PAR‐2 receptor‐induced intracellular signalling in isolated intact human eccrine sweat gland cells and primary tissue culture cells

Abstract

PAR‐2 receptors can evoke intracellular signalling and anion transport in a cell line derived from human sweat glands, however, it is unknown whether PAR‐2 receptors are present and play a role in intact human sweat gland secretory cells. PAR‐2 receptors were investigated in isolated sweat glands and tissue culture cells derived from primary explants. Skin samples were obtained by informed consent and ethics approval from volunteers for immunohistochemistry and sweat gland isolation for; Western blot analysis; calcium imaging or explanted for tissue culture. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot using an anti human PAR‐2 antibody demonstrated the presence of these receptors in sweat gland secretory cells. Calcium imaging experiments using trypsin and the agonist peptide SLIGKV showed that both could increase intracellular calcium levels in intact glands and in the primary sweat gland cultures. Results also demonstrated that the effects of the agonist peptide were reversible upon washout, but not trypsin, and that the reverse peptide VKGILS failed to initiate changes in intracellular calcium. The results of this study demonstrate that PAR‐2 receptors are present in isolated human sweat gland secretory cells and in primary cultured cells and that these receptors are functionally active and can induce increases in intracellular calcium.The study was supported by Glasgow Caledonian University.