title: Airway protease/antiprotease imbalance in atopic asthmatics contributes to increased influenza A virus cleavage and replication.
abstract: Asthmatics are more susceptible to influenza infections, yet mechanisms mediating this enhanced susceptibility are unknown. Influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) protein binds to sialic acid residues on the host cells. HA requires cleavage to allow fusion of the viral HA with host cell membrane, which is mediated by host trypsin-like serine protease. We show data here demonstrating that the protease:antiprotease ratio is increased in the nasal mucosa of asthmatics and that these changes were associated with increased proteolytic activation of influenza. These data suggest that disruption of the protease balance in asthmatics enhances activation and infection of influenza virus.
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kesic
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.forename: Ilona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jaspers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000201:enzymology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000201:enzymology*; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D061985:Madin Darby Canine Kidney Cells; D008297:Male; D017817:Nasal Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D009666:Nose / Q000201:enzymology*; D053481:Secretory Leukocyte Peptidase Inhibitor / Q000378:metabolism*; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D014779:Virus Replication; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C543345:H1N1 virus hemagglutinin; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; C506814:SLPI protein, human; D053481:Secretory Leukocyte Peptidase Inhibitor; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; C421305:TMPRSS2 protein, human