Novel agonists and antagonists for human protease activated receptor 2

Human protease activated receptor 2 (PAR2) is a G protein-coupled receptor that is associated with inflammatory diseases and cancers. PAR2 is activated by serine proteases that cleave its N-terminus and by synthetic peptides corresponding to the new N-terminus. Peptide agonists are widely used to characterize physiological roles for PAR2 but typically have low potency (e.g., SLIGKV-NH₂, SLIGRL-NH₂), uncertain target selectivity, and poor bioavailability, limiting their usefulness for specifically interrogating PAR2 in vivo. Structure-activity relationships were used to derive new PAR2 agonists and antagonists containing nonpeptidic moieties. Agonist GB110 (19, EC₅₀ 0.28 μM) selectively induced PAR2-, but not PAR1-, mediated intracellular Ca²⁺ release in HT29 human colorectal carcinoma cells. Antagonist GB83 (36, IC₅₀ 2 μM) is the first compound at micromolar concentrations to reversibly inhibit PAR2 activation by both proteases and other PAR2 agonists (e.g., trypsin, 2f-furoyl-LIGRLO-NH ₂, 19). The new compounds are selective for PAR2 over PAR1, serum stable, and suitable for modulating PAR2 in disease models.