title: Pulmonary cryptococcosis induces chitinase in the rat.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We previously demonstrated that chronic pulmonary infection with Cryptococcus neoformans results in enhanced allergic inflammation and airway hyperreactivity in a rat model. Because the cell wall of C. neoformans consists of chitin, and since acidic mammalian chitinase (AMCase) has recently been implicated as a novel mediator of asthma, we sought to determine whether such infection induces chitinase activity and expression of AMCase in the rat.
  
  
  METHODS
  We utilized a previously-established model of chronic C. neoformans pulmonary infection in the rat to analyze the activity, expression and localization of AMCase.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our studies indicate that intratracheal inoculation of C. neoformans induces chitinase activity within the lung and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of infected rats. Chitinase activity is also elicited by pulmonary infection with other fungi (e.g. C. albicans), but not by the inoculation of dead organisms. Enhanced chitinase activity reflects increased AMCase expression by airway epithelial cells and alveolar macrophages. Systemic cryptococcosis is not associated with increased pulmonary chitinase activity or AMCase expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate a possible link between respiratory fungal infections, including C. neoformans, and asthma through the induction of AMCase.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, USA. dvicenci@montefiore.org
authors.forename: Alfin G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Vicencio
authors.forename: Swati
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Narain
authors.forename: Zhongfang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Wang Yong
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ritch
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Casadevall
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Goldman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; D002688:Chitinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344
chemical_list: D002688:Chitinases