Recognition of fungal protease activities induces cellular activation and eosinophil-derived neurotoxin release in human eosinophils.

ABSTRACT: Eosinophils are multifunctional leukocytes implicated in the pathogenesis of asthma and in immunity to certain organisms. Associations between exposure to an environmental fungus, such as Alternaria, and asthma have been recognized clinically. Protease-activated receptors (PARs) are G protein-coupled receptors that are cleaved and activated by serine proteases, but their roles in innate immunity remain unknown. We previously found that human eosinophils respond vigorously to Alternaria organisms and to the secretory product(s) of Alternaria with eosinophils releasing their proinflammatory mediators. In this study, we investigated the roles of protease(s) produced by Alternaria and of PARs expressed on eosinophils in their immune responses against fungal organisms. We found that Alternaria

SUBMITTER: Matsuwaki Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2843542 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature