Chitinase 3-like 1 is a profibrogenic factor overexpressed in the aging liver and in patients with liver cirrhosis.

ABSTRACT: Older age at the time of infection with hepatitis viruses is associated with an increased risk of liver fibrosis progression. We hypothesized that the pace of fibrosis progression may reflect changes in gene expression within the aging liver. We compared gene expression in liver specimens from 54 adult donors without evidence of fibrosis, including 36 over 40 y old and 18 between 18 and 40 y old. Chitinase 3-like 1 (CHI3L1), which encodes chitinase-like protein YKL-40/CHI3L1, was identified as the gene with the greatest age-dependent increase in expression in liver tissue. We investigated the cellular source of CHI3L1 in the liver and its function using liver tissue specimens and in vitro models. CHI3L1 expression was significantly higher in livers of patients with cir

SUBMITTER: Nishimura N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8092404 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature