Search Results (101)

Despite the availability of conventional serum markers for colorectal cancer (CEA, CA 19-9), there remains a need for more sensitive and specific biomarkers, particularly for early-stage detection. This study evaluated the diagnostic usefulness of serum Relaxin-2 (RLN2) and Chitinase-3-like protein 1 (YKL-40) as potential adjunct markers in patients with CRC. Serum concentrations of all the proteins were measured using a multiplexing assay and CMIA and were subsequently compared using non-parametric statistical tests. The concentrations of YKL-40, CEA, and CA 19-9 were elevated in CRC patients relative to controls (p < 0.05), but not so for RLN2. The concentrations of YKL-40 were also significantly elevated in patients undergoing chemotherapy or preoperative radiotherapy referral. Kruskal–Wallis and post-hoc testing found that YKL-40 and CEA were associated with tumor progression, but RLN2 and CA 19-9 were increased primarily in advanced, metastatic disease. No statistically significant differences in marker levels were observed between cancer subtypes or between histologic grades. Performance analysis for diagnostic purposes showed YKL-40 was moderately sensitive (65%) but very specific (77.5%), and its AUC was 0.702, higher than CA 19-9 (AUC = 0.632) but lower than CEA (AUC = 0.869) (all p < 0.05). RLN2 did not reach statistical significance (AUC = 0.593, p = 0.09). Correlation analysis demonstrated the best correlation with disease stage for CEA and weaker positive correlations for YKL-40, CA 19-9, and RLN2. These findings suggest that YKL-40 may serve as a useful adjunct serum biomarker for CRC diagnosis, especially when combined with conventional markers such as CEA. Full article

Ischemic stroke (IS) is a leading cause of mortality worldwide, responsible for approximately 55% of all neurological disabilities. Proper brain function requires continuous energy supply, primarily generated by mitochondria. Cerebral ischemia impairs the functioning of mitochondrial electron transport chain, reducing adenosine triphosphate production and increasing reactive oxygen species. Inflammation also plays a critical role throughout all stroke phases. YKL-40, a pro-inflammatory glycoprotein, serves as a biomarker of macrophage and microglial activation, while YKL-39 regulates autoimmunity, tissue remodeling, and exhibits monocyte chemotactic and pro-angiogenic activity. This study aims to investigate mitochondrial bioenergetics, oxidative stress, and inflammation in IS patients before and after thrombolysis. Bioenergetic parameters were assessed using Mito Stress Test on an Agilent Seahorse analyzer, and YKL-39, YKL-40 and 4-HNE plasma levels via ELISA. Pre-thrombolytic IS patients demonstrated significantly reduced basal respiration and spare respiratory capacity, along with lower plasma YKL-40 levels. In contrast, they exhibited higher plasma YKL-39 concentrations and increased oxidative stress marker 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal compared to post-thrombolytic patients. These findings highlight novel associations between mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and inflammation in IS, and suggest that parameters reflecting these processes may serve as potential biomarkers for evaluating disease severity and predicting outcomes. Full article

YKL-40 is a glycoprotein that may be present at elevated levels in many cancers and neurodegenerative diseases. It has been investigated in numerous studies as a potential biomarker for several conditions, including Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). In this study, a biosensor with Surface Plasmon Resonance imaging (SPRi) detection, sensitive to YKL-40, was constructed for the detection of this analyte in the blood plasma of AD patients. Extensive validation of the biosensor was performed. This included the determination of analytical parameters such as the biosensor’s response characteristics, detection and quantification limits, precision, accuracy, repeatability, selectivity, stability, and performance in natural samples. Validation parameters were primarily tested using standard solutions, while natural samples were employed to evaluate repeatability, stability, and assay accuracy in three groups of samples from different patients. A YKL-40-specific antibody was used as the receptor layer, immobilized on a gold plate using the EDC/NHS protocol on thiol 11-MUA. The biosensor exhibited a wide operating range (1–200 ng/mL), a low detection limit (LOD) of 2 pg/mL, and a quantification limit (LOQ) of 7 pg/mL. High precision and accuracy were confirmed by the calculated standard deviations (SD) and coefficients of variation (CV), which ranged from 0.0009 to 7.02 ng/mL and from 0.12% to 9.24%, respectively. The sensor also demonstrated good repeatability (CV = 4.995%) and was capable of detecting the analyte of interest in complex biological matrices. Its applicability was confirmed in a study using plasma from AD patients and two selected control groups: plasma from smokers and patients with prostatitis. This allowed the assessment of YKL-40 levels across different groups. The results were consistent with literature values, and statistical analysis confirmed the significance of concentration differences between groups. Furthermore, ROC curve analysis confirmed the diagnostic usefulness of the constructed YKL-40 test in the context of Alzheimer’s disease. Full article

YKL-40, an obesity-related inflammatory biomarker, has inconsistently been associated with insulin resistance, and its relationship with metabolic syndrome is not well established. This study investigated the associations of YKL-40 levels with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome independently of obesity. We analyzed data from 4303 participants without diabetes in the Taiwan Biobank. Insulin resistance was defined by the highest quartile of triglyceride-glucose body mass index (TyG-BMI). Metabolic syndrome was defined per AHA/NLHBI criteria. Both univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated significant correlations between YKL-40 levels and TyG-BMI. Participants with higher YKL-40 quartiles exhibited increased odds of TyG-BMI-estimated insulin resistance even after adjusting for established predictors of TyG-BMI, including waist circumference. Similarly, higher YKL-40 quartiles significantly correlated with increased metabolic syndrome prevalence, and this relationship persisted after stratifying participants by weight status (normal weight vs. overweight/obese). Interaction analysis indicated that overweight/obesity individuals consistently had higher metabolic syndrome prevalence than normal-weight counterparts within identical YKL-40 quartiles, though the impact of overweight/obese diminished across rising YKL-40 quartiles (p for interaction = 0.008). Increased YKL-40 levels are significantly associated with TyG-BMI-estimated insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, independent of obesity. There is a significant interaction between overweight/obese and YKL-40 levels in determining metabolic syndrome prevalence. Full article

Background: Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is closely linked to low back pain (LBP), a leading cause of disability worldwide. IVDD is characterized by the loss of proteoglycans (PGs), extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation, and reduced hydration of the nucleus pulposus (NP). Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) exhibit tissue repair and immunomodulatory effects and are emerging as promising cell-free therapeutics. Methods: We established a rat IVDD model via fluoroscopy-guided needle puncture of three consecutive coccygeal discs and confirmed degeneration through Alcian Blue and hematoxylin & eosin (H&E) staining. The gene expression of inflammatory and pain markers (ADRβ2, COMP, CXCL1, COX2, PPTA, MMP13, YKL40) was measured by qPCR. Subsequently, we implanted hUC-MSCs or EVs to evaluate their reparative potential. Results: Upregulation of inflammatory and pain genes in IVDD was associated with an immunomodulatory response. Tracking DiI-labelled hUC-MSCs and EVs revealed enhanced survival of hUC-MSCs, retention of EVs, and dispersion within rat tail discs; EVs showed greater retention than hUC-MSCs. Implanted EVs were internalized by NP cells and remained within degenerative IVDs. EVs passively diffused, accumulated at the injury site, interacted with host cells, and enhanced function, as shown by increased expression of human chondrocyte-related markers (SOX9, TGFβ1, TGFβ2, COL2) compared to hUC-MSC treatment. Histological analysis of two weeks post-transplantation showed NP cellular patterns resembling chondromas in treated discs. EVs integrated into and distributed within degenerated NP regions, with greater glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content. Conclusions: Overall, hUC-MSC EVs demonstrated superior regenerative capacity, supporting a safe, cell-free strategy for disc repair. Full article

Background and Objectives: The objectives of this review were as follows: to measure changes in renal biomarker levels before, immediately after, and 24 h post-marathon; to identify promising biomarkers for the diagnosis of acute kidney injury; and to describe the temporal patterns of biomarker dynamics in relation to the marathon. Materials and Methods: Studies of marathon runners reporting AKI-related biomarkers were included. Four databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and LILACS) were searched. Data on study design, participant characteristics, and biomarker values (pre-, post-, and 24 h post-race) were extracted, and a random effects meta-analysis was performed. Risk of bias was assessed with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute pre–post tool. Results: The study showed significant increases in most biomarkers immediately after the marathon compared to baseline values. The largest increases were observed in Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases-2* Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein-7 (TIMP-2*IGFBP), copeptin, urinary Liver-type Fatty Acid Binding Protein (L-FABP), urinary Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1), IGFBP-7, urinary Chitinase 3-like Protein 1 (YKL-40), and TIMP-2, suggesting that these biomarkers are promising candidates for future research. Several patterns of biomarker evolution were observed: some increased without decreasing even at 24 h after the marathon; others increased post-marathon and decreased at 24 h while remaining above baseline; some increased after the marathon and then fell below baseline at 24 h. Conclusions: Marathon running causes significant increases in kidney injury biomarkers, with different patterns of evolution. Full article

Virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a major global health burden despite effective antiviral therapies. Chronic infection with hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and hepatitis D (HDV) promotes malignant transformation through overlapping pathways of fibrosis, immune dysregulation, and microenvironmental remodeling. YKL-40, a glycoprotein secreted by hepatic stellate cells, hepatocytes under stress, macrophages, and endothelial cells, has emerged as a marker that reflects stromal activation rather than direct hepatocyte injury. Its expression is reinforced by profibrotic and angiogenic circuits, and circulating concentrations correlate with advanced fibrosis, residual risk after viral suppression, and oncologic outcomes. This review synthesizes current evidence on YKL-40 across HBV, HCV, and HDV cohorts, with emphasis on its role in bridging molecular mechanisms to clinical applications. We examine its utility in non-invasive fibrosis assessment, longitudinal monitoring after antiviral therapy, and prognostic modeling in HCC. Particular attention is given to its potential in the liver transplant pathway, where YKL-40 may refine eligibility beyond morphology, inform bridging therapy response, and predict post-transplant recurrence or graft fibrosis. Remaining challenges include its lack of disease specificity, assay variability, and limited multicenter validation. Future integration of YKL-40 into multimarker, algorithm-based frameworks could enable risk-adaptive strategies that align surveillance and transplant decisions with the evolving biology of virus-associated liver disease. Full article

YKL-40 is a chitinase-like glycoprotein implicated in various pathological processes, yet its glycosaminoglycan (GAG) binding profile beyond heparin has not been examined. In this study, we performed a Microscale Thermophoresis (MST) analysis on the heparin-binding glycoprotein YKL-40 using low molecular weight GAG oligosaccharides. We identified two new GAG ligands, dermatan sulfate (DS) and hyaluronan (HA), while chondroitin sulfate (CS) showed no detectable binding affinity. The results show that heparin is bound with the strongest affinity, followed by DS and HA. To further investigate these differences, molecular docking was used to evaluate possible binding modes. Molecular docking results indicated that both heparin and DS interacted with the same site on YKL-40, the heparin-binding site at residues 143–149, suggesting a multifunctional binding region that may act as a competitive switch or integration hub for spatially regulated signaling. Together, these findings expand the known ligand profile of YKL-40 and offer new insights into its ECM-context-dependent roles, with implications for targeting YKL-40 in diseases involving chronic inflammation, fibrosis, and cancer progression. Full article

Previously, we defined CHI3L1 and PI3 as genes related with asthma and severity by analysis of differential gene expression. In this study, we investigated the role of DNA methylation in their regulation, and their relationship with protein levels and clinical parameters. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and sera were collected from healthy controls (HCs), nonallergic asthmatic (NA), and allergic asthmatic (AA) patients. RNA and DNA were extracted from PBMCs using the trizol method. Gene expression was assessed by qRT-PCR, and DNA methylation of CpG sites near the promoters was analyzed using sodium bisulfite treatment followed by PCR amplification. DNA methylation analysis was performed using the Sequenom EpiTYPER platform. Protein levels were quantified by ELISA, and statistical analyses were carried out using GraphPad software. Consistent with previous findings, CHI3L1 and PI3 gene expression were significantly lower in asthmatic patients compared to controls. Conversely, CHI3L1 protein levels were higher in both patient groups, while PI3 protein showed no significant changes. DNA methylation analysis revealed higher overall DNA methylation percentages in NA and AA patients for both genes compared to HCs. Despite this, no significant correlations were observed between DNA methylation and gene or protein expression, although some correlations were observed with clinical parameters. In conclusion, CHI3L1 and PI3 represent potential asthma biomarkers, whose regulation may be partially influenced by DNA methylation, a mechanism more pronounced in asthmatic patients than in healthy subjects. Full article

Background: Pulmonary fibrosis (PF), the end-stage manifestation of interstitial lung disease, is defined by excessive extracellular matrix deposition and alveolar destruction. Activated fibroblasts, the primary matrix producers, rely heavily on dysregulated glucose metabolism for their activation. While Salt Inducible Kinase 2 (SIK2) regulates glycolytic pathways in oncogenesis, its specific contributions to fibroblast activation and therapeutic potential in PF pathogenesis remain undefined. This study elucidates the functional role of SIK2 in PF and assesses its viability as a therapeutic target. Methods: SIK2 expression/localization in fibrosis was assessed by Western blot and immunofluorescence. Fibroblast-specific Sik2 KO mice evaluated effects on bleomycin-induced fibrosis. SIK2’s role in fibroblast activation and glucose metabolism impact (enzyme expression, metabolism assays, metabolites) were tested. SIK2 inhibitors were screened and evaluated therapeutically in fibrosis models. Results: It demonstrated significant SIK2 upregulation, specifically within activated fibroblasts of fibrotic lungs from both PF patients and murine models. Functional assays demonstrated that SIK2 is crucial for fibroblast activation, proliferation, and migration. Mechanistically, SIK2 enhances fibroblast glucose metabolism by increasing the expression of glycolysis-related enzymes. Additionally, this study demonstrated that the SIK2 inhibitor YKL06-061 effectively inhibited PF in both bleomycin and FITC-induced PF mouse models with the preliminary safety profile. Furthermore, we identified a novel therapeutic application for the clinically approved drug fostamatinib, demonstrating it inhibits fibroblast activation via SIK2 targeting and alleviates PF in mice. Conclusions: Our findings highlight SIK2 as a promising therapeutic target and provide compelling preclinical evidence for two distinct anti-fibrotic strategies with significant potential for future PF treatment. Full article

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder and represents a major public health challenge. With increasing life expectancy, the incidence of AD has also increased, highlighting the need for early diagnosis and improved monitoring. Traditionally, diagnosis has relied on clinical symptoms and neuroimaging; however, the introduction of biomarkers has revolutionized disease assessment. Traditional biomarkers, including the Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio, phosphorylated tau (p-Tau181, p-Tau217, and p-Tau231), total tau (t-tau), and neurofilament light chain (NfL), are fundamental for staging AD progression. Updated guidelines introduced the ATX(N) model, which extends biomarker classification to include additional promising biomarkers, such as SNAP-25, YKL-40, GAP-43, VILIP-1, progranulin (PGRN), TREM2, IGF-1, hFABP, MCP-1, TDP-43, and BDNF. Recent advancements have allowed for the detection of these biomarkers not only in CSF but also in plasma and neuron-derived exosomes, offering less invasive and more accessible diagnostic options. This review explores established and emerging biomarkers and emphasizes their roles in early diagnosis, patient stratification, and precision medicine. Full article

Among the molecules implicated in inflammation-associated tumorigenesis, Chitinase 3-like 1 (CHI3L1/YKL-40/Brp-39) has emerged as a particularly compelling target due to its multifaced roles in immune regulation, tissue remodeling, and cancer progression. Elevated CHI3L1 expression is observed in various human cancers and corresponding animal models. CHI3L1 directly promotes tumor cell proliferation and angiogenesis and also contributes to immune evasion by establishing an immunosuppressive environment in inflamed tissues. Mechanistically, CHI3L1 exerts its effects through the modulation of STAT3, MAPK, and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways and by interacting with cell surface receptors, such as IL-13Rα2 and RAGE. Studies using transgenic and knockout mouse models have revealed a strong association between CHI3L1 expression and cancer progression. In models of colon and lung cancer, CHI3L1 overexpression correlates with increased tumor size and number, whereas CHI3L1 deficiency markedly suppresses tumor formation. However, its involvement appears to be context-dependent and varies among different epithelial tumor types. These findings suggest that CHI3L1 is a potential therapeutic target and diagnostic biomarker for inflammation-associated cancers. Animal studies provide valuable insights into the immunological mechanisms of CHI3L1-mediated tumorigenesis but also highlight the need for cautious interpretation due to inherent technical limitations. Full article

The aim of our study was to evaluate the discriminative value of gene and protein expression levels of the inflammatory marker (YKL-40) and lysosome-associated membrane protein 1 and 2 (LAMP-1 and LAMP-2) in patients with central nervous system (CNS) infections. Thirty hospitalized patients with CNS infections and undefined etiology, and 22 healthy subjects as a control group, were included in the study. Gene expression levels of YKL-40, LAMP-1 and LAMP-2 were determined by qPCR. Plasma and CSF concentrations of the tree proteins of interest were detected by ELISA. Our results showed that mRNA levels of YKL-40 were significantly downregulated in WBCs of patients compared to controls, while plasma YKL-40 concentrations were higher. LAMP-1 significantly increased in patients’ plasma and CSF was found. Patients were subdivided depending on the confirmed or presumed etiological agent into two subgroups groups—patients with bacterial or with viral neuroinfection. Differences between plasma levels of YKL-40 in the subgroups when matched with controls were detected. The concentrations of the glycoprotein were higher in patients with bacterial infections compared to those with the viral ones. We revealed that LAMP-1 plasma levels were also significantly increased in patients with viral infections in comparison to healthy individuals. We could speculate that YKL-40 plasma levels might serve as a fast discriminative tool to support the presence of viral or bacterial CNS infections. Full article

Dysregulated immune activation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, including frontotemporal dementia (FTD). This study reviews immunological biomarkers associated with FTD and its subtypes. A systematic search of PubMed and Web of Science was conducted for studies published before 1 January 2025, focusing on immunological biomarkers in CSF or blood from FTD patients with comparisons to healthy or neurological controls. A total of 124 studies were included, involving 6686 FTD patients and 202 immune biomarkers. Key findings include elevated levels of GFAP and MCP1/CCL2 in both CSF and blood and consistently increased CHIT1 and YKL-40 in CSF. Complement proteins from the classical activation pathway emerged as promising targets. Distinct immune markers were found to differentiate FTD from Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), with GFAP, SPARC, and SPP1 varying between FTD and AD and IL-15, HERV-K, NOD2, and CHIT1 differing between FTD and ALS. A few markers, such as Galectin-3 and PGRN, distinguished FTD subtypes. Enrichment analysis highlighted IL-10 signaling and immune cell chemotaxis as potential pathways for further exploration. This study provides an overview of immunological biomarkers in FTD, emphasizing those most relevant for future research on immune dysregulation in FTD pathogenesis. Full article

Despite significant efforts, there is still an existing need to identify diagnostic tools that would enable fast and reliable detection of the progressive stage of multiple sclerosis (MS) and help in monitoring the disease course and/or treatment effects. The aim of this prospective study in a group of people with progressive MS was to determine whether changes in the levels of selected serum biomarkers and in cognitive function may predict disease progression, and therefore refine the decision-making process in the evaluation of MS patients. Forty two (42) patients with progressive MS completed all the study procedures; the mean duration of follow-up was 12.97 months. During the observation period, serum concentration of chitinase-3 like-protein-1 (CHI3L1/YKL-40) decreased significantly in the whole study group (from 4034.95 ± 262.62 to 2866.43 ± 173.37; p = 0.0005), as well as in subgroups of people with secondary progressive and primary progressive MS (SPMS: from 3693.81 ± 388.68 to 2542.76 ± 256.59; p = 0.0207; and PPMS: from 4376.09 ± 353.27 to 3190.09 ± 233.22; p = 0.0089, respectively). A significant worsening of Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS) scores was detected in the whole study group (from 1.18 ± 0.14 to 1.34 ± 0.15; p = 0.0331) as well as in the PPMS subgroup (from 1.04 ± 0.18 to 1.26 ± 0.20; p = 0.0216). No correlations between the analyzed molecular parameters or the results of neuropsychological tests and physical disability were observed. In conclusion, an emphasis should be placed on furthering the search for multimodal biomarkers of disease progression, especially in the PMS population, based on simultaneous analysis of several factors, such as blood biomarkers and cognitive profiles. Full article