title: YKL-40, a matrix protein of specific granules in neutrophils, is elevated in serum of patients with community-acquired pneumonia requiring hospitalization.
abstract: The serum concentration of YKL-40, a matrix protein of specific granules in neutrophils, was determined by RIA in 90 patients hospitalized with pneumonia of suspected bacterial origin. Of these, 64 were followed prospectively during antibiotic treatment with blood samples taken on day 0 (on admission and the start of treatment) and on days 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, and 21. Serum YKL-40 at admission was increased in patients with Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia (median, 893 microgram/L; 95% confidence interval [CI], 704-1560), compared with healthy subjects (median, 102 microgram/L; 95% CI, 64-247 microgram/L; P<.001) and in patients with pneumonia of unknown etiology (median, 448 microgram/L; 95% CI, 334-700; P<.05). Peak YKL-40 serum values were observed on day 1 and thereafter declined steeply to almost normal by day 3. During the first 10 days, there was a close relation between serum YKL-40 and markers of specific granules of neutrophils (serum lactoferrin and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin), which suggests that serum YKL-40 reflects exocytosis of specific granules of neutrophils in persons with acute bacterial pneumonia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, Odense University Hospital, DK-5000 Odense, Denmark. Claudia@dadlnet.dk
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nordenbaek
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Johansen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Junker
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Borregaard
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sørensen
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Price
mesh_terms: D054392:Adipokines; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; C084533:CHI3L1 protein, human; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D006023:Glycoproteins; D037102:Lectins