Chitinases and lung diseases

Abstract

Chitinase enzymes that hydrolize chitin and some artificial substrates are expressed in human despite lacking of the endogenous chitin within the body. Chitinases phatophysiological functions within human are not fully known. Recent evidence revealed that chitinases may have role into some processes of immune responses and inflammatory system. In this review, we discuss the role of chitinases in lung diseases based on the available information from the literature.