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Dr Peter J Henry
School of Pharmacology and Medicine
University of Western Australia
Perth, WA 6009
Email: phenry@receptor.pharm.uwa.edu.au
Tel: +61-8-9346-3123
Fax: +61-8-9346-3469
Homepage:

Research
During the past 5 years, my research has focussed on determining the distribution and function of protease-activated receptors (PARs) in healthy and diseased airways. Together with colleagues, we were the first to propose that proteases such as trypsin released from the epithelium can initiate a powerful bronchoprotection in the airways by activation of epithelial PAR2 (Cocks et al., 1999). We subsequently showed that activation of PAR1, PAR2 and PAR4 by proteases and "tethered ligand" peptides induced the release of the anti-inflammatory and bronchodilatory prostanoid PGE2 (Lan et al., 2000, 2001). More recently we have demonstrated that respiratory tract viral infection, which is a common trigger for asthma attacks, was associated with increased expression of epithelium PAR2 (Lan et al., 2004) and augmented PAR2-mediated bronchodilatation. Our current studies indicate that PAR2 activating peptides also inhibit airway eosinophilia and hyperresponsiveness in animal models of allergic inflammatory disease, suggesting that PAR2 could be a useful therapeutic target in treating allergen-driven diseases of the airways such as asthma.
Collaborations
Professor Geoff Stewart, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
Publications
Cocks TM, Fong B, Chow JM, Anderson GP, Frauman AG, Goldie RG, Henry PJ, Carr MJ, Hamilton JR, Moffatt JD. A protective role for protease-activated receptors in the airways. Nature 1999; 398:156-60.

Lan RS, Stewart GA, Henry PJ. Modulation of airway mouse muscle tone by protease-activated receptor-1, -2, -3 and -4 in trachea isolated from influenza A virus-infected mice. Br J Pharmacol 2000; 129:63-70.

Lan RS, Knight DA, Stewart GA and Henry PJ. Role of PGE2 in protease-activated receptor-1, -2 and -4 mediated relaxation in the mouse isolated trachea. Br J Pharmacol 2001; 132:93-100.

Lan RS, Stewart GA, Henry PJ. Role of protease-activated receptors in airway function: a target for therapeutic intervention? Pharmacol Ther 2002; 95:239-57.

Lan RS, Stewart GA, Goldie RG, Henry PJ. Altered expression and in vivo lung function of protease-activated receptors during influenza A virus infection in mice.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2004; 286: L388-98.





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