Initial support for the hypothesis that PAR2 is involved in the immune response to Nippostrongylus brasiliensis in mice

Abstract

Protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) is a cell surface receptor that detects trypsin and trypsin-like enzymes. Although the precise pathophysiological roles of PAR2 are yet to be determined, the receptor has been broadly implicated in inflammation and allergy. However, no studies have investigated the possible roles of PAR2 in hosts infected by parasitic helminths. Therefore, in this preliminary investigation, we compared the infectivity of the nematode Nippostrongylus brasiliensis in mice lacking the PAR2 gene (PAR2-/-) and in their 'background-strain' controls (129SV). PAR2-/- mice displayed elevated fecal egg counts and decreased levels of total serum IgE, after a subcutaneous infection w..