title: Ym1 is a neutrophil granule protein that crystallizes in p47phox-deficient mice.
abstract: Crystals were discovered within the aged lung and at sites of chronic inflammation in a mouse model of chronic granulomatous disease. Following re-crystallization at neutral pH, the crystals were identified as the chitinase-like protein Ym1, expressed in organs of the lymphoreticular system, the lung, and distal stomach. Ym1 was shown to be a neutrophil granule protein and to have weak beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase activity, indicating that it might contribute to the digestion of glycosaminoglycans. Crystal formation is likely to be a function of excess neutrophil turnover at sites of inflammation in the chronic granulomatous disease mouse. Failure to remove subcutaneous Ym1 crystals injected into knockout mice indicates that a failure of digestion may also contribute to crystallization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University College London, London WC1E 6JJ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harbord
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Novelli
authors.forename: Benito
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Canas
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Power
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Jasminka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Godovac-Zimmermann
authors.forename: Jurgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roes
authors.forename: Anthony W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Segal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008957:Models, Genetic; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D019255:NADPH Oxidases; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D013347:Subcellular Fractions; D013997:Time Factors; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D001619:beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D037102:Lectins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D019255:NADPH Oxidases; C060505:neutrophil cytosolic factor 1; C429541:Chil3 protein, mouse; D001619:beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases