Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Bronchial Thermoplasty: A Novel Therapeutic Approach to Severe Asthma
Published on: November 4, 2010
A genetic variation in CHI3L1 is associated with bronchial asthma
Jinlian Shao1,2, Xuexi Yang3, Dunqiang Ren4
1Department of ICU, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.
Background:
This study was aimed to investigate the associations among Chitinase 3-like 1 (CHI3L1) polymorphisms, asthma and plasma YKL-40 levels in Chinese population.
Material And Methods:
Four CHI3L1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped. The YKL-40 level in plasma and eosinophil percentage in peripheral blood were quantified.
Results:
A SNP (rs4950928) in the CHI3L1 promoter was associated with elevated plasma YKL-40 levels (p = .02), asthma (p = .042) and lung function (p = .029 to .002) in this Chinese population. Plasma YKL-40 levels were significantly elevated in patients with asthma compared to those in control subjects (p < .05). Plasma YKL-40 levels were significantly correlated with forced expiratory volume per cent (FEV1%) measurements (p < .05). Although plasma YKL-40 levels were decreased after treatment, the correlation with FEV1% still existed.
Conclusions:
CHI3L1 locus is a risk factor for asthma in Chinese population.
Related Concept Videos
Genetic Variation
Genes exist in different versions called alleles,...
What is Variation?
The range, standard deviation, standard error, and variance are the different measures of variation.
Range: The range is the difference between its maximum and...
Asthma-I: Introduction
Conservative Site-specific Recombination and Phase Variation
The recognition sites for Cre recombinase called LoxP...
The Bronchial Tree
The trachea, commonly known as the windpipe, is a tube that connects the larynx (voice box) to the bronchi. At a point called the carina, it bifurcates into two primary bronchi. The right primary bronchus is wider, shorter, and more vertical than the left primary...
What is Population Genetics?

