Protease-activated receptors (PARs) act as sensors for active extracellular serine proteases.
Since serine proteases like mast cell tryptase are associated with inflammatory processes,
PARs may represent novel pharmacological targets in airway diseases like asthma and
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, our present understanding of the
physiological roles of PARs is in its infancy. In this review we highlight evidence for the
involvement of PARs in airway disease and propose that these novel receptors may play …