Chitinase 3-like 1 plasma levels are increased in patients with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis

Cantó, E. et al.[Background] Chitinase 3-like 1 (CHI3L1) is upregulated in a wide variety of inflammatory conditions. Recent studies have pointed to a role of CHI3L1 in multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis.[Objective] The objective of this study was to investigate the role of plasma CHI3L1 in MS clinical course and disease activity and to evaluate the effect of interferon-beta (IFNβ) treatment on protein levels.[Methods] Plasma CHI3L1 levels were determined by ELISA in 57 healthy controls (HC), 220 untreated MS patients [66 primary progressive MS patients (PPMS), 30 secondary progressive MS patients (SPMS), and 124 relapsing-remitting MS patients (RRMS), 94 during clinical remission and 30 during relapse], and 32 MS patients receiving IFNβ treatment. A polymorphism of the CHI3L1 gene, rs4950928, was genotyped in 3274 MS patients and 3483 HC.[Results] Plasma CHI3L1 levels were significantly increased in patients with progressive forms of MS compared with RRMS patients and HC. CHI3L1 levels were similar between RRMS patients in relapse and remission. A trend towards decreased CHI3L1 levels was observed in IFNβ-treated patients. Allele C of rs4950928 was significantly associated with PPMS patients and with higher plasma CHI3L1 levels.[Conclusions] These findings point to a role of CHI3L1 in patients with progressive forms of MS, particularly in those with PPMS. © The Author(s) 2012.This work was supported by grants from the ‘Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria’ (FIS; grant numbers PI09/00788 and CP10/00526), Ministry of Science and Innovation, Spain. EC is supported by a contract from the FIS (contract number FI 09/00705), Ministry of Science and Innovation, Spain. The authors thank the ‘Red Española de Esclerosis Múltiple (REEM)’ sponsored by the ‘Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria’ (FIS), Ministry of Science and Innovation, Spain, and the ‘Ajuts per donar Suport als Grups de Recerca de Catalunya’ (SGR 2005-1081), sponsored by the ‘Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca’ (AGAUR), Generalitat de Catalunya, Spain.Peer Reviewe