Expression pattern of protease activated receptors in lymphoid cells

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 PAR1, PAR2 and PAR3, CD4+ T cells expressed PAR1 and PAR2, while γδ and CD8+ T cells only expressed PAR1. PAR4 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. PAR1 is the most abundant member of the PAR family present in lymphocytes.