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Occupational skin symptoms are prevalent among the workers of the seafood processing industry. In this study we investigate the role of salmon (Salmo salar) and king crab trypsin (Paralithodes camtschaticus) as inducers of inflammation in skin via secretion of inflammatory mediators. Human skin keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) were exposed to purified salmon and king crab trypsin. We observed that salmon trypsin enhanced the secretion of IL-8 and MMP-2 and crab trypsin enhanced the secretion of IL-8, MMP-2 and MMP-9 in a dose dependent manner. As protease activated receptors (PAR)-2 in skin are known to play an important role in physiology and pathology, we explored the involvement of these receptors in mediating the release of interleukin (IL)-8 and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 subsequent to exposure of skin keratinocytes to salmon and crab trypsin. In addition we observed that salmon and crab trypsin exhibit individual differences in stimulating the release of these inflammatory mediators. Finally, using specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) against PAR-2, we confirmed that the increase in secretion of IL-8, MMP-2 and MMP-9 in skin keratinocytes following exposure to salmon and crab trypsin was mediated via activation of PAR-2. These results suggest that exposure to proteases from the seafood may lead to inflammatory reactions in skin., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Salmon trypsin is shown to increase secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-8 from human airway epithelial cells through activation of PAR-2. Secretion of IL-8 induced by king crab trypsin is observed in a different concentration range compared to salmon trypsin, and seems to be only partially related to PAR-2 activation. This report aim to identify differences in the molecular structure of king crab trypsin (Paralithodes camtschaticus) compared to salmon (Salmo salar) and bovine trypsin (Bos taurus) that might influence the ability to activate protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2). Results: During purification king crab trypsin displayed stronger binding capacity to the anionic column used in fast protein liquid chromatography compared to fish trypsins, and was identified as a slightly bigger molecule. Measurements of enzymatic activity yielded no obvious differences between the trypsins tested. Molecular modelling showed that king crab trypsin has a large area with strong negative electrostatic potential compared to the smaller negative areas in bovine and salmon trypsins. Bovine and salmon trypsins also displayed areas with strong positive electrostatic potential, a feature lacking in the king crab trypsin. Furthermore we have identified 3 divergent positions (Asp196, Arg244, and Tyr247) located near the substrate binding pocket of king crab trypsin that might affect the binding and cleavage of PAR-2. Conclusion: These preliminary results indicate that electrostatic interactions could be of importance in binding, cleavage and subsequent activation of PAR-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]