Tomee J F, Wierenga A T, Hiemstra P S, Kauffman H K
Department of Allergology, University Hospital Groningen, Netherlands.
J Infect Dis. 1997 Jul;176(1):300-3. doi: 10.1086/517272.
Aspergillus fumigatus is a pathogen causing diverse respiratory disorders. Several studies have suggested that fungal proteases may play a role in the pathogenicity of fungi. Since the airways are the most common route for entry of A. fumigatus, this study focused on the ability of fungal proteases to induce the release of proinflammatory cytokines and to cause cell detachment in human pulmonary epithelial cell lines. It was shown that fungal serine protease activity induced the production of interleukin (IL)-8 and IL-6 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and caused cell detachment in a dose-dependent fashion. Chymostatin, antipain, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, and heat treatment completely inhibited fungal protease activity, cytokine production and cell detachment; antileukoprotease partially inhibited these activities. By causing cell detachment, fungal proteases may decrease the physical barrier function of the epithelium; however, by eliciting a cytokine response, the epithelium may signal the mucosal inflammatory response against A. fumigatus.
烟曲霉是一种可引发多种呼吸道疾病的病原体。多项研究表明，真菌蛋白酶可能在真菌的致病性中发挥作用。由于气道是烟曲霉最常见的侵入途径，本研究聚焦于真菌蛋白酶诱导促炎细胞因子释放以及导致人肺上皮细胞系细胞脱离的能力。结果表明，真菌丝氨酸蛋白酶活性以剂量依赖方式诱导白细胞介素（IL）-8、IL-6和单核细胞趋化蛋白-1的产生，并导致细胞脱离。抑肽酶、抗蛋白酶、苯甲基磺酰氟和热处理完全抑制了真菌蛋白酶活性、细胞因子产生和细胞脱离；抗白细胞蛋白酶部分抑制了这些活性。通过导致细胞脱离，真菌蛋白酶可能会降低上皮的物理屏障功能；然而，通过引发细胞因子反应，上皮可能会向黏膜发出针对烟曲霉的炎症反应信号。
