title: Acidic mammalian chitinase--a potential target for asthma therapy.
abstract: Recently, inhibition of acidic mammalian chitinase in a murine asthmatic model was reported to have a profound anti-inflammatory effect, leading to the suggestion that this enzyme might be a novel therapeutic target for T helper 2-driven diseases such as asthma. The mechanism of action of such an enzyme in asthma pathology is unclear but the enzyme appears to mediate interleukin 13-dependent responses in a STAT6-independent manner. This observation has led to the proposal that chitinase family members are important mediators in allergic diseases including asthma.
authors.affiliation: Thoracic Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Dovehouse Street, London SW3 6LY, UK.
authors.forename: Louise E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Donnelly
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Barnes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology*; D002688:Chitinases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D002688:Chitinases