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Nualnisachol P, Chumnanpuen P, E-Kobon T. Understanding Snail Mucus Biosynthesis and Shell Biomineralisation through Genomic Data Mining of the Reconstructed Carbohydrate and Glycan Metabolic Pathways of the Giant African Snail ( Achatina fulica). BIOLOGY 2023; 12:836. [PMID: 37372121 DOI: 10.3390/biology12060836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
The giant African snail (Order Stylommatophora: Family Achatinidae), Achatina fulica (Bowdich, 1822), is the most significant and invasive land snail pest. The ecological adaptability of this snail involves high growth rate, reproductive capacity, and shell and mucus production, driven by several biochemical processes and metabolism. The available genomic information for A. fulica provides excellent opportunities to hinder the underlying processes of adaptation, mainly carbohydrate and glycan metabolic pathways toward the shell and mucus formation. The authors analysed the 1.78 Gb draft genomic contigs of A. fulica to identify enzyme-coding genes and reconstruct biochemical pathways related to the carbohydrate and glycan metabolism using a designed bioinformatic workflow. Three hundred and seventy-seven enzymes involved in the carbohydrate and glycan metabolic pathways were identified based on the KEGG pathway reference in combination with protein sequence comparison, structural analysis, and manual curation. Fourteen complete pathways of carbohydrate metabolism and seven complete pathways of glycan metabolism supported the nutrient acquisition and production of the mucus proteoglycans. Increased copy numbers of amylases, cellulases, and chitinases highlighted the snail advantage in food consumption and fast growth rate. The ascorbate biosynthesis pathway identified from the carbohydrate metabolic pathways of A. fulica was involved in the shell biomineralisation process in association with the collagen protein network, carbonic anhydrases, tyrosinases, and several ion transporters. Thus, our bioinformatic workflow was able to reconstruct carbohydrate metabolism, mucus biosynthesis, and shell biomineralisation pathways from the A. fulica genome and transcriptome data. These findings could reveal several evolutionary advantages of the A. fulica snail, and will benefit the discovery of valuable enzymes for industrial and medical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pornpavee Nualnisachol
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
- Omics Center for Agriculture, Bioresources, Food and Health, Kasetsart University (OmiKU), Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Pramote Chumnanpuen
- Omics Center for Agriculture, Bioresources, Food and Health, Kasetsart University (OmiKU), Bangkok 10900, Thailand
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | - Teerasak E-Kobon
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
- Omics Center for Agriculture, Bioresources, Food and Health, Kasetsart University (OmiKU), Bangkok 10900, Thailand
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2
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Cryptococcus neoformans Infection in the Central Nervous System: The Battle between Host and Pathogen. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8101069. [PMID: 36294634 PMCID: PMC9605252 DOI: 10.3390/jof8101069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans (C. neoformans) is a pathogenic fungus with a global distribution. Humans become infected by inhaling the fungus from the environment, and the fungus initially colonizes the lungs. If the immune system fails to contain C. neoformans in the lungs, the fungus can disseminate to the blood and invade the central nervous system, resulting in fatal meningoencephalitis particularly in immunocompromised individuals including HIV/AIDS patients. Following brain invasion, C. neoformans will encounter host defenses involving resident as well as recruited immune cells in the brain. To overcome host defenses, C. neoformans possesses multiple virulence factors capable of modulating immune responses. The outcome of the interactions between the host and C. neoformans will determine the disease progression. In this review, we describe the current understanding of how C. neoformans migrates to the brain across the blood–brain barrier, and how the host immune system responds to the invading organism in the brain. We will also discuss the virulence factors that C. neoformans uses to modulate host immune responses.
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de Oliveira HC, Castelli RF, Reis FCG, Samby K, Nosanchuk JD, Alves LR, Rodrigues ML. Screening of the Pandemic Response Box Reveals an Association between Antifungal Effects of MMV1593537 and the Cell Wall of Cryptococcus neoformans, Cryptococcus deuterogattii, and Candida auris. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0060122. [PMID: 35471056 PMCID: PMC9241760 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00601-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
There is an urgent unmet need for novel antifungals. In this study, we searched for novel antifungal activities in the Pandemic Response Box, a collection of 400 structurally diverse compounds in various phases of drug discovery. We identified five molecules which could control the growth of Cryptococcus neoformans, Cryptococcus deuterogattii, and the emerging global threat Candida auris. After eliminating compounds which demonstrated paradoxical antifungal effects or toxicity to mammalian macrophages, we selected compound MMV1593537 as a nontoxic, fungicidal molecule for further characterization of antifungal activity. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that MMV1593537 affected cellular division in all three pathogens. In Cryptococcus, MMV1593537 caused a reduction in capsular dimensions. Treatment with MMV1593537 resulted in increased detection of cell wall chitooligomers in these three species. Since chitooligomers are products of the enzymatic hydrolysis of chitin, we investigated whether surface chitinase activity was altered in response to MMV1593537 exposure. We observed peaks of enzyme activity in C. neoformans and C. deuterogattii in response to MMV1593537. We did not detect any surface chitinase activity in C. auris. Our results suggest that MMV1593537 is a promising, nontoxic fungicide whose mechanism of action, at least in Cryptococcus spp, requires chitinase-mediated hydrolysis of chitin. IMPORTANCE The development of novel antifungals is a matter of urgency. In this study, we evaluated antifungal activities in a collection of 400 molecules, using highly lethal fungal pathogens as targets. One of these molecules, namely, MMV1593537, was not toxic to host cells and controlled the growth of isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans, C. deuterogattii, C. gattii, Candida auris, C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, and C. krusei. We tested the mechanisms of antifungal action of MMV1593537 in the Cryptococcus and C. auris models and concluded that the compound affects the cell wall, a structure which is essential for fungal life. At least in Cryptococcus, this effect involved chitinase, an enzyme which is required for remodeling the cell wall. Our results suggest that MMV1593537 is a candidate for future antifungal development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rafael F. Castelli
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Parasitária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Flavia C. G. Reis
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde (CDTS), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Joshua D. Nosanchuk
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Division of Infectious Diseases, Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Lysangela R. Alves
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Marcio L. Rodrigues
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Er YX, Lee SC, Than LTL, Muslim A, Leong KF, Kwan Z, Mohd Sayed I, Lim YAL. Tinea Imbricata among the Indigenous Communities: Current Global Epidemiology and Research Gaps Associated with Host Genetics and Skin Microbiota. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:202. [PMID: 35205956 PMCID: PMC8880274 DOI: 10.3390/jof8020202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Tinea imbricata is a unique fungal skin disease that mostly affects indigenous populations in Southeast Asia, Oceania, and Central and South America. The control and management of this disease among these communities are challenging given their remote locations, certain traditional practices, and severe malnutrition status. To date, there are only a handful of reports published globally, which highlights the need for a more holistic approach in addressing this skin disease. Several bodies of evidence and reports have shown that host genetic factors have a profound influence on the pathogenesis of tinea imbricata, while skin microbiota is touted to have a role in the pathogenesis of the disease. However, there are limited studies of how host genetics and skin microbiota impact disease susceptibility in the host. To improve the understanding of this disease and to find possible long-term effective treatment among the affected indigenous communities, a comprehensive literature review is needed. Hence, this review paper aims to present the current status of tinea imbricata among the indigenous communities, together with published findings on the possible underlying reasons for its specific distribution among these communities, particularly on the ways in which host skin microbiota and host genetics affect occurrence and disease patterns. This information provides valuable insights for future research by highlighting the current knowledge gaps in these areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Xian Er
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia;
| | - Soo Ching Lee
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA;
| | - Leslie Thian-Lung Than
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
- Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
| | - Azdayanti Muslim
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA (Sungai Buloh Campus), Sungai Buloh 47000, Malaysia;
- Institute for Medical Molecular Biotechnology (IMMB), Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA (Sungai Buloh Campus), Sungai Buloh 47000, Malaysia
| | - Kin Fon Leong
- Pediatric Institute, Kuala Lumpur General Hospital, Kuala Lumpur 50586, Malaysia;
| | - Zhenli Kwan
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia;
| | - Izandis Mohd Sayed
- Hospital Orang Asli (Aborigines) Gombak, Jalan Pahang Lama, Gombak 53100, Malaysia;
| | - Yvonne Ai-Lian Lim
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia;
- Centre for Malaysian Indigenous Studies, Universiti Malaya, Jalan 16/4, Seksyen 16, Petaling Jaya 46350, Malaysia
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Melanoma Associated Chitinase 3-Like 1 Promoted Endothelial Cell Activation and Immune Cell Recruitment. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22083912. [PMID: 33920100 PMCID: PMC8069096 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22083912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Chitinase 3-like 1 (CHI3L1) is an enzymatically inactive mammalian chitinase that is associated with tumor inflammation. Previous research indicated that CHI3L1 is able to interact with different extracellular matrix components, such as heparan sulfate. In the present work, we investigated whether the interaction of CHI3L1 with the extracellular matrix of melanoma cells can trigger an inflammatory activation of endothelial cells. The analysis of the melanoma cell secretome indicated that CHI3L1 increases the abundance of various cytokines, such as CC-chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), and growth factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A). Using a solid-phase binding assay, we found that heparan sulfate-bound VEGF-A and CCL2 were displaced by recombinant CHI3L1 in a dose-dependent manner. Microfluidic experiments indicated that the CHI3L1 altered melanoma cell secretome promoted immune cell recruitment to the vascular endothelium. In line with the elevated VEGF-A levels, CHI3L1 was also able to promote angiogenesis through the release of extracellular matrix-bound pro-angiogenic factors. In conclusion, we showed that CHI3L1 is able to affect the tumor cell secretome, which in turn can regulate immune cell recruitment and blood vessel formation. Accordingly, our data suggest that the molecular targeting of CHI3L1 in the course of cancer immunotherapies can tune patients’ response and antitumoral inflammation.
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Schmitz NA, Thakare RP, Chung CS, Lee CM, Elias JA, Lee CG, LeBlanc BW. Chitotriosidase Activity Is Counterproductive in a Mouse Model of Systemic Candidiasis. Front Immunol 2021; 12:626798. [PMID: 33796101 PMCID: PMC8007879 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.626798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian cells do not produce chitin, an insoluble polymer of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc), although chitin is a structural component of the cell wall of pathogenic microorganisms such as Candida albicans. Mammalian cells, including cells of the innate immune system elaborate chitinases, including chitotriosidase (Chit1), which may play a role in the anti-fungal immune response. In the current study, using knockout mice, we determined the role of Chit1 against systemic candidiasis. Chit1-deficient mice showed significant decrease in kidney fungal burden compared to mice expressing the functional enzyme. Using in vitro anti-candidal neutrophil functional assays, the introduction of the Chit1:chitin digestion end-product, chitobiose (N-acetyl-D-glucosamine dimer, GlcNAc2), decreased fungal-induced neutrophil swarming and Candida killing in vitro. Also, a role for the lectin-like binding site on the neutrophil integrin CR3 (Mac-1, CD11b/CD18) was found through physiological competitive interference by chitobiose. Furthermore, chitobiose treatment of wild type mice during systemic candidiasis resulted in the significant increase in fungal burden in the kidney. These data suggest a counterproductive role of Chit1 in mounting an efficient anti-fungal defense against systemic candidiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas A Schmitz
- Division of Surgical Research, Department of Surgery, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Ritesh P Thakare
- Division of Surgical Research, Department of Surgery, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Chun-Shiang Chung
- Division of Surgical Research, Department of Surgery, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Chang-Min Lee
- Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Jack A Elias
- Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Chun Geun Lee
- Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Brian W LeBlanc
- Division of Surgical Research, Department of Surgery, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, United States
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7
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Chang D, Sharma L, Dela Cruz CS. Chitotriosidase: a marker and modulator of lung disease. Eur Respir Rev 2020; 29:29/156/190143. [PMID: 32350087 PMCID: PMC9488994 DOI: 10.1183/16000617.0143-2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Chitotriosidase (CHIT1) is a highly conserved and regulated chitinase secreted by activated macrophages; it is a member of the 18-glycosylase family (GH18). CHIT1 is the most prominent chitinase in humans, can cleave chitin and participates in the body's immune response and is associated with inflammation, infection, tissue damage and remodelling processes. Recently, CHIT1 has been reported to be involved in the molecular pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis, bronchial asthma, COPD and pulmonary infections, shedding new light on the role of these proteins in lung pathophysiology. The potential roles of CHIT1 in lung diseases are reviewed in this article. This is the first review of chitotriosidase in lung diseasehttp://bit.ly/2LpZUQI
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Affiliation(s)
- De Chang
- The 3rd Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.,Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Dept of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.,Both authors contributed equally
| | - Lokesh Sharma
- Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Dept of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.,Both authors contributed equally
| | - Charles S Dela Cruz
- Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Dept of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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8
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Tanaka H, Akutsu H, Yabuta I, Hara M, Sugimoto H, Ikegami T, Watanabe T, Fujiwara T. A novel chitin‐binding mode of the chitin‐binding domain of chitinase A1 from
Bacillus circulans
WL
‐12 revealed by solid‐state
NMR. FEBS Lett 2018; 592:3173-3182. [DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Revised: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Tanaka
- Institute for Protein Research Osaka University Suita Japan
| | - Hideo Akutsu
- Institute for Protein Research Osaka University Suita Japan
- Graduate School of Medical Life Science Yokohama City University Tsurumi‐ku Yokohama Japan
| | - Izumi Yabuta
- Institute for Protein Research Osaka University Suita Japan
| | - Masashi Hara
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry Faculty of Agriculture Niigata University Niigata Japan
| | - Hayuki Sugimoto
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry Faculty of Agriculture Niigata University Niigata Japan
| | - Takahisa Ikegami
- Institute for Protein Research Osaka University Suita Japan
- Graduate School of Medical Life Science Yokohama City University Tsurumi‐ku Yokohama Japan
| | - Takeshi Watanabe
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry Faculty of Agriculture Niigata University Niigata Japan
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Sharma L, Amick AK, Vasudevan S, Lee SW, Marion CR, Liu W, Brady V, Losier A, Bermejo SD, Britto CJ, Lee CG, Elias JA, Dela Cruz CS. Regulation and Role of Chitotriosidase during Lung Infection with Klebsiella pneumoniae. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2018; 201:615-626. [PMID: 29891554 PMCID: PMC6291403 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1701782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2017] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Chitinases and chitinase-like proteins are an evolutionary conserved group of proteins. In the absence of chitin synthesis in mammals, the conserved presence of chitinases suggests their roles in physiology and immunity, but experimental evidence to prove these roles is scarce. Chitotriosidase (chit1) is one of the two true chitinases present in mammals and the most prevalent chitinase in humans. In this study, we investigated the regulation and the role of chit1 in a mouse model of Klebsiella pneumoniae lung infection. We show that chitinase activity in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid is significantly reduced during K. pneumoniae lung infection. This reduced activity is inversely correlated with the number of neutrophils. Further, instilling neutrophil lysates in lungs decreased chitinase activity. We observed degradation of chit1 by neutrophil proteases. In a mouse model, chit1 deficiency provided a significant advantage to the host during K. pneumoniae lung infection by limiting bacterial dissemination. This phenotype was independent of inflammatory changes in chit1-/- mice as they exerted a similar inflammatory response. The decreased dissemination resulted in improved survival in chit1-/- mice infected with K. pneumoniae in the presence or absence of antibiotic therapy. The beneficial effects of chit1 deficiency were associated with altered Akt activation in the lungs. Chit1-/- mice induced a more robust Akt activation postinfection. The role of the Akt pathway in K. pneumoniae lung infection was confirmed by using an Akt inhibitor, which impaired health and survival. These data suggest a detrimental role of chit1 in K. pneumoniae lung infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lokesh Sharma
- Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
| | - Alyssa K Amick
- Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
| | - Swathy Vasudevan
- Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
| | - Sei Won Lee
- Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
| | - Chad R Marion
- Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
| | - Wei Liu
- Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
| | - Virginia Brady
- Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
| | - Ashley Losier
- Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
| | - Santos D Bermejo
- Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
| | - Clemente J Britto
- Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
| | - Chun Geun Lee
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912; and
| | - Jack A Elias
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912; and
| | - Charles S Dela Cruz
- Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520;
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
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Acidic Mammalian Chitinase Negatively Affects Immune Responses during Acute and Chronic Aspergillus fumigatus Exposure. Infect Immun 2018; 86:IAI.00944-17. [PMID: 29712728 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00944-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Chitin is a polysaccharide that provides structure and rigidity to the cell walls of fungi and insects. Mammals possess multiple chitinases, which function to degrade chitin, thereby supporting a role for chitinases in immune defense. However, chitin degradation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of asthma. Here, we determined the impact of acidic mammalian chitinase (AMCase) (Chia) deficiency on host defense during acute exposure to the fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus as well as its contribution to A. fumigatus-associated allergic asthma. We demonstrate that chitin in the fungal cell wall was detected at low levels in A. fumigatus conidia, which emerged at the highest level during hyphal transition. In response to acute A. fumigatus challenge, Chia-/- mice unexpectedly demonstrated lower A. fumigatus lung burdens at 2 days postchallenge. The lower fungal burden correlated with decreased lung interleukin-33 (IL-33) levels yet increased IL-1β and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production, a phenotype that we reported previously to promote the induction of IL-17A and IL-22. During chronic A. fumigatus exposure, AMCase deficiency resulted in lower dynamic and airway lung resistance than in wild-type mice. Improved lung physiology correlated with attenuated levels of the proallergic chemokines CCL17 and CCL22. Surprisingly, examination of inflammatory responses during chronic exposure revealed attenuated IL-17A and IL-22 responses, but not type 2 responses, in the absence of AMCase. Collectively, these data suggest that AMCase functions as a negative regulator of immune responses during acute fungal exposure and is a contributor to fungal asthma severity, putatively via the induction of proinflammatory responses.
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Szilágyi M, Anton F, Pócsi I, Emri T. Autolytic enzymes are responsible for increased melanization of carbon stressed Aspergillus nidulans cultures. J Basic Microbiol 2018; 58:440-447. [PMID: 29266292 DOI: 10.1002/jobm.201700545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2017] [Revised: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Melanization of carbon stressed Aspergillus nidulans cultures were studied. Melanin production showed strong positive correlation with the activity of the secreted chitinase and ß-1,3-glucanase. Deletion of either chiB encoding an autolytic endochitinase or engA encoding an autolytic ß-1,3-endoglucanase, or both, almost completely prevented melanization of carbon stressed cultures. In contrast, addition of Trichoderma lyticase to cultures induced melanin production. Synthetic melanin could efficiently inhibit the purified ChiB chitinase activity. It could also efficiently decrease the intensity of hyphal fragmentation and pellet disorganization in Trichoderma lyticase treated cultures. Glyphosate, an inhibitor of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine-type melanin synthesis, could prevent melanization of carbon-starved cultures and enhanced pellet disorganization, while pyroquilon, a 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene-type melanin synthesis inhibitor, enhanced melanization, and prevented pellet disorganization. We concluded that cell wall stress induced by autolytic cell wall hydrolases was responsible for melanization of carbon-starved cultures. The produced melanin can shield the living cells but may not inhibit the degradation and reutilization of cell wall materials of dead hyphae. Controlling the activity of autolytic hydrolase production can be an efficient approach to prevent unwanted melanization in the fermentation industry, while applying melanin synthesis inhibitors can decrease the resistance of pathogenic fungi against the chitinases produced by the host organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melinda Szilágyi
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Fruzsina Anton
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - István Pócsi
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Tamás Emri
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
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Chitinase Induction Prior to Caspofungin Treatment of Experimental Invasive Aspergillosis in Neutropenic Rats Does Not Enhance Survival. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2017; 62:AAC.00960-17. [PMID: 29084744 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00960-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2017] [Accepted: 10/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Host chitinases, chitotriosidase and acidic mammalian chitinase (AMCase), improved the antifungal activity of caspofungin (CAS) against Aspergillus fumigatus in vitro These chitinases are not constitutively expressed in the lung. Here, we investigated whether chitosan derivatives were able to induce chitinase activity in the lungs of neutropenic rats and, if so, whether these chitinases were able to prolong survival of rats with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) or of rats with IPA and treated with CAS. An oligosaccharide-lactate chitosan (OLC) derivative was instilled in the left lung of neutropenic rats to induce chitotriosidase and AMCase activities. Rats instilled with OLC or with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) were subsequently infected with A. fumigatus and then treated with suboptimal doses of CAS. Survival, histopathology, and galactomannan indexes were determined. Instillation of OLC resulted in chitotriosidase and AMCase activities. However, instillation of OLC did not prolong rat survival when rats were subsequently challenged with A. fumigatus In 5 of 7 rats instilled with OLC, the fungal foci in the lungs were smaller than those in rats instilled with PBS. Instillation of OLC did not significantly enhance the survival of neutropenic rats challenged with A. fumigatus and treated with a suboptimal dosage of CAS. Chitotriosidase and AMCase activities can be induced with OLC, but the presence of active chitinases in the lung did not prevent the development of IPA or significantly enhance the therapeutic outcome of CAS treatment.
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Disarming Fungal Pathogens: Bacillus safensis Inhibits Virulence Factor Production and Biofilm Formation by Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans. mBio 2017; 8:mBio.01537-17. [PMID: 28974618 PMCID: PMC5626971 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01537-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria interact with each other in nature and often compete for limited nutrient and space resources. However, it is largely unknown whether and how bacteria also interact with human fungal pathogens naturally found in the environment. Here, we identified a soil bacterium, Bacillus safensis, which potently blocked several key Cryptococcus neoformans virulence factors, including formation of the antioxidant pigment melanin and production of the antiphagocytic polysaccharide capsule. The bacterium also inhibited de novo cryptococcal biofilm formation but had only modest inhibitory effects on already formed biofilms or planktonic cell growth. The inhibition of fungal melanization was dependent on direct cell contact and live bacteria. B. safensis also had anti-virulence factor activity against another major human-associated fungal pathogen, Candida albicans. Specifically, dual-species interaction studies revealed that the bacterium strongly inhibited C. albicans filamentation and biofilm formation. In particular, B. safensis physically attached to and degraded candidal filaments. Through genetic and phenotypic analyses, we demonstrated that bacterial chitinase activity against fungal cell wall chitin is a factor contributing to the antipathogen effect of B. safensis. Pathogenic fungi are estimated to contribute to as many human deaths as tuberculosis or malaria. Two of the most common fungal pathogens, Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans, account for up to 1.4 million infections per year with very high mortality rates. Few antifungal drugs are available for treatment, and development of novel therapies is complicated by the need for pathogen-specific targets. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify novel drug targets and new drugs. Pathogens use virulence factors during infection, and it has recently been proposed that targeting these factors instead of the pathogen itself may represent a new approach to develop antimicrobials. Here, we identified a soil bacterium that specifically blocked virulence factor production and biofilm formation by C. neoformans and C. albicans. We demonstrate that the bacterial antipathogen mechanism is based in part on targeting the fungal cell wall, a structure not found in human cells.
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Human Chitotriosidase: Catalytic Domain or Carbohydrate Binding Module, Who's Leading HCHT's Biological Function. Sci Rep 2017; 7:2768. [PMID: 28584264 PMCID: PMC5459812 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-02382-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2016] [Accepted: 04/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Chitin is an important structural component of numerous fungal pathogens and parasitic nematodes. The human macrophage chitotriosidase (HCHT) is a chitinase that hydrolyses glycosidic bonds between the N-acetyl-D-glucosamine units of this biopolymer. HCHT belongs to the Glycoside Hydrolase (GH) superfamily and contains a well-characterized catalytic domain appended to a chitin-binding domain (ChBDCHIT1). Although its precise biological function remains unclear, HCHT has been described to be involved in innate immunity. In this study, the molecular basis for interaction with insoluble chitin as well as with soluble chito-oligosaccharides has been determined. The results suggest a new mechanism as a common binding mode for many Carbohydrate Binding Modules (CBMs). Furthermore, using a phylogenetic approach, we have analysed the modularity of HCHT and investigated the evolutionary paths of its catalytic and chitin binding domains. The phylogenetic analyses indicate that the ChBDCHIT1 domain dictates the biological function of HCHT and not its appended catalytic domain. This observation may also be a general feature of GHs. Altogether, our data have led us to postulate and discuss that HCHT acts as an immune catalyser.
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15
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Implications of molecular diversity of chitin and its derivatives. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2017; 101:3513-3536. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-017-8229-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Revised: 02/26/2017] [Accepted: 03/04/2017] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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16
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Fadel F, Zhao Y, Cousido-Siah A, Ruiz FX, Mitschler A, Podjarny A. X-Ray Crystal Structure of the Full Length Human Chitotriosidase (CHIT1) Reveals Features of Its Chitin Binding Domain. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0154190. [PMID: 27111557 PMCID: PMC4844120 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0154190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2016] [Accepted: 04/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Chitinases are enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of chitin. Human chitotriosidase (CHIT1) is one of the two active human chitinases, involved in the innate immune response and highly expressed in a variety of diseases. CHIT1 is composed of a catalytic domain linked by a hinge to its chitin binding domain (ChBD). This latter domain belongs to the carbohydrate-binding module family 14 (CBM14 family) and facilitates binding to chitin. So far, the available crystal structures of the human chitinase CHIT1 and the Acidic Mammalian Chitinase (AMCase) comprise only their catalytic domain. Here, we report a crystallization strategy combining cross-seeding and micro-seeding cycles which allowed us to obtain the first crystal structure of the full length CHIT1 (CHIT1-FL) at 1.95 Å resolution. The CHIT1 chitin binding domain (ChBDCHIT1) structure shows a distorted β-sandwich 3D fold, typical of CBM14 family members. Accordingly, ChBDCHIT1 presents six conserved cysteine residues forming three disulfide bridges and several exposed aromatic residues that probably are involved in chitin binding, including the highly conserved Trp465 in a surface- exposed conformation. Furthermore, ChBDCHIT1 presents a positively charged surface which may be involved in electrostatic interactions. Our data highlight the strong structural conservation of CBM14 family members and uncover the structural similarity between the human ChBDCHIT1, tachycitin and house mite dust allergens. Overall, our new CHIT1-FL structure, determined with an adapted crystallization approach, is one of the few complete bi-modular chitinase structures available and reveals the structural features of a human CBM14 domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Firas Fadel
- Department of Integrative Biology, Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology (IGBMC), CNRS UMR 7104, INSERM U 964, Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
- * E-mail: (FF); (AP)
| | - Yuguang Zhao
- Division of Structural Biology, University of Oxford, The Henry Wellcome Building for Genomic Medicine, Headington, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Alexandra Cousido-Siah
- Department of Integrative Biology, Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology (IGBMC), CNRS UMR 7104, INSERM U 964, Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Francesc X. Ruiz
- Department of Integrative Biology, Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology (IGBMC), CNRS UMR 7104, INSERM U 964, Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - André Mitschler
- Department of Integrative Biology, Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology (IGBMC), CNRS UMR 7104, INSERM U 964, Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Alberto Podjarny
- Department of Integrative Biology, Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology (IGBMC), CNRS UMR 7104, INSERM U 964, Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
- * E-mail: (FF); (AP)
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Stockinger LW, Eide KB, Dybvik AI, Sletta H, Vårum KM, Eijsink VG, Tøndervik A, Sørlie M. The effect of the carbohydrate binding module on substrate degradation by the human chitotriosidase. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2015; 1854:1494-501. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2015.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2015] [Revised: 05/29/2015] [Accepted: 06/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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18
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Chitin recognition via chitotriosidase promotes pathologic type-2 helper T cell responses to cryptococcal infection. PLoS Pathog 2015; 11:e1004701. [PMID: 25764512 PMCID: PMC4357429 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2014] [Accepted: 01/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary mycoses are often associated with type-2 helper T (Th2) cell responses. However, mechanisms of Th2 cell accumulation are multifactorial and incompletely known. To investigate Th2 cell responses to pulmonary fungal infection, we developed a peptide-MHCII tetramer to track antigen-specific CD4+ T cells produced in response to infection with the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans. We noted massive accruement of pathologic cryptococcal antigen-specific Th2 cells in the lungs following infection that was coordinated by lung-resident CD11b+ IRF4-dependent conventional dendritic cells. Other researchers have demonstrated that this dendritic cell subset is also capable of priming protective Th17 cell responses to another pulmonary fungal infection, Aspergillus fumigatus. Thus, higher order detection of specific features of fungal infection by these dendritic cells must direct Th2 cell lineage commitment. Since chitin-containing parasites commonly elicit Th2 responses, we hypothesized that recognition of fungal chitin is an important determinant of Th2 cell-mediated mycosis. Using C. neoformans mutants or purified chitin, we found that chitin abundance impacted Th2 cell accumulation and disease. Importantly, we determined Th2 cell induction depended on cleavage of chitin via the mammalian chitinase, chitotriosidase, an enzyme that was also prevalent in humans experiencing overt cryptococcosis. The data presented herein offers a new perspective on fungal disease susceptibility, whereby chitin recognition via chitotriosidase leads to the initiation of harmful Th2 cell differentiation by CD11b+ conventional dendritic cells in response to pulmonary fungal infection. Humans often inhale potentially pathogenic fungi in the environment. While CD4+ helper T (Th) cells are required for protection against invasive disease, a subset of Th cells, called Th2 cells, are associated with increased mortality and allergy/asthma morbidity. Our study aimed to unravel the cellular and molecular basis of pulmonary Th2 cell induction in response to lethal infection with Cryptococcus neoformans. Antigen-presenting cells coordinate naïve Th cell priming and differentiation, but the precise leukocyte responsible for Th2 cell expansion to pulmonary cryptococcal infection has not been determined. Using an experimental mouse model of pulmonary cryptococcosis, we show that a subset of lung-resident dendritic cells is uniquely required for Th2 cell induction. We additionally sought to identify the molecular signal received by the host that allows dendritic cells to selectively induce Th2 cells. Since parasites and fungi elicit Th2 cell responses and both produce chitin, a molecule not found in vertebrates, we hypothesized that recognition of fungal chitin is a determinant of fungal disease. Here, we demonstrate that C. neoformans chitin and the host-derived chitinase, chitotriosidase, promote Th2 cell accumulation and disease. These findings highlight a promising target of next generation therapies aimed at limiting immunopathology caused by pulmonary fungal infection.
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Manno N, Sherratt S, Boaretto F, Coico FM, Camus CE, Campos CJ, Musumeci S, Battisti A, Quinnell RJ, León JM, Vazza G, Mostacciuolo ML, Paoletti MG, Falcone FH. High prevalence of chitotriosidase deficiency in Peruvian Amerindians exposed to chitin-bearing food and enteroparasites. Carbohydr Polym 2014; 113:607-14. [PMID: 25256524 PMCID: PMC4194353 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2014.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2014] [Revised: 07/04/2014] [Accepted: 07/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Catalytic deficiency of chitotriosidase has a very high frequency in Amerindians highly exposed to chitin from enteroparasites and diet. Mutation frequencies are similar to those found in East Asian populations, and is probably conserved for a founder effect. Such condition precludes the use of CHIT1 as a disease biomarker in South American populations with strong ethnic ancestry.
The human genome encodes a gene for an enzymatically active chitinase (CHIT1) located in a single copy on Chromosome 1, which is highly expressed by activated macrophages and in other cells of the innate immune response. Several dysfunctional mutations are known in CHIT1, including a 24-bp duplication in Exon 10 causing catalytic deficiency. This duplication is a common variant conserved in many human populations, except in West and South Africans. Thus it has been proposed that human migration out of Africa and the consequent reduction of exposure to chitin from environmental factors may have enabled the conservation of dysfunctional mutations in human chitinases. Our data obtained from 85 indigenous Amerindians from Peru, representative of populations characterized by high prevalence of chitin-bearing enteroparasites and intense entomophagy, reveal a very high frequency of the 24-bp duplication (47.06%), and of other single nucleotide polymorphisms which are known to partially affect enzymatic activity (G102S: 42.7% and A442G/V: 25.5%). Our finding is in line with a founder effect, but appears to confute our previous hypothesis of a protective role against parasite infection and sustains the discussion on the redundancy of chitinolytic function.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Manno
- Department of Biology, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy; Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidad Nacional de Trujillo, Trujillo, Peru
| | - S Sherratt
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Science, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - F Boaretto
- Department of Biology, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - F Mejìa Coico
- Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidad Nacional de Trujillo, Trujillo, Peru
| | - C Espinoza Camus
- Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad Nacional de Trujillo, Trujillo, Peru
| | - C Jara Campos
- Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidad Nacional de Trujillo, Trujillo, Peru
| | - S Musumeci
- Dpt. of Chemical Sciences, Università di Catania and Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, CNR, Catania, Italy
| | - A Battisti
- Department DAFNAE, Università degli Studi di Padova, Legnaro, Padova, Italy
| | - R J Quinnell
- School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - J Mostacero León
- Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidad Nacional de Trujillo, Trujillo, Peru
| | - G Vazza
- Department of Biology, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - M L Mostacciuolo
- Department of Biology, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - M G Paoletti
- Department of Biology, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy.
| | - F H Falcone
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Science, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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Lee CM, Park JW, Cho WK, Zhou Y, Han B, Yoon PO, Chae J, Elias JA, Lee CG. Modifiers of TGF-β1 effector function as novel therapeutic targets of pulmonary fibrosis. Korean J Intern Med 2014; 29:281-90. [PMID: 24851060 PMCID: PMC4028515 DOI: 10.3904/kjim.2014.29.3.281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2014] [Accepted: 04/02/2014] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary fibrosis is a fatal progressive disease with no effective therapy. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 has long been regarded as a central mediator of tissue fibrosis that involves multiple organs including skin, liver, kidney, and lung. Thus, TGF-β1 and its signaling pathways have been attractive therapeutic targets for the development of antifibrotic drugs. However, the essential biological functions of TGF-β1 in maintaining normal immune and cellular homeostasis significantly limit the effectiveness of TGF-β1-directed therapeutic approaches. Thus, targeting downstream mediators or signaling molecules of TGF-β1 could be an alternative approach that selectively inhibits TGF-β1-stimulated fibrotic tissue response while preserving major physiological function of TGF-β1. Recent studies from our laboratory revealed that TGF-β1 crosstalk with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling by induction of amphiregulin, a ligand of EGFR, plays a critical role in the development or progression of pulmonary fibrosis. In addition, chitotriosidase, a true chitinase in humans, has been identified to have modulating capacity of TGF-β1 signaling as a new biomarker and therapeutic target of scleroderma-associated pulmonary fibrosis. These newly identified modifiers of TGF-β1 effector function significantly enhance the effectiveness and flexibility in targeting pulmonary fibrosis in which TGF-β1 plays a significant role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang-Min Lee
- Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jin Wook Park
- Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Won-Kyung Cho
- Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Yang Zhou
- Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | | | | | - Jack A Elias
- Dean of Medicine and Biological Science, Brown University, Warren Alpert School of Medicine, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Chun Geun Lee
- Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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Larsen T, Yoshimura Y, Voldborg BGR, Cazzamali G, Bovin NV, Westerlind U, Palcic MM, Leisner JJ. Human chitotriosidase CHIT1 cross reacts with mammalian-like substrates. FEBS Lett 2014; 588:746-51. [PMID: 24462685 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2013.12.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2013] [Revised: 12/27/2013] [Accepted: 12/27/2013] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Humans do not synthesize chitin, yet they produce a number of active and inactive chitinases. One of the active enzymes is chitotriosidase whose serum levels are elevated in a number of diseases such as Gaucher's disease and upon fungal infection. Since the biological role of chitotriosidase in disease pathogenesis is not understood we screened a panel of mammalian GlcNAc-containing glycoconjugates as alternate substrates. LacNAc and LacdiNAc-terminating substrates are hydrolyzed, the latter with a turnover comparable to that of pNP-chitotriose. Glycolipids or glycoproteins with LacNAc and LacdiNAc represent potential chitinase substrates and the subsequent alteration of glycosylation pattern could be a factor in disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Larsen
- Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Grønnegaardsvej 15, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Yayoi Yoshimura
- Carlsberg Laboratory, Gamle Carlsberg Vej 10, DK-1799 Copenhagen V, Denmark
| | - Bjørn G R Voldborg
- Novo Nordisk Center for Protein Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3b, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Giuseppe Cazzamali
- Novo Nordisk Center for Protein Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3b, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Nicolai V Bovin
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, Moscow 117997, Russian Federation
| | - Ulrika Westerlind
- Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Analytischen Wissenschaften e.V., ISAS - Leibniz Institute for Analytical Sciences, Otto-Hahn-Str. 6b, D-44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Monica M Palcic
- Carlsberg Laboratory, Gamle Carlsberg Vej 10, DK-1799 Copenhagen V, Denmark
| | - Jørgen J Leisner
- Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Grønnegaardsvej 15, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
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22
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Vicencio AG, Santiago MT, Tsirilakis K, Stone A, Worgall S, Foley EA, Bush D, Goldman DL. Fungal sensitization in childhood persistent asthma is associated with disease severity. Pediatr Pulmonol 2014; 49:8-14. [PMID: 23401301 DOI: 10.1002/ppul.22779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2012] [Accepted: 11/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Recent observations, especially in adults, suggest that asthma severity may be associated with fungal sensitization. Other studies suggest that some patients with severe asthma and fungal sensitization may benefit from anti-fungal therapy. Currently, the prevalence of fungal sensitization among children with severe asthma is not well characterized. METHODS We determined prevalence of fungal sensitization among children with moderate to severe persistent asthma and compared clinical characteristics between sensitized and non-sensitized children, including asthma severity, serum immunoglobulin E, and pulmonary function. RESULTS Of the 64 children enrolled, 25 (39%) had evidence of sensitization to one or more fungi. Nineteen of 25 (76%) children with fungal sensitization were categorized as severe persistent compared to 13 of 39 (33%) children without evidence of fungal sensitization (odds ratio = 6.33, 95% confidence interval 2.04-19.68, P = 0.0014). Of 32 severe persistent asthmatics, 19 (59%) demonstrated evidence of fungal sensitization. Serum immunoglobulin E was significantly higher (P < 0.001), and pulmonary function (including FEV1, FEV1/FVC, and FEF25-75%) significantly lower in the fungal-sensitized patients (P = 0.016, 0.0004, and 0.002, respectively). Bronchial biopsy of sensitized children revealed basement membrane thickening and eosinophil infiltration. CONCLUSIONS Fungal sensitization in children with persistent asthma is associated with disease severity. Almost 60% of our severe persistent asthma patients had evidence of fungal sensitization and, based on our previous studies, may be potential candidates for anti-fungal therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfin G Vicencio
- Department of Pediatrics, Cohen Children's Medical Center, New Hyde Park, New York
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23
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Mehra T, Köberle M, Braunsdorf C, Mailänder-Sanchez D, Borelli C, Schaller M. Alternative approaches to antifungal therapies. Exp Dermatol 2013; 21:778-82. [PMID: 23078400 DOI: 10.1111/exd.12004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The expansive use of immunosuppressive medications in fields such as transplantational medicine and oncology, the higher frequency of invasive procedures in an ageing population and the HIV/AIDS pandemic have increased the frequency of systemic fungal infections. At the same time, increased resistance of pathogenic fungi to classical antifungal agents has led to sustained research efforts targeting alternative antifungal strategies. In this review, we focus on two promising approaches: cationic peptides and the targeting of fungal virulence factors. Cationic peptides are small, predominantly positively charged protein fragments that exert direct and indirect antifungal activities, one mechanism of action being the permeabilization of the fungal membrane. They include lysozyme, defensins and cathelicidins as well as novel synthetic peptides. Among fungal virulence factors, the targeting of candidal secreted aspartic proteinases seems to be a particularly promising approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarun Mehra
- Department of Dermatology, Eberhard-Karls-University, Tübingen, Germany
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24
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Coskun O, Ozturk M, Erdem H, Gumral R, Yaman H, Karakas A, Kilic S, Eyigun CP. Can chitotriosidase be a surrogate marker for invasive fungal disease? J Mycol Med 2013; 22:256-60. [PMID: 23518084 DOI: 10.1016/j.mycmed.2012.07.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2012] [Revised: 07/09/2012] [Accepted: 07/09/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chitotriosidase (CHT) enzyme has been known to be secreted from the activated macrophages. We infer with these data that CHT activity is an indicator for the defence. METHODS In this study, we evaluated CHT levels in both neutropenic and non neutropenic patients. CHT enzyme activity was measured and compared to each other groups. RESULTS Chitotriosidase levels were found to be significantly higher in neutropenic patients with candidemia. CONCLUSION In the comparison between neutropenic and non neutropenic patients, there was a significant difference for CHT levels. The use of this enzyme as a surrogate marker for candidemias were evaluated in neutropenic and non neutropenic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Coskun
- Gulhane Military Medical Academy Training Hospital, Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Ankara, Turkey.
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25
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Chitotriosidase deficiency: a mutation update in an african population. JIMD Rep 2012; 10:11-6. [PMID: 23430794 DOI: 10.1007/8904_2012_193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2012] [Revised: 10/05/2012] [Accepted: 10/09/2012] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Human plasma chitotriosidase activity is a commonly used diagnostic and therapeutic biomarker for non-neuronopathic Gaucher disease. Chitotriosidase deficiency is common in non-African populations and is primarily caused by a 24 bp duplication in the encoding gene (CHIT1). Allele frequencies for the 24 bp duplication range from 20-50 % outside Africa. The present study found chitotriosidase deficiency to be rare in the South African Black population (1.6 %) and the otherwise common 24 bp duplication is absent in this African population. Instead, chitotriosidase deficiency is caused by a 4 bp deletion across the exon/intron 10 boundary (E/I-10_delGAgt) of the CHIT1 gene. The exact position of this mutation was found to differ from the previously reported location. Allele frequencies for six coding variants of CHIT1 (p.G102S, p.G354R, 24 bp duplication, E/I-10_delGAgt, p.A442V/G) were determined and the 4 bp deletion was found to be in complete linkage disequilibrium (LD) with two of the coding variants (p.G354R and p.A442V). The in silico assessments of the two missense mutations in LD predict a protein-damaging nature and functional studies are needed to clarify if one or both abolish the enzyme's activity. Overall, the low frequency of chitotriosidase deficiency in South African Blacks makes chitotriosidase activity an excellent biomarker of choice in this population.
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Monoszon AA, Cherkanova MS, Duzhak AB, Korolenko TA. Chitotriosidase Activity in the Blood Serum and Organs of Mice of Various Strains under the Infl uence of Chitin. Bull Exp Biol Med 2012; 154:40-3. [DOI: 10.1007/s10517-012-1870-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Biochemical and Molecular Chitotriosidase Profiles in Patients with Gaucher Disease Type 1 in Minas Gerais, Brazil: New Mutation in CHIT1 Gene. JIMD Rep 2012; 9:85-91. [PMID: 23430552 DOI: 10.1007/8904_2012_184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2012] [Revised: 08/16/2012] [Accepted: 09/19/2012] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Chitotriosidase (ChT) is a human chitinase secreted by activated macrophages and its activity is used in therapeutic monitoring of Gaucher disease (GD), the most common lysosomal storage disease. About 6% of the population is homozygous for a duplication of 24 bp in exon 11 of the CHIT1 gene (dup24), which is the main polymorphism that results in the absence of ChT. As ChT enzyme activity can be used as a biomarker in GD, it is important to know the CHIT1 genotype of each patient. In this study, ChT activity and CHIT1 genotype were evaluated in 33 GD type 1 patients under treatment in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, and compared to healthy controls. As expected, the enzyme activity was found to be higher in GD type 1 patients than in healthy subjects. Four patients had no ChT activity. Their genotype revealed three patients (9%) homozygous for dup24 allele and one patient with two polymorphisms in exon 11: G354R and a 4 bp deletion at the exon-intron 11 boundary (g.16993_16996delGAGT), the later described for the first time in literature. Two other patients with lower ChT activity presented a polymorphism in exon 4 (c.304G>A, p.G102S), without dup24 allele. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that ChT activity can be used for therapeutic monitoring in 82% of GD patients of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Abstract
Chitin, a polymer of N-acetylglucosamine, is an essential component of the fungal cell wall. Chitosan, a deacetylated form of chitin, is also important in maintaining cell wall integrity and is essential for Cryptococcus neoformans virulence. In their article, Gilbert et al. [N. M. Gilbert, L. G. Baker, C. A. Specht, and J. K. Lodge, mBio 3(1):e00007-12, 2012] demonstrate that the enzyme responsible for chitosan synthesis, chitin deacetylase (CDA), is differentially attached to the cell membrane and wall. Bioactivity is localized to the cell membrane, where it is covalently linked via a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor. Findings from this study significantly enhance our understanding of cryptococcal cell wall biology. Besides the role of chitin in supporting structural stability, chitin and host enzymes with chitinase activity have an important role in host defense and modifying the inflammatory response. Thus, chitin appears to provide a link between the fungus and host that involves both innate and adaptive immune responses. Recently, there has been increased attention to the role of chitinases in the pathogenesis of allergic inflammation, especially asthma. We review these findings and explore the possible connection between fungal infections, the induction of chitinases, and asthma.
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DIGE enables the detection of a putative serum biomarker of fungal origin in a mouse model of invasive aspergillosis. J Proteomics 2012; 75:2536-49. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2012.01.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2011] [Revised: 01/27/2012] [Accepted: 01/30/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Chitin, chitinase responses, and invasive fungal infections. Int J Microbiol 2011; 2012:920459. [PMID: 22187561 PMCID: PMC3236456 DOI: 10.1155/2012/920459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2011] [Revised: 09/15/2011] [Accepted: 09/16/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The human immune system is capable of recognizing and degrading chitin, an important cell wall component of pathogenic fungi. In the context of host-immune responses to fungal infections, herein we review the particular contributions and interplay of fungus and chitin recognition, and chitin-degrading enzymes, known as chitinases. The mechanisms of host chitinase responses may have implications for diagnostic assays as well as novel therapeutic approaches for patients that are at risk of contracting fatal fungal infections.
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Goldman DL, Li X, Tsirilakis K, Andrade C, Casadevall A, Vicencio AG. Increased chitinase expression and fungal-specific antibodies in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of asthmatic children. Clin Exp Allergy 2011; 42:523-30. [PMID: 22092749 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2011.03886.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2011] [Revised: 08/30/2011] [Accepted: 09/01/2011] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increasing evidence highlights the contribution of chitinases and fungal infection to the development of asthma. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to characterize chitinase expression and serological markers of fungal infection in children with severe asthma. METHODS Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected from children undergoing clinically indicated flexible bronchoscopy. A diagnosis of asthma was confirmed by pulmonary function testing. BALF was tested for chitinase activity and YKL-40 (an enzymatically inactive chitinase) concentrations. Specimens were cultured for fungal organisms and tested for cryptococcal antigen by ELISA. IgG and IgA reactivity to whole extract fungal (Aspergillus fumigatus, Alternaria alternata, Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans) proteins were determined by immunoblot assay. RESULTS Among the 37 patients studied, 30 were asthmatic and 7 were non-asthmatic. Asthmatics exhibited elevated serum IgE levels (median: 748 IU/mL, IQR: 219-1765 IU/mL). Chitinase activity was greater in the BALF of asthmatics (mean, 0.85 ± 1.2 U/mL) compared with non-asthmatics (mean: 0.23 ± 0.21 U/mL, P = 0.012). Likewise YKL-40 concentrations were higher in the BALF of asthmatics and correlated with chitinase activity. There was a trend towards increased fungal-specific IgG in the BALF of asthmatics compared with non-asthmatics and for C. albicans this difference reached statistical significance. IgA reactivity to C. neoformans and A. fumigatus was greater in the BALF of asthmatics compared with non-asthmatics. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Compared with non-asthmatics, asthmatic children exhibited increased chitinase activity and increased YKL-40 levels in BALF. Increased IgG and IgA reactivity to fungal proteins in the BALF of asthmatics may reflect a local response to fungal infection. Our findings are consistent with and suggest a role for chitinases in asthma pathogenesis among Bronx children and provide serological evidence of an association between fungal infection and severe asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- D L Goldman
- Department of Pediatrics, Childrens' Hospital at Montefiore and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave., Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
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Mycobacterial, brucellar, fungal, and parasitic arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-323-06551-1.00105-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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van Eijk M, Voorn-Brouwer T, Scheij SS, Verhoeven AJ, Boot RG, Aerts JMFG. Curdlan-mediated regulation of human phagocyte-specific chitotriosidase. FEBS Lett 2010; 584:3165-9. [PMID: 20541547 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2010.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2010] [Revised: 05/20/2010] [Accepted: 06/01/2010] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Human phagocyte-specific chitotriosidase is part of innate immunity and shows anti-fungal activity towards chitin-containing fungi. We investigated the effect of stimulation of the C-type lectin receptor dectin-1 by beta-1,3-glucan (curdlan) on chitotriosidase expression and release by human phagocytes. We observed that curdlan triggers chitotriosidase release from human neutrophils. In addition, we show that curdlan impairs chitotriosidase induction in monocytes. Finally, curdlan temporarily induces chitotriosidase in enzyme-expressing monocyte-derived macrophages, followed by reduction of chitotriosidase expression after prolonged stimulation. These data on regulation of phagocyte-specific chitotriosidase following curdlan recognition support an important role of chitotriosidase in the elimination of chitin-containing pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco van Eijk
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Lenardon MD, Munro CA, Gow NAR. Chitin synthesis and fungal pathogenesis. Curr Opin Microbiol 2010; 13:416-23. [PMID: 20561815 PMCID: PMC2923753 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2010.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 261] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2010] [Revised: 05/04/2010] [Accepted: 05/06/2010] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Chitin is an essential part of the carbohydrate skeleton of the fungal cell wall and is a molecule that is not represented in humans and other vertebrates. Complex regulatory mechanisms enable chitin to be positioned at specific sites throughout the cell cycle to maintain the overall strength of the wall and enable rapid, life-saving modifications to be made under cell wall stress conditions. Chitin has also recently emerged as a significant player in the activation and attenuation of immune responses to fungi and other chitin-containing parasites. This review summarises latest advances in the analysis of chitin synthesis regulation in the context of fungal pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan D Lenardon
- Aberdeen Fungal Group, School of Medical Sciences, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
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Novel antifungal agents, targets or therapeutic strategies for the treatment of invasive fungal diseases: a review of the literature (2005-2009). Rev Iberoam Micol 2009; 26:15-22. [DOI: 10.1016/s1130-1406(09)70004-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2009] [Accepted: 02/11/2009] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
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