TY - JOUR AU - Mack, Ines AU - Hector, Andreas AU - Ballbach, Marlene AU - Kohlhäufl, Julius AU - Fuchs, Katharina J. AU - Weber, Alexander AU - Mall, Marcus A. AU - Hartl, Dominik PY - 2015 DA - 2015/02/27 TI - The role of chitin, chitinases, and chitinase-like proteins in pediatric lung diseases JO - Molecular and Cellular Pediatrics SP - 3 VL - 2 IS - 1 AB - Chitin, after cellulose, the second most abundant biopolymer on earth, is a key component of insects, fungi, and house-dust mites. Lower life forms are endowed with chitinases to defend themselves against chitin-bearing pathogens. Unexpectedly, humans were also found to express chitinases as well as chitinase-like proteins that modulate immune responses. Particularly, increased levels of the chitinase-like protein YKL-40 have been associated with severe asthma, cystic fibrosis, and other inflammatory disease conditions. Here, we summarize and discuss the potential role of chitin, chitinases, and chitinase-like proteins in pediatric lung diseases. SN - 2194-7791 UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s40348-015-0014-6 DO - 10.1186/s40348-015-0014-6 ID - Mack2015 ER -