Novel proteinase-activated receptor-2 (PAR2) antagonist C391 blocks
Alternaria-induced human airway epithelial signaling and asthma
indicators in murine models
Abstract
Background and Purpose: Despite availability of a variety of treatment
options, many asthma patients have poorly controlled disease with
frequent exacerbations. Proteinase-activated receptor-2 (PAR2) has been
identified in pre-clinical animal models as important to asthma
initiation and progression following allergen exposure. Proteinase
activation of PAR2 induces intracellular Ca2+, mitogen activated protein
kinase (MAPK) and -arrestin signaling the airway, leading to both
inflammatory and protective effects. We have developed C391, a potent
PAR2 antagonist effective in blocking peptidomimetic- and
trypsin-induced PAR2 signaling in vitro as well as reducing inflammatory
PAR2-associated pain in vivo. We hypothesized that PAR2 reduction with
C391 would attenuate allergen-induced asthma indicators in murine
models. Experimental Approach: We evaluated the ability for C391 to
alter Alternaria alternata-induced PAR2 signaling pathways in vitro
using a human airway epithelial cell line that naturally expresses PAR2
(16HBE14o-) and a transfected embryonic cell line (HEK 293). We next
evaluated the ability for C391 to reduce A. alternata-induced asthma
indicators in vivo in two murine strains. Key Results: C391 blocked A.
alternata-induced, PAR2-dependent Ca2+ and MAPK signaling in 16HBE14o-
cells, as well as -arrestin recruitment in HEK 293 cells. C391
effectively attenuated A. alternata-induced inflammation, mucus
production, mucus cell hyperplasia and airway hyperresponsiveness in
acute asthma murine models. Conclusions and Implications: To our
knowledge, this is the first demonstration of pharmacological
intervention of PAR2 to reduce allergen-induced asthma indicators in
vivo. These data support further development of PAR2 antagonists as
potential first-in-class allergic asthma drugs.