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Updated: Sep 5, 2025
Measurement of Chitinase Activity in Biological Samples
Published on: August 22, 2019
Evaluation of Circulating Chitotriosidase Activity in Children with Obesity
Ioana Țaranu1,2, Mihaela Iancu1, Cecilia Lazea2,3
1Department of Medical Informatics and Biostatistics, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Louis Pasteur Str., No. 6, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Insights
Chitotriosidase (CHIT1) plasma activity is higher in children with extreme obesity, indicating it may reflect immune responses. Specific CHIT1 gene variants also influence this activity in pediatric obesity.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Immunology
- Metabolic Health
Background:
- Childhood obesity is linked to low-grade inflammation and metabolic disturbances.
- Identifying biomarkers for immune response activity is crucial for understanding obesity pathogenesis.
- Chitotriosidase (CHIT1) is an enzyme involved in immune responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate changes in plasma chitotriosidase (CHIT1) activity in relation to Body Mass Index (BMI)-for-age z-scores in pediatric patients.
- To examine the influence of common CHIT1 gene variants (dup24 and G102S) on the association between CHIT1 activity and obesity levels.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated 68 children (mean age ~12 years) with varying BMI-for-age z-scores.
- Measured plasma chitotriosidase (CHIT1) activity.
- Assessed the impact of CHIT1 gene variants (dup24, G102S) on CHIT1 activity and obesity correlation.
- Utilized statistical analysis to control for age, gender, and time since weight gain.
Main Results:
- Significantly higher logCHIT1 plasma activity was observed in children with extreme obesity compared to those with overweight (p=0.026).
- BMI-for-age z-score significantly predicted increased CHIT1 activity in overweight, obese, and extremely obese children (p=0.031).
- CHIT1 gene variants, dup24 and G102S, were significant independent predictors of CHIT1 plasma activity changes (p<0.002).
Conclusions:
- Circulating chitotriosidase (CHIT1) may serve as an accurate indicator of inflammation in pediatric obesity.
- Further validation in larger cohorts is needed to confirm the role of CHIT1 and its variants in pediatric obesity-related inflammation.
Abstract:
Childhood obesity progresses to metabolic disturbances via low-grade inflammation. Identifying novel molecules that reflect the activity of the immune responses is critical in understanding its underlying pathogenesis. Our exploratory study aimed to evaluate the change of chitotriosidase (CHIT1) plasma activity according to Body Mass Index (BMI)-for-age z score in pediatric patients. The study evaluated 68 children consisting of 47.1% girls with a mean age of 12.47 ± 3.71 years and 52.9% boys with a mean age of 11.93 ± 3.18 years. The effect of the most frequent CHIT1 gene variants, the 24 base pair duplication (dup24) and G102S polymorphism, upon the association between circulating CHIT1 activity and the obesity level, was also investigated. A significantly higher logCHIT1 plasma activity was found in children with extreme obesity than in children with overweight (p = 0.048 for the uncorrected CHIT1 and 0.026 for the corrected CHIT1). The BMI-for-age z score significantly (p = 0.031) predicts increased CHIT1 activity in children with overweight, obesity, and extreme obesity after controlling for the two gene variants, age, gender, and time since weight gain. Dup24 and G102S polymorphism were significant independent predictors (p-values < 0.002) for the change of CHIT1 plasma activity. Circulating CHIT1 might be an accurate indicator of inflammation in children with obesity. Its role and the effect of the dup24 and G102S variants on the CHIT1 activity should be validated in a larger cohort.
