Chitinase-Induced Airway Hyperreactivity and Inflammation in a Mouse Model of Nonallergic Asthma.

Weber-Chrysochoou, Christina; Darcan-Nicolaisen, Yasemin; Wohlgensinger, Johanna; Tinner, Eva Maria; Frei, Remo; Loeliger, Susanne; Lauener, Roger P; Hamelmann, Eckard (2021). Chitinase-Induced Airway Hyperreactivity and Inflammation in a Mouse Model of Nonallergic Asthma. International archives of allergy and immunology, 182(7), pp. 563-570. Karger 10.1159/000513296

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INTRODUCTION

Environmental exposure to mites and fungi has been proposed to critically contribute to the development of IgE-mediated asthma. A common denominator of such organisms is chitin. Human chitinases have been reported to be upregulated by interleukin-13 secreted in the context of Th2-type immune responses and to induce asthma. We assessed whether chitin-containing components induced chitinases in an innate immune-dependent way and whether this results in bronchial hyperresponsiveness.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Monocyte/macrophage cell lines were stimulated with chitin-containing or bacterial components in vitro. Chitinase activity in the supernatant and the expression of the chitotriosidase gene were measured by enzyme assay and quantitative PCR, respectively. Non-sensitized mice were stimulated with chitin-containing components intranasally, and a chitinase inhibitor was administered intraperitoneally. As markers for inflammation leukocytes were counted in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, and airway hyperresponsiveness was assessed via methacholine challenge.

RESULTS

We found both whole chitin-containing dust mites as well as the fungal cell wall component zymosan A but not endotoxin-induced chitinase activity and chitotriosidase gene expression in vitro. The intranasal application of zymosan A into mice led to the induction of chitinase activity in the BAL fluid and to bronchial hyperresponsiveness, which could be reduced by applying the chitinase inhibitor allosamidin.

DISCUSSION

We propose that environmental exposure to mites and fungi leads to the induction of chitinase, which in turn favors the development of bronchial hyperreactivity in an IgE-independent manner.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Gynaecology, Paediatrics and Endocrinology (DFKE) > Clinic of Paediatric Medicine
04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Gynaecology, Paediatrics and Endocrinology (DFKE) > Clinic of Paediatric Medicine > Paediatric Haematology/Oncology

UniBE Contributor:

Tinner Oehler, Eva Maria Eugenia

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

1018-2438

Publisher:

Karger

Language:

English

Submitter:

Anette van Dorland

Date Deposited:

27 Dec 2021 14:13

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 15:58

Publisher DOI:

10.1159/000513296

PubMed ID:

33730726

Uncontrolled Keywords:

Airway inflammation Chitinase Fungi Innate immune system Mites

BORIS DOI:

10.48350/162807

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/162807

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