title: Correlation between serum YKL-40 (chitinase-3-like protein 1) level and proteinuria in renal transplant recipients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  YKL-40 (chitinase-3-like protein 1) is a novel inflammation and endothelial dysfunction biomarker. Although YKL-40 is associated with albuminuria and predicts cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in a non-uremic population, it's status is not known in renal transplant recipients. The aim of this study was to investigate plausible links between serum YKL-40 and proteinuria.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 110 renal transplant recipients were included in this study. The level of proteinuria was calculated from spot urine using the protein/creatinine ratio. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was calculated using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula. Serum YKL-40 was determined by ELISA (R&D Systems, USA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean patient age was 40.5 ± 10 years. The mean YKL-40, GFR, and proteinuria levels were 66 ± 46 ng/ml, 49 ± 24 ml/min/1.73 m2, and 0.77 ± 1.15 g/day, respectively. Increases in the YKL-40 tertiles were correlated with increases in proteinuria and C-reactive protein and decreases in the GFR and serum albumin. An adjusted linear regression analysis demonstrated that the YKL-40 level (t=3.28, P=0.001), GFR (t=-3.00, P=0.003), and systolic blood pressure (t=2.51, P=0.01) were independently associated with proteinuria.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study to show that increased serum YKL-40 levels are independently associated with proteinuria in renal transplant recipients. YKL-40 may be responsible for the pathogenesis of cardiovascular injury in this patient population.
authors.affiliation: Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital, Division of Nephrology, Izmir, Turkey. etatar@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Erhan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tatar
authors.forename: Ozkan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gungor
authors.forename: Aygul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Celtik
authors.forename: Ali Rıza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Sisman
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yaprak
authors.forename: Gulay
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Asci
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozkahya
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Toz
mesh_terms: D054392:Adipokines / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D037102:Lectins / Q000097:blood*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D015415:Biomarkers; C084533:CHI3L1 protein, human; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D037102:Lectins; D002097:C-Reactive Protein