title: The role of proteinase 3 (PR3) and the protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) pathway in dendritic cell (DC) maturation of human-DC-like monocytes and murine DC.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to assess PAR-2 expression on dendritic cell (DC) subsets and other immune cells of Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) patients and healthy controls (HC) and to investigate whether Proteinase 3 (PR3, a serine protease which can activate PAR2) induces maturation of human DC-like monocytes and murine Flt-3 ligand- and GM-CSF-generated DC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human peripheral blood cells including DC subsets and Flt-3l- and GM-CSF-generated mouse DC were analysed for expression of PAR-2 and DC maturation markers by flow cytometry before and after stimulation with PR3, trypsin, PAR-2 agonist or LPS for 24 h.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no difference of PAR-2 expression on PMNs, monocytes, lymphocytes and DC between all WG samples and HC. However, in inactive WG, expression of PAR-2 was downregulated on the cell surface of PMNs, monocytes, lymphocytes, and CD11c+DC compared to active WG and HC. PR3 and PAR2-agonists did not induce upregulation of PAR-2 or maturation markers of human DC-like monocytes in WG and HC. Likewise, murine PR3 did not induce upregulation of PAR-2 or maturation markers in murine DC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PAR-2 expression is downregulated on human peripheral blood cells including CD11c+ DC in inactive WG compared to active WG and HC, possibly reflecting a non-activated status of these cells in inactive disease. PR3 and PAR-2- agonists did not induce maturation of human ex vivo DC-like monocytes in WG and HC and of murine DC, suggesting this pathway is not singularly involved in the maturation of these cell subsets.
authors.affiliation: Vasculitis Center, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck and Klinikum Bad Bramstedt, Bad Bramstedt, Germany.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Evelin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grage-Griebenow
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Csernok
authors.forename: Kristine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Butherus
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ehlers
authors.forename: Wolfgang L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.forename: Julia U
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Holle
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D039521:CD11c Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D014890:Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D053146:Myeloblastin / Q000378:metabolism*; D044464:Receptor, PAR-2 / Q000819:agonists / Q000378:metabolism*; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000378:metabolism; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D039521:CD11c Antigen; C428200:FCGR3B protein, human; C485700:Fcgr3 protein, mouse; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D044464:Receptor, PAR-2; D017452:Receptors, IgG; C495345:TLR4 protein, human; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; D053146:Myeloblastin