Abstract

Background: Protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) is present in the pancreas, where it has been shown to play a protective role during pancreatitis. However, the mechanism by which it protects against pancreatitis still remains to be elucidated. Acute pancreatitis is associated with premature zymogen activation and a blockage in digestive enzyme secretion.

Aim: To examine the effects of PAR-2 activation on the severity of pancreatitis, and to determine whether its protective effects are mediated by affecting either premature activation or secretory blockage, or both.

Results: The results confirmed that PAR-2 −/− mice have more severe pancreatitis than wild-type mice. Interestingly, intrapancreatic trypsin levels in the PAR-2 knockouts remained high after 6 h of pancreatitis, whereas they reverted to normal in the wild types. During pancreatitis, PAR-2 mRNA levels were upregulated in wild-type mice in response to supramaximal caerulein administration. Further, after a single injection of supramaximal caerulein, PAR-2 mRNA levels were also elevated, reaching a peak at 3 h. Stimulating PAR-2 with trypsin or the PAR-2-activating peptide, serine-leucine-isoleucine-glycine-arginine-leucine (SLIGRL), induced significantly more secretion from the acini of these caerulein-sensitised mice compared with the controls. PAR-2 activation also reversed the inhibition of secretion observed in both the caerulein and arginine models.

Conclusions: Trypsin released during the early stages of pancreatitis activates PAR-2 receptors on the acinar cells and stimulates secretion from these cells. Thus, PAR-2 activation may decrease pancreatic injury and limit the severity of pancreatitis by allowing extracellular trypsin to act as a secretagogue.