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Updated: May 26, 2026
Measurement of Chitinase Activity in Biological Samples
Published on: August 22, 2019
Chitinase 3-like 1 plasma levels are increased in patients with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis
E Cantó1, F Reverter, C Morcillo-Suárez
1Centre d'Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya, CEM-Cat, Unitat de Neuroimmunologia Clínica, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron (HUVH), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
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.
