Proteinase-activated receptors (PARs): crossroads between innate immunity and coagulation.

Coagulation cascade and innate immunity are intimately linked in their endeavor to organize the body's response to injury. Protease-activated receptors (PARs) are important mediators of inflammatory response that can be activated by proteases of the coagulation cascade. Their recent discovery has shed new light on the crosstalk between coagulation and innate immunity. Recent studies have investigated the physiological relevance of PARs in the context of immunity and vascular injury, suggesting that these receptors could be used as therapeutic targets for the treatment of pathologies related to innate immunity, endothelial functions and coagulation processes