Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Department of Immunology, International Branch of Aras, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2016 Aug;16(8):57. doi: 10.1007/s11882-016-0637-2.
CHI3L1 (also known as YKL-40), a member of "mammalian chitinase-like proteins," is a serum protein lacking enzymatic activity. Although the protein is highly conserved in mammals, a consensus regarding its role in human pathologies is currently lacking. In an attempt to shed light on the many physiological functions of the protein, specifically with regard to asthma, a comprehensive overview of recent studies is provided.
In asthma, CHI3L1 is secreted from macrophages and airway epithelial cells through an IL-13 related mechanism. Th2-associated inflammatory responses due to allergen exposure, resulting in airway hyper-responsiveness and smooth muscle contraction, play a role in tissue remodeling. The importance of CHI3L1 in initiation and development of asthma is not limited to its involvement in highly orchestrated events of inflammatory cytokines but further research is needed for further elucidation. Levels of the protein are associated with severity for numerous pathologies, including asthma, suggesting limited specificity as a biomarker.
几丁质酶 3 样蛋白 1（也称为 YKL-40）是“哺乳动物几丁质酶样蛋白”家族的一员，是一种缺乏酶活性的血清蛋白。尽管该蛋白在哺乳动物中高度保守，但目前对于其在人类疾病中的作用仍缺乏共识。为了阐明该蛋白的许多生理功能，特别是在哮喘方面，我们对最近的研究进行了全面综述。
在哮喘中，CHI3L1 通过与白细胞介素 13 相关的机制从巨噬细胞和气道上皮细胞中分泌出来。过敏原暴露导致的与 Th2 相关的炎症反应导致气道高反应性和平滑肌收缩，参与了组织重塑。CHI3L1 在哮喘的发生和发展中的重要性不仅限于其参与高度协调的炎症细胞因子事件，还需要进一步研究来进一步阐明。该蛋白的水平与包括哮喘在内的许多病理的严重程度相关，表明其作为生物标志物的特异性有限。
