Expression pattern of protease activated receptors in lymphoid cells

Abstract Protease-activated receptors (PARs) are a subfamily of four G-protein-coupled receptors mediating multiple functions. PARs expression was studied in subpopulations of human lymphocytes. Our results indicate that natural killer cells expressed mRNA for PAR 1 , PAR 2 and PAR 3 , CD4+ T cells expressed PAR 1 and PAR 2 , while γδ and CD8+ T cells only expressed PAR 1 . PAR 4 was absent at mRNA level and B cells did not express any PAR. Analyses of the cell surface PARs expression by flow cytometry were consistent with the mRNA data and also between different donors. PAR 1 is the most abundant member of the PAR family present in lymphocytes.