CORELATION BETWEEN CHITINASE-3-LIKE PROTEIN 1 AND CHRONIC PULMONARY DISEASE

Chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1), also known as YKL-40, is a secreted glycoprotein that is approximately 40 kDa in size and is encoded by the CHI3L1 gene in humans. The name YKL-40 derives from the letter code for the first three N-terminal amino acids, tyrosine (Y), lysine (K) and leucine (L) and the apparent molecular weight of YKL-40. YKL-40 is expressed and secreted by different cell types, including macrophages, chondrocytes, fibroblast-like synovial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells and hepatic stellate cells. The biological function of YKL-40 is unclear. No specific receiver is known. Its expression pattern is associated with pathogenic processes related to inflammation, extracellular tissue remodeling, fibrosis, solid carcinomas, COPD and asthma.