title: Characterization of protease-activated receptor-2 immunoreactivity in normal human tissues.
abstract: PAR-2 is a second member of a novel family of G-protein-coupled receptors characterized by a proteolytic cleavage of the amino terminus, thus exposing a tethered peptide ligand that autoactivates the receptor. The physiological and/or pathological role(s) of PAR-2 are still unknown. This study provides tissue-specific cellular localization of PAR-2 in normal human tissues by immunohistochemical techniques. A polyclonal antibody, PAR-2C, was raised against a peptide corresponding to the amino terminal sequence SLIGKVDGTSHVTGKGV of human PAR-2. Significant PAR-2 immunoreactivity was detected in smooth muscle of vascular and nonvascular origin and stromal cells from a variety of tissues. PAR-2 was also present in endothelial and epithelial cells independent of tissue type. Strong immunolabeling was observed throughout the gastrointestinal tract, indicating a possible function for PAR-2 in this system. In the CNS, PAR-2 was localized to many astrocytes and neurons, suggesting involvement of PAR-2 in neuronal function. A role for PAR-2 in the skin was further supported by its immunolocalization in the epidermis. PAR-2C antibody exemplifies an important tool to address the physiological role(s) of PAR-2.
authors.affiliation: Drug Discovery Research, The R.W. Johnson Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Spring House, Pennsylvania 19477, USA.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: D'Andrea
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Derian
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leturcq
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brunmark
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Darrow
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Santulli
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Brass
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Andrade-Gordon
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000737:chemistry; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004064:Digestive System / Q000737:chemistry*; D004727:Endothelium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D004817:Epidermis / Q000737:chemistry*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000737:chemistry*; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry; D009928:Organ Specificity; D044464:Receptor, PAR-2; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D044464:Receptor, PAR-2; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface