Role of Chitin in Allergic Airway Inflammation

2013 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24791005
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: 膠原病・アレルギー・感染症内科学
• Research Institution: Kyorin University
• Principal Investigator: ARAE Ken 杏林大学, 保健学部, 講師 (50306669)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2014-03-31
• Keywords: アレルギー / キチン / IL-33 / Th2

Research Abstract

Chitin, b-(1-4)-poly-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, is a major constituent of the exoskeleton of house dust mites (HDM), raising the possibility that it may be involved in the development of HDM-related allergic disorders. However, the role of chitin in the pathogenesis of allergic disorders is poorly understood. Chitin enhances Th2-type immune responses in airway such as eosinophilia, IgE production and Th2-cytokine production dependently on the IL-33 production and IL-4/IL-13-STAT-6 pathway, resulting in aggravated OVA-induced airway inflammation in mice. In addition, chitin-mediated IL-33 activates pulmonary DCs to induce excessive IL-1b production, and then the DCs enhance the activation of Th2 cells dependently on antigen and IL-1 signaling.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Role of interleukin-33 in innate-type immune cells in allergy (2013)
  • Author(s): Nakae S, Morita H, Ohno T, Arae K, Matsumoto K, Saito H
  • Journal Title: Allergol Int Volume: 62(1) Pages: 13-20
  • DOI: 10.2332/allergolint.13-RAI-0538
• [Journal Article] Epithelial cell-derived IL-25, but not Th17 cell-derived IL-17 or IL-17F, is crucial for murine asthma (2012)
  • Author(s): Suzukawa M, Morita H, Nambu A, Arae K, Shimura E, Shibui A, Yamaguchi S, Suzukawa K, Nakanishi W, Oboki K, Kajiwara N, Ohno T, Ishii A, Körner H, Cua DJ, Suto H, Yoshimoto T, Iwakura Y, Yamasoba T, Ohta K, Sudo K, Saito H, Okumura K, Broide DH, Matsumoto K, Nakae S
  • Journal Title: J Immunol Volume: 189(7) Pages: 3641-52
  • URL: http://www.jimmunol.org/content/189/7/3641.long
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Interleukin-33 in allergy (2012)
  • Author(s): Ohno T, Morita H, Arae K, Matsumoto K, Nakae S
  • Journal Title: Allergy Volume: 67(10) Pages: 1203-14
  • DOI: 10.1111/all.12004
• [Journal Article] (2012)
  • Author(s): Morita H, Arae K, Ohno T, Kajiwara N, Oboki K, Matsuda A, Suto H, Okumura K, Sudo K, Takahashi T, Matsumoto K, Nakae S
  • Journal Title: Allergol Int Volume: 61(2) Pages: 265-73
  • DOI: 10.2332/allergolint.11-OA-0379
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] Chitin-mediated IL-33 induces breakdown of immune tolerance by excessive IL-1・ production by DCs, causing aggravation of murine asthma (2013)
  • Author(s): Ken Arae
  • Organizer: 第42回日本免疫学会学術集会
  • Place of Presentation: 幕張
  • Year and Date: 2013-12-12