New understanding of how sensory nerve cells transmit their signals to the central nervous system has been reached by researchers at the University of California in San Francisco.

Nigel Bunnett, professor of surgery and physiology, and his team have shown that tryptase—a degradatory enzyme known to be involved in triggering the inflammatory process—works by activating a new class of receptor called PAR2 (proteinase activated 2 receptors).

Professor Bunnett's work suggests that substances that block these receptors could make good candidates for new anti-inflammatory drugs (Nature Medicine 2000;6:151-8).

When sensory …