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Sci. STKE, 15 June 2004
Vol. 2004, Issue 237, p. tw215
[DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.2372004tw215]

EDITORS' CHOICE

IMMUNOLOGY Chitin Degradation and Asthma

Chitinases have multiple functions in lower eukaryotes and prokaryotes, including defense against parasites. Although similar functions of mammalian chitinases have yet to be observed, the strong similarity between antiparasitic immunity and asthma in humans led Zhu et al. to explore whether chitinases are involved in asthma pathogenesis. Acidic mammalian chitinase (AMCase) was increased both in asthmatic human lung tissue and in a mouse model of induced asthma. AMCase inhibition in the mouse model reduced inflammation by its effects on cytokines involved in the T helper 2 pathway, most specifically interleukin-13. Thus, AMCase and possibly other chitinases may prove valuable therapeutic targets in asthma and other allergic conditions.

Z. Zhu, T. Zheng, R. J. Homer, Y.-K. Kim, N. Y. Chen, L. Cohn, Q. Hamid, J. A. Elias, Acidic mammalian chitinase in asthmatic Th2 inflammation and IL-13 pathway activation. Science 304, 1678-1682 (2004). [Abstract] [Full Text]

Citation: Chitin Degradation and Asthma. Sci. STKE 2004, tw215 (2004).

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Science Signaling. ISSN 1937-9145 (online), 1945-0877 (print). Pre-2008: Science's STKE. ISSN 1525-8882