title: Proteinase-activated receptor 2 expression in the intestinal tract of the horse.
abstract: Proteinase-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) is a G-protein-coupled receptor for trypsin and mast cell tryptase; it is highly expressed at the intestinal level with multiple functions, such as epithelial permeability and intestinal motility. Many proteases activate PAR2 during tissue damage, suggesting a role of the inflammatory response receptors. The aim of the study was to evaluate the distribution and expression of PAR2 in the jejunum, the ileum and the pelvic flexure, using samples collected from healthy adult horses after slaughter. Proteinase-activated receptor 2 immunoreactivity (PAR2-IR) was observed in the enterocytes, intestinal glands, the smooth muscle of the muscularis mucosae, and the longitudinal and circular muscle layers; there were no differences in the distribution of PAR2-IR in the different sections of the intestinal tract. The protein expression level showed that the relative amount of the PAR2 content in the mucosa of the intestinal tract decreased from the small to the large intestine while the PAR2 mRNA analysed showed similar values. This study provides relevant findings concerning the distribution of the PAR2 in the intestines of healthy horses and represents the starting point for evaluating the role of the PAR2 during strangulative intestinal disease and consequent systemic intestinal reperfusion/injury complications in horses in order to identify and employ antagonist PAR2 molecules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (UNI EN ISO 9001:2008), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Augusta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zannoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (UNI EN ISO 9001:2008), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristiano
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bombardi
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (UNI EN ISO 9001:2008), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dondi
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (UNI EN ISO 9001:2008), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morini
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (UNI EN ISO 9001:2008), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Forni
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (UNI EN ISO 9001:2008), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chiocchetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (UNI EN ISO 9001:2008), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spadari
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (UNI EN ISO 9001:2008), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: noemi.romagnoli@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Noemi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Romagnoli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses / Q000378:metabolism*; D007082:Ileum / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D007420:Intestine, Large / Q000378:metabolism*; D007583:Jejunum / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D044464:Receptor, PAR-2 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D044464:Receptor, PAR-2; D012313:RNA
keywords: Horse; Ileum; Jejunum; Pelvic flexure; Proteinase-activated receptor 2