title: Role of Allergen Source-Derived Proteases in Sensitization via Airway Epithelial Cells.
abstract: Protease activity is a characteristic common to many allergens. Allergen source-derived proteases interact with lung epithelial cells, which are now thought to play vital roles in both innate and adaptive immune responses. Allergen source-derived proteases act on airway epithelial cells to induce disruption of the tight junctions between epithelial cells, activation of protease-activated receptor-2, and the production of thymic stromal lymphopoietin. These facilitate allergen delivery across epithelial layers and enhance allergenicity or directly activate the immune system through a nonallergic mechanism. Furthermore, they cleave regulatory cell surface molecules involved in allergic reactions. Thus, allergen source-derived proteases are a potentially critical factor in the development of allergic sensitization and appear to be strongly associated with heightened allergenicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Akishima Hospital, 1260 Nakagami-Cho, Akishima-Shi, Tokyo 196-0022, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsumura