The role of thrombin and thrombin receptors in the brain

Weibo Luo, Yingfei Wang, Georg Reiser

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

The serine protease thrombin is generated from its zymogen prothrombin. Both thrombin and prothrombin have been detected locally in the brain. Emerging evidence demonstrates that thrombin exerts physiological and pathological functions in the central nervous system. During brain development, thrombin regulates cell proliferation, differentiation, and migration. Thrombin is also involved in synaptic organization and synaptic plasticity in normal brain. In the brain injured in neurodegenerative disorders, the activity of thrombin is modulated and thrombin mediates the dual opposite effects. Low concentrations of thrombin rescue neural cells from death after brain insults. In contrast, thrombin at high concentrations exacerbates brain damage. The cellular functions of thrombin are mainly regulated by G protein-coupled protease-activated receptors (PARs). Thrombin can signal to PAR1, PAR3, and PAR4. PAR1 has been shown to mediate extensively thrombin-induced neurodegeneration and neuroprotection in the brain. Therefore, thrombin and thrombin receptors represent novel therapeutic targets for treating neurodegenerative diseases.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationThrombin
Subtitle of host publicationPhysiology and Disease
PublisherSpringer US
Pages133-159
Number of pages27
ISBN (Electronic)9780387096377
ISBN (Print)9780387096360
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2009

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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