Open AccessAn inhibitor of leukotriene-A 4 hydrolase from bat salivary glands facilitates virus infection
Author(s) -
Mingqian Fang,
Xiaopeng Tang,
Juan Zhang,
Zewen Liao,
Wang Gan,
Ruomei Cheng,
Zhiye Zhang,
Hongwen Zhao,
Jing Wang,
Zhuo Tan,
Peter Muiruri Kamau,
Qiumin Lu,
Liu Qi,
Guohong Deng,
Ren Lai
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2110647119
Subject(s) - leukotriene b4 , proinflammatory cytokine , immunology , saliva , immune system , virus , inflammation , leukotriene , biology , pharmacology , biochemistry , asthma
Significance An immunosuppressant protein (MTX), which facilitates virus infection by inhibiting leukotriene A4 hydrolase (LTA4 H) to produce the lipid chemoattractant leukotriene B4 (LTB4 ), was identified and characterized from the submandibular salivary glands of the batMyotis pilosus . To the best of our knowledge, this is a report of an endogenous LTA4 H inhibitor in animals. MTX was highly concentrated in the bat salivary glands, suggesting a mechanism for the generation of immunological privilege and immune tolerance and providing evidence of viral shedding through oral secretions. Moreover, given that the immunosuppressant MTX selectively inhibited the proinflammatory activity of LTA4 H, without affecting its antiinflammatory activity, MTX might be a potential candidate for the development of antiinflammatory drugs by targeting the LTA4 -LTA4 H-LTB4 inflammatory axis.