Thrombin-mediated IL-10 up-regulation involves protease-activated receptor (PAR)-1 expression in human mononuclear leukocytes

Thrombin, the key enzyme of the coagulation cascade, exerts cellular effects through activation of the protease-activated receptors (PARs). Interleukin (IL)-10, besides its anti-inflammatory properties, is considered a major denominator of the immunosuppressive effect during human endotoxemia. We have recently shown that thrombin inhibits IL-12 production in human mononuclear cells and that such inhibition is accompanied by IL-10 up-regulation. To our knowledge, there are no data available to show that thrombin mediates IL-10 production by its interactions with PAR-1. We here report that human alpha-thrombin enhances IL-10 expression in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and in established monocytic cell lines and that this up-regulation requires PAR-1 expression. The use of proteolytically inactive thrombin reveals that such enhancement requires thrombin proteolytic activity. Addition of PAR-1 agonist peptides, such as SFLLRN, results in a significant increase of IL-10 production. PAR-1 expression is required for thrombin-induced IL-10 production, as shown by experiments performed with antisense or sense PAR-1 oligonucleotides. Treatment with thrombin or SFLLRN of monocytic cell lines, such as U937 and Mono Mac-6, results in an increased IL-10 production. This suggests that the observed IL-10 up-regulation may be the result of a direct interaction with monocytes. The observation that thrombin-mediated up-regulation of IL-10 may require the expression of the PAR-1 receptor identifies a new, functional link between inflammation and coagulation. Our results may also contribute to better design therapeutic strategies to treat several disorders, characterized by the presence of inflammatory as well as coagulant responses.