title: Chitinase 3-like 1 plasma levels are increased in patients with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chitinase 3-like 1 (CHI3L1) is upregulated in a wide variety of inflammatory conditions. Recent studies have pointed to a role of CHI3L1 in multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to investigate the role of plasma CHI3L1 in MS clinical course and disease activity and to evaluate the effect of interferon-beta (IFNβ) treatment on protein levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma CHI3L1 levels were determined by ELISA in 57 healthy controls (HC), 220 untreated MS patients [66 primary progressive MS patients (PPMS), 30 secondary progressive MS patients (SPMS), and 124 relapsing-remitting MS patients (RRMS), 94 during clinical remission and 30 during relapse], and 32 MS patients receiving IFNβ treatment. A polymorphism of the CHI3L1 gene, rs4950928, was genotyped in 3274 MS patients and 3483 HC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma CHI3L1 levels were significantly increased in patients with progressive forms of MS compared with RRMS patients and HC. CHI3L1 levels were similar between RRMS patients in relapse and remission. A trend towards decreased CHI3L1 levels was observed in IFNβ-treated patients. Allele C of rs4950928 was significantly associated with PPMS patients and with higher plasma CHI3L1 levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings point to a role of CHI3L1 in patients with progressive forms of MS, particularly in those with PPMS.
authors.affiliation: Centre d'Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya, CEM-Cat, Unitat de Neuroimmunologia Clínica, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron (HUVH), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cantó
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Reverter
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morcillo-Suárez
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Matesanz
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Izquierdo
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vandenbroeck
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Antigüedad
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Urcelay
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arroyo
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Otaegui
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olascoaga
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saiz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Domínguez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caminero
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Horga
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tintoré
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Montalban
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Comabella
mesh_terms: D054392:Adipokines / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D000328:Adult; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use; D037102:Lectins / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D020528:Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; C084533:CHI3L1 protein, human; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D037102:Lectins; D016899:Interferon-beta