Therapeutic Potential of Targeting Protease Activated Receptors in Cardiovascular Diseases

From the discovery of protease activated receptors (PARs) to the development of first clinically available PAR1 antagonist (vorapaxar) more than two decades of continuous research have passed. There are four different types of PARs named as PAR1, 2, 3 and 4 having a unique mechanism of signaling. These receptors are present in different organs, including the cardiovascular system. Presence of PARs in heart and blood vessels, alteration in the level and activity of the receptors in pathological conditions along with availability of antagonists makes these receptors targetable in several cardiac diseases. Therapeutic benefits of PAR antagonist have been proven in animal model of cardiac diseases such as myocardial infarction, viral myocarditis, atherosclerosis, pulmonary arterial hypertension, etc. PAR signaling plays a vital role in mediating cardiac hypertrophy, inflammation and fibrosis. Apart from having cardiac importance PAR antagonist are also continuously experimented for their beneficial effects in improving insulin resistance in metabolic syndromes. In the present review, we have discussed the functions of individual PARs in the heart and blood vessels along with the expected usefulness of PAR modulators in cardiovascular diseases.