title: Overexpression of YKL-40 predicts plaque instability in carotid atherosclerosis with CagA-positive Helicobacter pylori infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  YKL-40 has been demonstrated to be related to atherosclerosis, but its role in predicting plaque status and the outcome of carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) caused by CagA-positive Helicobacter pylori remains unclear. This study was aimed to investigate the role of YKL-40 in predicting the outcome of carotid atherosclerosis with CagA-positive Helicobacter pylori infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  The serum concentrations of YKL-40, C-reaction protein in 310 patients undergoing color Duplex assessment of carotid atherosclerosis were recorded and divided into 3 groups according to the infectious statuses of helicobacter pylori. We also examined serum YKL-40, C-reaction protein and the plaque morphology in animal model of carotid atherosclerosis with different types of helicobacter pylori infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overexpression of YKL-40 was only found in carotid atherosclerosis group with CagA-positive helicobacter pylori infection; C-reaction protein failed to distinguish different infectious statuses of helicobacter pylori infection. In patients with CagA-positive helicobacter pylori infection, elevated YKL-40 expression was accompanied by more severe clinical symptoms. We also confirmed similar findings in rabbit model of carotid atherosclerosis with CagA-positive helicobacter pylori infection. We found that in 7 rabbits treated with anti-helicobacter pylori therapy, the serum YKL-40 level decreased and the plaque became more stable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggested that increased serum YKL-40 level indicates plaque instability and more severe clinical symptoms of carotid atherosclerosis with CagA-positive helicobacter pylori infection. Compared with C-reaction protein, YKL-40 seems to be a more specific predictor of plaque status and outcome of carotid atherosclerosis with CagA-positive helicobacter pylori infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Yina
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Qingshuai
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Kangkang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhi
authors.forename: Lefeng
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qu
mesh_terms: D054392:Adipokines / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D000368:Aged; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000494:pharmacology; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D011817:Rabbits; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D015415:Biomarkers; C084533:CHI3L1 protein, human; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D037102:Lectins; C080866:cagA protein, Helicobacter pylori; D000658:Amoxicillin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D017291:Clarithromycin; D009853:Omeprazole