, the present study suggests that, following an activation of PAR2 receptor in tachykinergic neurons by trypsin and mast cell tryptase, there may be a triggering of tachykinin-mediated phenomena such as neurogenic inflammation in allergic or non-allergic rhinitis.
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PMID:Protease-activated receptor 2 expression in trigeminal neurons innervating the rat nasal mucosa. 1615 Apr 84

Certain serine proteases that originate from the circulation (coagulation factors), inflammatory cells (mast cell tryptase, neutrophil granzyme A, and proteinase 3), and epithelial and neuronal tissues (trypsins) can specifically regulate cells by cleaving protease-activated receptors (PARs), a family of four G-protein-coupled receptors. Proteases cleave PARs on multiple cell types to reveal tethered ligand domains that bind to and activate the cleaved receptors. The proteases that activate PARs are often generated and secreted during injury and inflammation, and PARs orchestrate tissue responses to these insults, including hemostasis, inflammation, nociception, and repair mechanisms. Agonists of PARs, notably PAR2, induce inflammation in many tissues that is characterized by hyperemia, extravasation of plasma proteins, granulocyte infiltration, and alterations in epithelial permeability. These effects are mediated in part by the release of neuropeptides substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide from sensory nerve fibers in peripheral tissues. Proteases that activate PAR2 also induce the release of neuropeptides from the central projections of these nerves in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, where they participate in pain transmission. Accumulating evidence from PAR-deficient mice indicates that these mechanisms may contribute to experimental models of disease and raise the possibility that protease inhibitors and PAR antagonists may be useful therapies for a variety of inflammatory and painful conditions.
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PMID:Protease-activated receptors: how proteases signal to cells to cause inflammation and pain. 1667 65

Trichinella spiralis infection causes hyperexcitability in enteric after-hyperpolarising (AH) sensory neurons that is mimicked by neural, immune or inflammatory mediators known to stimulate adenylyl cyclase (AC)/cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling. The hypothesis was tested that ongoing modulation and sustained amplification in the AC/cAMP/phosphorylated cAMP related element binding protrein (pCREB) signaling pathway contributes to hyperexcitability and neuronal plasticity in gut sensory neurons after nematode infection. Electrophysiological, immunological, molecular biological or immunochemical studies were done in T. spiralis-infected guinea-pigs (8000 larvae or saline) after acute-inflammation (7 days) or 35 days p.i., after intestinal clearance. Acute-inflammation caused AH-cell hyperexcitability and elevated mucosal and neural tissue levels of myeloperoxidase, mast cell tryptase, prostaglandin E2, leukotrine B4, lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide and gelatinase; lower level inflammation persisted 35 days p.i. Acute exposure to blockers of AC, histamine, cyclooxygenase or leukotriene pathways suppressed AH-cell hyperexcitability in a reversible manner. Basal cAMP responses or those evoked by forskolin (FSK), Ro-20-1724, histamine or substance P in isolated myenteric ganglia were augmented after T. spiralis infection; up-regulation also occurred in AC expression and AC-immunoreactivity in calbindin (AH) neurons. The cAMP-dependent slow excitatory synaptic transmission-like responses to histamine (mast cell mediator) or substance P (neurotransmitter) acting via G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR) in AH neurons were augmented by up to 2.5-fold after T. spiralis infection. FSK, histamine, substance P or T. spiralis acute infection caused a 5- to 30-fold increase in cAMP-dependent nuclear CREB phosphorylation in isolated ganglia or calbindin (AH) neurons. AC and CREB phosphorylation remained elevated 35 days p.i.. Ongoing immune activation, AC up-regulation, enhanced phosphodiesterase IV activity and facilitation of the GPCR-AC/cAMP/pCREB signaling pathway contributes to T. spiralis-induced neuronal plasticity and AH-cell hyperexcitability. This may be relevant in gut nematode infections and inflammatory bowel diseases, and is a potential therapeutic target.
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PMID:Cyclic AMP signaling contributes to neural plasticity and hyperexcitability in AH sensory neurons following intestinal Trichinella spiralis-induced inflammation. 1730 83

We aimed to investigate the profile of the inflammatory infiltrate in lesional and nonlesional tissue in alopecia areata (AA) and look for possible associations between inflammatory mechanisms, neuropeptide expressions, and various clinical features. Twenty-four patch-type AA patients were included. Forty-eight lesional and nonlesional skin samples were stained immunohistochemically with antibodies for CD1a, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20, CD57 (for natural killer cells), mast cell tryptase, nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR), and substance P (SP). Various clinical findings were recorded. Psychological distress levels and stress-related hormones were measured. Lesional skin showed statistically more CD3(+), CD8(+), and CD57(+) lymphocytes, mast cells, Langerhans cells, and more prominent immunoreactivities of NGFR and SP (P < 0.003). Most nonlesional skin showed CD3(+) and CD57(+) cells, mast cells, and NGFR(+) nerve fibers. NGFR and SP, and SP and perivascular mast cell infiltrates were correlated, whereas peribulbar mast cells and anagen follicle counts were inversely correlated in nonlesional skin (P < 0.05). Near half of the patients' distress levels were high. No relationship among biochemical, psychological, and clinical parameters could be shown. AA may involve the entire skin in which lesions occur as a result of local T cell-mediated cytotoxic inflammatory response initiated by Langerhans cells and mast cells activated via neuropeptides.
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PMID:Investigation of the inflammatory mechanisms in alopecia areata. 1915 26


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