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Novel proteinase-activated receptor-2 (PAR2) antagonist C391 blocks Alternaria-induced human airway epithelial signaling and asthma indicators in murine models
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  • Candy Rivas,
  • Michael Yee,
  • Kenneth Addison,
  • Marissa Lovett,
  • Kasturi Pal,
  • Julie Ledford,
  • Greg Dussor,
  • Theodore Price ,
  • Josef Vagner,
  • Kathryn DeFea,
  • Scott Boitano
Candy Rivas
The University of Arizona Arizona Health Sciences Center

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Michael Yee
University of California Riverside School of Medicine
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Kenneth Addison
The University of Arizona Arizona Health Sciences Center
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Marissa Lovett
The University of Arizona Arizona Health Sciences Center
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Kasturi Pal
University of California Riverside School of Medicine
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Julie Ledford
University of Arizona Medical Center - University Campus
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Greg Dussor
The University of Texas at Dallas School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences
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Theodore Price
The University of Texas at Dallas School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences
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Josef Vagner
The University of Arizona BIO5 Institute
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Kathryn DeFea
University of California Riverside School of Medicine
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Scott Boitano
The University of Arizona Arizona Health Sciences Center
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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.
06 Aug 2021Submitted to British Journal of Pharmacology
09 Aug 2021Submission Checks Completed
09 Aug 2021Assigned to Editor
18 Aug 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
14 Sep 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
22 Sep 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
19 Oct 20211st Revision Received
20 Oct 2021Submission Checks Completed
20 Oct 2021Assigned to Editor
20 Oct 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
04 Nov 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
04 Nov 2021Editorial Decision: Accept