Proteinase-activated receptor 2 is involved in the behavioural changes associated with sickness behaviour

J Neuroimmunol. 2016 Jun 15:295-296:139-47. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2016.04.016. Epub 2016 Apr 27.

Abstract

Proteinase-activated receptor-2 (PAR2) is widely expressed in the CNS but whether it plays a key role in inflammation-related behavioural changes remains unknown. Hence, in the present study we have examined whether PAR2 contributes to behaviour associated with systemic inflammation using PAR2 transgenic mice. The onset of sickness behaviour was delayed and the recovery accelerated in PAR2(-/-) mice in the LPS-induced model of sickness behaviour. In contrast, PAR2 does not contribute to behaviour under normal conditions. In conclusion, these data suggest that PAR2 does not contribute to behaviour in the normal healthy brain but it plays a role in inflammation-related behavioural changes.

Keywords: Anxiety; LPS; Locomotor activity; Proteinase-activated receptor-2; Sickness behaviour; Sucrose preference.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Central Nervous System / drug effects
  • Central Nervous System / immunology
  • Exploratory Behavior / physiology
  • Food Preferences / physiology
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Illness Behavior / drug effects
  • Illness Behavior / physiology*
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Male
  • Maze Learning / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Receptor, PAR-2 / genetics
  • Receptor, PAR-2 / metabolism*
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Sucrose / administration & dosage
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptor, PAR-2
  • Sucrose