Pulmonary cryptococcosis induces chitinase in the rat.
Alfin G. Vicencio,Swati Narain,Zhongfang Du,Wang Yong Zeng,James Ritch,Arturo Casadevall,David L. Goldman +6 more
TLDR
A possible link between respiratory fungal infections, including C. neoformans, and asthma through the induction of AMCase is indicated through the induced chitinase activity within the lung and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of infected rats.Abstract:
Background: We previously demonstrated that chronic pulmonary infection with Cryptococcus neoformans results in enhanced allergic inflammation and airway hyperreactivity in a rat model. Because the cell wall of C. neoformans consists of chitin, and since acidic mammalian chitinase (AMCase) has recently been implicated as a novel mediator of asthma, we sought to determine whether such infection induces chitinase activity and expression of AMCase in the rat. Methods: We utilized a previously-established model of chronic C. neoformans pulmonary infection in the rat to analyze the activity, expression and localization of AMCase. Results: Our studies indicate that intratracheal inoculation of C. neoformans induces chitinase activity within the lung and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of infected rats. Chitinase activity is also elicited by pulmonary infection with other fungi (e.g. C. albicans), but not by the inoculation of dead organisms. Enhanced chitinase activity reflects increased AMCase expression by airway epithelial cells and alveolar macrophages. Systemic cryptococcosis is not associated with increased pulmonary chitinase activity or AMCase expression. Conclusion: Our findings indicate a possible link between respiratory fungal infections, including C. neoformans, and asthma through the induction of AMCase.read more
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
Methylxanthine inhibit fungal chitinases and exhibit antifungal activity.
Kalliope Tsirilakis,Christy Kim,Alfin G. Vicencio,Christopher Andrade,Arturo Casadevall,David L. Goldman +5 more
TL;DR: The data suggest that a variety of fungi express chitinases and that methylxanthines have antifungal properties related to their inhibition of fungal chit inases, and highlight the potential utility of targeting chitInases in the development of novel antif fungus therapies.
Journal ArticleDOI
Increased chitinase expression and fungal‐specific antibodies in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of asthmatic children
TL;DR: Increasing evidence highlights the contribution of chitinases and fungal infection to the development of asthma.
Journal ArticleDOI
Experimental Models of Cryptococcosis
TL;DR: The range of experimental models that are available for cryptococcosis research are reviewed and the relative advantages and limitations of the different systems are compared.
Journal ArticleDOI
Chitin-Like Molecules Associate with Cryptococcus neoformans Glucuronoxylomannan To Form a Glycan Complex with Previously Unknown Properties
Caroline L. Ramos,Fernanda L. Fonseca,Jéssica Rodrigues,Allan J. Guimarães,Leonardo Paes Cinelli,Kildare Miranda,Leonardo Nimrichter,Arturo Casadevall,Luiz R. Travassos,Marcio L. Rodrigues,Marcio L. Rodrigues +10 more
TL;DR: Glycan complex structures composed of cryptococcal GXM and chitin-derived oligomers were tested for their ability to induce pulmonary cytokines in mice and were significantly more efficient than either GXM or chit in oligomers alone in inducing the production of lung interleukin 10 (IL-10), IL-17, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α).
Book ChapterDOI
Chitin: A "Hidden Figure" in the Fungal Cell Wall.
TL;DR: The size-dependent differences in the immune activation behaviors of variably sized chitin molecules help to explain how chit in and related chitooligomers can both inhibit and activate host immunity.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI
Acidic Mammalian Chitinase in Asthmatic Th2 Inflammation and IL-13 Pathway Activation
Zhou Zhu,Tao Zheng,Robert J. Homer,Yoon Keun Kim,Ning Yuan Chen,Lauren Cohn,Qutayba Hamid,Jack A. Elias +7 more
TL;DR: It is shown that acidic mammalian chitinase (AMCase) is induced via a T helper-2 (Th2)–specific, interleukin-13 (IL-13)–mediated pathway in epithelial cells and macrophages in an aeroallergen asthma model and expressed in exaggerated quantities in human asthma.
Journal ArticleDOI
A Chitinase-like Protein in the Lung and Circulation of Patients with Severe Asthma
Geoffrey L. Chupp,Chun Geun Lee,Nizar N. Jarjour,Yun M. Shim,Carole Holm,Susan He,James Dziura,Jennifer L. Reed,Anthony J. Coyle,Peter A. Kiener,Mark R. Cullen,Martine Grandsaigne,Marie-Christine Dombret,Michel Aubier,Marina Pretolani,Jack A. Elias +15 more
TL;DR: YKL-40 is found in increased quantities in the serum and lungs in a subgroup of patients with asthma, in whom expression of chitinase in both compartments correlates with the severity of asthma.
Journal ArticleDOI
Identification of a novel acidic mammalian chitinase distinct from chitotriosidase
Rolf G. Boot,E. F. C. Blommaart,Erwin Swart,K. Ghauharali-Van der Vlugt,Nora Bijl,C. Moe,Allen R. Place,Johannes M. F. G. Aerts +7 more
TL;DR: The study has revealed the existence of a chitinolytic enzyme in the gastrointestinal tract and lung that may play a role in digestion and/or defense.
Journal ArticleDOI
Serologic evidence for Cryptococcus neoformans infection in early childhood.
David L. Goldman,Hnin Khine,Jacob Abadi,Dania J. Lindenberg,Liise Anne Pirofski,Ramata Niang,Arturo Casadevall +6 more
TL;DR: The results suggest that the low incidence of symptomatic cryptococcal disease in children with AIDS is not a result of lack of exposure to C neoformans, and provide both indirect and direct evidence of C neo formans infection in immunocompetent children.
Journal ArticleDOI
Relationship of indoor allergen exposure to skin test sensitivity in inner-city children with asthma☆☆☆★★★♢
Peyton A. Eggleston,David L. Rosenstreich,Henry Lynn,Peter J. Gergen,Dean Baker,Meyer Kattan,Kathleen M. Mortimer,Herman Mitchell,Dennis R. Ownby,Raymond G. Slavin,Floyd J. Malveaux +10 more
TL;DR: Despite widespread exposure to household allergens, the strongest relationship between exposure and sensitization was seen in the bedroom and suggested that exposure to low doses of allergen, 2 U/g or less, was a risk factor and that the risk plateaus above 4 U/G.