TY - JOUR T1 - The Proteinase-Activated Receptor 2 Is Involved in Nociception JF - The Journal of Neuroscience JO - J. Neurosci. SP - 9036 LP - 9042 DO - 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.21-22-09036.2001 VL - 21 IS - 22 AU - W. A. Hoogerwerf AU - L. Zou AU - M. Shenoy AU - D. Sun AU - M. A. Micci AU - H. Lee-Hellmich AU - S. Y. Xiao AU - J. H. Winston AU - P. J. Pasricha Y1 - 2001/11/15 UR - http://www.jneurosci.org/content/21/22/9036.abstract N2 - The proteinase-activated receptor 2 is expressed on a subset of primary afferent neurons and may participate in the neurogenic component of inflammation. We hypothesized that this receptor may also play a role in neuronal sensitization and contribute to the pathogenesis of pain in inflammatory conditions such as pancreatitis. Using a specific proteinase-activated receptor 2 activating peptide, we found evidence of such sensitization in vitro in the form of enhanced capsaicin- and KCl-evoked release of calcitonin gene-related peptide, a marker for nociceptive signaling. We then demonstrated that injection of the proteinase-activated receptor 2 activating peptide into the pancreatic duct can activate and sensitize pancreas-specific afferent neurons in vivo, as measured by Fos expression in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. These observations suggest that proteinase-activated receptor 2 contributes to nociceptive signaling and may provide a novel link between inflammation and pain. ER -