Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 18, 2026
High Throughput Sequential ELISA for Validation of Biomarkers of Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease
Published on: October 31, 2012
Glycoprotein YKL-40: a novel biomarker of chronic graft-vs-host disease activity and severity?
Nadira Duraković1, Ivan Krečak, Zinaida Perić
1Nadira Duraković, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Dept of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, Kišpatićeva 12, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia, nadira@mef.hr.
Insights
YKL-40 levels are higher in patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) and correlate with disease severity. This suggests YKL-40 may be a useful biomarker for cGVHD activity.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Hematology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is a significant complication following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).
- Identifying reliable biomarkers for cGVHD activity and severity is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if elevated YKL-40 levels correlate with cGVHD activity and severity.
- To evaluate YKL-40 as a potential biomarker for cGVHD.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 56 HSCT patients (35 with cGVHD, 21 without).
- YKL-40 levels measured via ELISA in blood samples.
- Disease activity and severity assessed using established clinical scales (Clinician's Impression, NIH score).
Main Results:
- YKL-40 levels were significantly higher in patients with cGVHD compared to controls (P=0.003).
- YKL-40 levels showed a significant positive correlation with cGVHD severity (P<0.001) and activity (P=0.016).
Conclusions:
- YKL-40 may serve as a valuable biomarker for assessing cGVHD severity and activity.
- Further validation in larger patient cohorts and longitudinal studies are recommended.
Aim:
To investigate whether increased YKL-40 levels positively correlate with graft-vs-host disease (cGVHD) activity and severity and if YKL-40 could serve as a disease biomarker.
Methods:
This case-control study was conducted at the University Hospital Centre Zagreb from July 2013 to October 2015. 56 patients treated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) were included: 35 patients with cGVHD and 21 without cGVHD. There was no difference between groups in age, sex, median time from transplant to study enrollment, intensity of conditioning, type of donor, or source of stem cells. Blood samples were collected at study enrollment and YKL-40 levels were measured with ELISA. Disease activity was estimated using Clinician's Impression of Activity and Intensity of Immunosuppression scales and disease severity using Global National Institutes of Health (NIH) score.
Results:
YKL-40 levels were significantly higher in cGVHD patients than in controls (P=0.003). The difference remained significant when patients with myelofibrosis were excluded from the analysis (P=0.017). YKL-40 level significantly positively correlated with disease severity (P<0.001; correlation coefficient 0.455), and activity estimated using Clinician's Impression of Activity (P=0.016; correlation coefficient 0.412) but not using Intensity of Immunosuppression (P=0.085; correlation coefficient 0.296).
Conclusion:
YKL-40 could be considered a biomarker of cGVHD severity and activity. However, validation in a larger group of patients is warranted, as well as longitudinal testing of YKL-40 levels in patients at risk of developing cGVHD.
More Related Videos
06:06Induction and Scoring of Graft-Versus-Host Disease in a Xenogeneic Murine Model and Quantification of Human T Cells in Mouse Tissues using Digital PCR
Published on: May 23, 2019
08:05Bone Marrow Transplantation Platform to Investigate the Role of Dendritic Cells in Graft-versus-Host Disease
Published on: March 17, 2020