Marked Differences in Tissue-specific Expression of Chitinases in Mouse and Man

Rolf G. Boot ^1*, Anton P. Bussink ¹, Marri Verhoek ¹, Piet A.J. de Boer ¹, Antoon F.M. Moorman ¹ and Johannes M.F.G. Aerts ¹

¹ Department of Biochemistry (RGB,APB,MV,JMFGA) and Department of Anatomy & Embryology (PAJdB,AFMM), University of Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: r.g.boot{at}amc.uva.nl.

Submitted on October 11, 2004
Accepted on 14 April 2005

	Abstract

Two distinct chitinases have been identified in mammals: a phagocyte specific enzyme, named chitotriosidase, and an acidic mammalian chitinase (AMCase) expressed in the lungs and gastrointestinal-tract. Increased expression of both chitinases has been observed in different pathological conditions: chitotriosidase in lysosomal lipid storage disorders like Gaucher disease and AMCase in asthmatic lung disease. Recently it was reported that AMCase activity is involved in the pathogenesis of asthma in an induced mouse model. Inhibition of chitinase activity was found to alleviate the inflammation driven pathology. We studied the tissue-specific expression of both chitinases in mice and compared it to the situation in man. In both species AMCase is expressed in alveolar macrophages and in the gastrointestinal tract. In mice chitotriosidase is only expressed in the gastrointestinal tract, the tongue, fore-stomach and Paneth cells in the small intestine, while in man the enzyme is exclusively expressed by professional phagocytes. This species difference seems to be mediated by distinct promoter usage. In conclusion, the pattern of expression of chitinases in the lung differs between mouse and man. The implications for the development of anti-asthma drugs with chitinases as targets are discussed.

Key Words: chitinases, AMCase, chitotriosdase, gastrointestinal tract, macrophage, in situ hybridization

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