TY - JOUR
T1 - Fungal chitin from asthma-associated home environments induces eosinophilic lung infiltration
AU - Van Dyken, Steven J.
AU - Garcia, Daniel
AU - Porter, Paul
AU - Huang, Xiaozhu
AU - Quinlan, Patricia J.
AU - Blanc, Paul D.
AU - Corry, David B.
AU - Locksley, Richard M.
PY - 2011/9/1
Y1 - 2011/9/1
N2 - Development of asthma and allergic inflammation involves innate immunity, but the environmental contributions remain incompletely defined. Analysis of dust collected from the homes of asthmatic individuals revealed that the polysaccharide chitin is environmentally widespread and associated with β-glucans, possibly from ubiquitous fungi. Cell wall preparations of Aspergillus isolated from house dust induced robust recruitment of eosinophils into mouse lung, an effect that was attenuated by enzymatic degradation of cell wall chitin and β-glucans. Mice expressing constitutively active acidic mammalian chitinase in the lungs demonstrated a significant reduction in eosinophil infiltration after fungal challenge. Conversely, chitinase inhibition prolonged the duration of tissue eosinophilia. Thus, fungal chitin derived from home environments associated with asthma induces eosinophilic allergic inflammation in the lung, and mammalian chitinases, including acidic mammalian chitinase, limit this process.
AB - Development of asthma and allergic inflammation involves innate immunity, but the environmental contributions remain incompletely defined. Analysis of dust collected from the homes of asthmatic individuals revealed that the polysaccharide chitin is environmentally widespread and associated with β-glucans, possibly from ubiquitous fungi. Cell wall preparations of Aspergillus isolated from house dust induced robust recruitment of eosinophils into mouse lung, an effect that was attenuated by enzymatic degradation of cell wall chitin and β-glucans. Mice expressing constitutively active acidic mammalian chitinase in the lungs demonstrated a significant reduction in eosinophil infiltration after fungal challenge. Conversely, chitinase inhibition prolonged the duration of tissue eosinophilia. Thus, fungal chitin derived from home environments associated with asthma induces eosinophilic allergic inflammation in the lung, and mammalian chitinases, including acidic mammalian chitinase, limit this process.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=80052663507&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.4049/jimmunol.1100972
DO - 10.4049/jimmunol.1100972
M3 - Article
C2 - 21824866
AN - SCOPUS:80052663507
SN - 0022-1767
VL - 187
SP - 2261
EP - 2267
JO - Journal of Immunology
JF - Journal of Immunology
IS - 5
ER -