Fungal chitin from asthma-associated home environments induces eosinophilic lung infiltration

Steven J. Van Dyken, Daniel Garcia, Paul Porter, Xiaozhu Huang, Patricia J. Quinlan, Paul D. Blanc, David Corry, Richard M. Locksley

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    117 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    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.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)2261-2267
    Number of pages7
    JournalJournal of Immunology
    Volume187
    Issue number5
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Sep 1 2011

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Immunology and Allergy
    • Immunology

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