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Thrombin signalling and protease-activated receptors

Nature volume 407, pages 258–264 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

How does the coagulation protease thrombin regulate cellular behaviour? The protease-activated receptors (PARs) provide one answer. In concert with the coagulation cascade, these receptors provide an elegant mechanism linking mechanical information in the form of tissue injury or vascular leakage to cellular responses. Roles for PARs are beginning to emerge in haemostasis and thrombosis, inflammation, and perhaps even blood vessel development.

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Figure 1: The actions of thrombin on blood cells and blood vessels.
Figure 2: Mechanism of PAR1 activation.
Figure 3: Thrombin signalling in human and mouse platelets.

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Acknowledgements

I thank B. Black, H. Bourne, I. Charo, P.-T. Chuang, C. Esmon and the members of my laboratory for critical reading of the manuscript, and T. Schoop for illustrations.

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  1. Cardiovascular Research Institute and Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of California at San Francisco, HSE-1300, 505 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, 94143-0130, California , USA

    Shaun R. Coughlin

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Coughlin, S. Thrombin signalling and protease-activated receptors. Nature 407, 258–264 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/35025229

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