King crab proteases: as stimulators of an inflammatory pathway in human airway epithelial cells

Abstract

In these studies, we focus on moricrase (enzyme mixture from hapatopancreas of king crab) as an activator of inflammatory responses in airway cells. Taking under consideration that serine proteases, such as trypsin, are stimulator of interlukin-8 (IL-8). We investigate the role of protease activated receptor 2 (PAR-2) in the inflammation of human pulmonary epithelial cells (A549). A549 cells were exposed to moricrase and we observed that moricrase induces stimulation of IL-8. Finally, it has been found that after the stimulation of A549 cells with moricrase, the release of IL-8 is mediated through the activation of PAR-2.With respect to our findings we can suggest that moricrase, via activation of PAR-2, might produce inflammation or influence the inflammatory process in human airways if inhaled in a significant amount.