The role of chitin, chitinases, and chitinase-like proteins in pediatric lung diseases.
The role of chitin, chitinases, and chitinase-like proteins in pediatric lung diseases.
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DOI：
10.1186/s40348-015-0014-6
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发表时间：
2015-12
期刊：
影响因子：
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通讯作者：
Hartl D
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Mack I;Hector A;Ballbach M;Kohlhäufl J;Fuchs KJ;Weber A;Mall MA;Hartl D
几丁质是地球上仅次于纤维素的第二丰富的生物聚合物，是昆虫、真菌和室内尘螨的关键成分。较低级的生命形式被赋予几丁质酶来保护自己免受携带几丁质病原体的侵害。出乎意料的是，人类也被发现表达几丁质酶以及调节免疫反应的几丁质酶样蛋白质。特别是，几丁质酶样蛋白YKL-40水平升高与严重哮喘、囊性纤维化和其他炎症性疾病有关。在此，我们总结并讨论几丁质、几丁质酶和几丁质酶样蛋白在小儿肺部疾病中的潜在作用。
Chitin, after cellulose, the second most abundant biopolymer on earth, is a key component of insects, fungi, and house-dust mites. Lower life forms are endowed with chitinases to defend themselves against chitin-bearing pathogens. Unexpectedly, humans were also found to express chitinases as well as chitinase-like proteins that modulate immune responses. Particularly, increased levels of the chitinase-like protein YKL-40 have been associated with severe asthma, cystic fibrosis, and other inflammatory disease conditions. Here, we summarize and discuss the potential role of chitin, chitinases, and chitinase-like proteins in pediatric lung diseases.