The Role of Peripheral and Tissue Chitinase 3-like 1 Protein (YKL 40) Levels as a Bio-marker for Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease

The digestive system may be involved in various pathologic conditions, with different inflammatory, metaplastic and neoplastic aspects. As the therapeutic tool-box for digestive diseases grows and becomes more focused, at times targeting specific molecules, decision making in managing patients becomes more and more important, and must be evidence based.

Defining biomarkers with predictive value will theoretically allow physicians in making diagnosis, deciding on a suitable first line therapy (with specific endpoints suggesting response or indicating 2nd line therapy is indicated) and finally may suggest surgical intervention is warranted, thus forming an "individually tailored treatment" for each patient. These biomarkers may be located in the peripheral blood, in the gastrointestinal tract in general, or confined to specific intestinal lesions.

Chitinase 3-like 1 protein (YKL-40) is produced by different tissues (e.g. - synovium, smooth muscle, intestinal epithelium). Its specific action is unknown, but several reports have described it in different inflammatory conditions including those involving the gastrointestinal system. Chitinase 3 like-1 protein (YKL-40) has also been studied for its possible role in angio and onco-genesis.

This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of peripheral and tissue Chitinase 3-like-1 (YKL 40) levels in gastrointestinal and liver diseases.