Berres ML, Papen S, Pauels K, Schmitz P, Zaldivar MM, Hellerbrand C, Mueller T, Berg T, Weiskirchen R, Trautwein C, Wasmuth HE. A functional variation in CHI3L1 is associated with severity of liver fibrosis and YKL-40 serum levels in chronic hepatitis C infection.
J Hepatol 2009;
50:370-6. [PMID:
19070929 DOI:
10.1016/j.jhep.2008.09.016]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2008] [Revised: 09/02/2008] [Accepted: 09/16/2008] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS
YKL-40 is a chitinase-like protein involved in matrix remodelling and a non-invasive fibrosis marker. We assessed whether a functional promoter polymorphism in CHI3L1, encoding YKL-40, is associated with HCV-induced liver fibrosis and influences YKL-40 serum concentrations.
METHODS
The CHI3L1 -131G-->C promoter polymorphism was genotyped in two cohorts of HCV infected patients (n=440) by 5'-endonuclease assays. Histological fibrosis scores and YKL-40 serum levels (ELISA) were associated with CHI3L1 -131G-->C by quantitative and qualitative genetic analyses and corrected by multivariate analysis.
RESULTS
CHI3L1 -131G-->C genotype was strongly associated with the stage of liver fibrosis in the screening (n=265, P=0.001) and validation cohort (n=175, P=0.009). Homozygous carriers of the G allele were protected from severe fibrosis (F3/F4). This association was confirmed after correction for age and gender. Functionally, the G allele was associated with reduced serum levels of YKL-40 in HCV infected patients (P=0.002).
CONCLUSIONS
The CHI3L1 promoter polymorphism -131G-->C determines YKL-40 serum levels and is associated with the severity of HCV-induced liver fibrosis. These results suggest a functional role of YKL-40 in liver fibrogenesis and should be taken into account when using YKL-40 as a non-invasive fibrosis marker.
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