Protease-activated receptor signaling in lung pathology

Abstract

Protease-activated receptors (PARs) are self-activated G-protein-coupledreceptors that have diverse roles in several disease paradigms including neurodegeneration, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and others. Recently, extensiveresearch on PAR family and its effect in modulating signaling pathways havegained attention. There is evidence that PARs are expressed in the airways in avariety of cell types that are relevant to inflammatory lung diseases, and activationof these receptors might be linked to significant pathological changes. Thus, PARsare exciting targets in lung disease research. This chapter mainly focuses on the roleof PAR family members in several lung diseases. In this context, modulation ofPAR signaling might open novel avenues in the treatment interventions in anumber of respiratory conditions at least in part to reduce the burden of thediseases.