title: Serum YKL-40 levels and chitotriosidase activity in patients with beta-thalassemia major.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  YKL-40 association with human disease has been the object of many years of investigation. β-thalassemia patients are affected by hepatic siderosis, which determines a fibrotic process and tissue remodelling. Chitotriosidase has been found to be increased in thalassemic patients returning to normal in patients submitted to bone marrow transplantation. YKL-40 is associated with macrophage activation in liver and in other tissues. The aim of the study was to analyse the level of serum YKL-40 and plasma chitotriosidase activity of patients with beta-thalassemia to assess whether their expression correlates with liver disease and degree of liver siderosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Expression of YKL-40 and chitotriosidase as a marker of inflammation in 69 thalassemic patients were evaluated. We sought to investigate whether these two chitinases could be considered as a significant biomarker to evaluate therapy effectiveness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Surprisingly we found normal value of YKL-40. We, also, analysed chitotriosidase activity in the same patients that was slightly increased as a consequence of macrophage activation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data would suggest a good treatment for these patients.
authors.affiliation: Center for Integrated Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Microbiology, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Musumeci
authors.affiliation: Center of Microcitemia, 95123 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.affiliation: Center of Microcitemia, 95123 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Medulla
authors.affiliation: IRMA, Acireale, 95024 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Venerando
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Torrisi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Cancer, Parturition Research Group, Institute of Reproduction and Developmental Biology, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Migale
authors.affiliation: Center for Integrated Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Microbiology, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7393-8732
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Angeletti
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Catania and Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, CNR, 95125 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Musumeci
mesh_terms: D054392:Adipokines / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006596:Hexosaminidases / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D037102:Lectins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D015415:Biomarkers; C084533:CHI3L1 protein, human; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents; D037102:Lectins; D005293:Ferritins; D006596:Hexosaminidases; C086400:chitotriosidase