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Chitin induces accumulation in tissue of innate immune cells associated with allergy

Author

Listed:
  • Tiffany A. Reese

    (Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143-0795, USA)

  • Hong-Erh Liang

    (Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143-0795, USA)

  • Andrew M. Tager

    (Allergy and Immunology, Centre for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129, USA)

  • Andrew D. Luster

    (Allergy and Immunology, Centre for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129, USA)

  • Nico Van Rooijen

    (Vrije Universiteit, 1091 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

  • David Voehringer

    (Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143-0795, USA
    Present address: Institute for Immunology, University of Munich, Munich D-80336, Germany.)

  • Richard M. Locksley

    (Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143-0795, USA)

Abstract

Chitin allergy Antigens associated with insects, crustacea, helminths and fungi make up a considerable proportion of the environmental antigens associated with allergies and asthma in humans. Nonetheless, the common elements that link these widely distributed entities remain unknown. A major culprit might be chitin. Chitin is the second most abundant polymer in nature, providing the osmotic stability and tensile strength to countless cell walls and rigid exoskeletons. Reese et al. have now found that mice treated with chitin develop an allergic response, characterized by a build-up of interleukin-4 expressing innate immune cells. Treatment with a chitinase enzyme abolishes the response. Occupations associated with high environmental chitin levels, such as shellfish processors, are prone to high incidences of asthma, suggesting that this pathway may play a role in human allergic disease.

Suggested Citation

  • Tiffany A. Reese & Hong-Erh Liang & Andrew M. Tager & Andrew D. Luster & Nico Van Rooijen & David Voehringer & Richard M. Locksley, 2007. "Chitin induces accumulation in tissue of innate immune cells associated with allergy," Nature, Nature, vol. 447(7140), pages 92-96, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:447:y:2007:i:7140:d:10.1038_nature05746
    DOI: 10.1038/nature05746
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    Cited by:

    1. Jiří Mlček & Anna Adámková & Martin Adámek & Marie Borkovcová & Martina Bednářová & Lenka Kouřimská & Veronika Hlobilová, 2021. "Selected aspects of edible insect rearing and consumption - A review," Czech Journal of Food Sciences, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 39(3), pages 149-159.
    2. Yongyao Fu & Abigail Pajulas & Jocelyn Wang & Baohua Zhou & Anthony Cannon & Cherry Cheuk Lam Cheung & Jilu Zhang & Huaxin Zhou & Amanda Jo Fisher & David T. Omstead & Sabrina Khan & Lei Han & Jean-Ch, 2022. "Mouse pulmonary interstitial macrophages mediate the pro-tumorigenic effects of IL-9," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-19, December.
    3. Hang Liu & Xunli Lu & Mengfei Li & Zhiqin Lun & Xia Yan & Changfa Yin & Guixin Yuan & Xingbin Wang & Ning Liu & Di Liu & Mian Wu & Ziluolong Luo & Yan Zhang & Vijai Bhadauria & Jun Yang & Nicholas J. , 2023. "Plant immunity suppression by an exo-β-1,3-glucanase and an elongation factor 1α of the rice blast fungus," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-16, December.
    4. Ming Yang & Yunjo Soh & Seok-Mo Heo, 2022. "Characterization of Acidic Mammalian Chitinase as a Novel Biomarker for Severe Periodontitis (Stage III/IV): A Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-9, March.

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