Role of chitinase-3-like protein 1 in liver diseases: A comprehensive review

Chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1) is part of the glycoside hydrolase family 18. Despite lacking enzymatic activity, its unique structure allows it to bind to ligands, altering its steric configuration to mediate cell proliferation, inflammation, fibrosis, and carcinogenesis. In liver disease, CHI3...

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Main Authors: Chao Tian, Shizhou Deng, Ming Yang, Baochen Bai, Lai Wei
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2025-11-01
Series:Genes and Diseases
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352304225001424
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author Chao Tian
Shizhou Deng
Ming Yang
Baochen Bai
Lai Wei
author_facet Chao Tian
Shizhou Deng
Ming Yang
Baochen Bai
Lai Wei
author_sort Chao Tian
collection DOAJ
description Chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1) is part of the glycoside hydrolase family 18. Despite lacking enzymatic activity, its unique structure allows it to bind to ligands, altering its steric configuration to mediate cell proliferation, inflammation, fibrosis, and carcinogenesis. In liver disease, CHI3L1 serves as a common diagnostic biomarker for hepatitis-related fibrosis. Additionally, CHI3L1 can predict the risk of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, the progression of hepatic fibrosis, and the prognosis of alcoholic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. It also aids in diagnosing and staging non-alcoholic fatty liver disease-related and alcoholic liver disease-related fibrosis, and in monitoring hepatitis-related fibrosis treatment. Furthermore, CHI3L1 is secreted by various cells, including hepatocytes, hepatic stellate cells, macrophages, and mesenchymal stem cells, to regulate hepatic injury, fibrosis, steatosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma through different signaling pathways. This review highlights CHI3L1's dual roles as both a biomarker and regulator in various liver diseases, aiming to broaden researchers' understanding of its potential applications.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2352-3042
language English
publishDate 2025-11-01
publisher KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
record_format Article
series Genes and Diseases
spelling doaj-art-ae2effc620ce4fc2ac84cfdb3d0d74e62025-08-24T05:13:14ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Genes and Diseases2352-30422025-11-0112610165310.1016/j.gendis.2025.101653Role of chitinase-3-like protein 1 in liver diseases: A comprehensive reviewChao Tian0Shizhou Deng1Ming Yang2Baochen Bai3Lai Wei4Hepatopancreatobiliary Center, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua Medicine of Tsinghua University, Beijing 102218, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Digital Intelligence Hepatology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, ChinaHepatopancreatobiliary Center, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua Medicine of Tsinghua University, Beijing 102218, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Digital Intelligence Hepatology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Research and Development Department, Guangdong Longsee Biomedical Corporation, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510700, ChinaHepatopancreatobiliary Center, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua Medicine of Tsinghua University, Beijing 102218, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Digital Intelligence Hepatology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, ChinaDepartment of Cardiology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing 100044, ChinaHepatopancreatobiliary Center, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua Medicine of Tsinghua University, Beijing 102218, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Digital Intelligence Hepatology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Corresponding author. Hepatopancreatobiliary Center, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Digital Intelligence Hepatology, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 102218, China.Chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1) is part of the glycoside hydrolase family 18. Despite lacking enzymatic activity, its unique structure allows it to bind to ligands, altering its steric configuration to mediate cell proliferation, inflammation, fibrosis, and carcinogenesis. In liver disease, CHI3L1 serves as a common diagnostic biomarker for hepatitis-related fibrosis. Additionally, CHI3L1 can predict the risk of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, the progression of hepatic fibrosis, and the prognosis of alcoholic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. It also aids in diagnosing and staging non-alcoholic fatty liver disease-related and alcoholic liver disease-related fibrosis, and in monitoring hepatitis-related fibrosis treatment. Furthermore, CHI3L1 is secreted by various cells, including hepatocytes, hepatic stellate cells, macrophages, and mesenchymal stem cells, to regulate hepatic injury, fibrosis, steatosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma through different signaling pathways. This review highlights CHI3L1's dual roles as both a biomarker and regulator in various liver diseases, aiming to broaden researchers' understanding of its potential applications.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352304225001424Chitinase-3-like protein 1Hepatic fibrosisHepatocellular carcinomaLiver disease biomarkerNon-alcoholic steatohepatitisSignaling pathways
spellingShingle Chao Tian
Shizhou Deng
Ming Yang
Baochen Bai
Lai Wei
Role of chitinase-3-like protein 1 in liver diseases: A comprehensive review
Genes and Diseases
Chitinase-3-like protein 1
Hepatic fibrosis
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Liver disease biomarker
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
Signaling pathways
title Role of chitinase-3-like protein 1 in liver diseases: A comprehensive review
title_full Role of chitinase-3-like protein 1 in liver diseases: A comprehensive review
title_fullStr Role of chitinase-3-like protein 1 in liver diseases: A comprehensive review
title_full_unstemmed Role of chitinase-3-like protein 1 in liver diseases: A comprehensive review
title_short Role of chitinase-3-like protein 1 in liver diseases: A comprehensive review
title_sort role of chitinase 3 like protein 1 in liver diseases a comprehensive review
topic Chitinase-3-like protein 1
Hepatic fibrosis
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Liver disease biomarker
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
Signaling pathways
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352304225001424
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AT mingyang roleofchitinase3likeprotein1inliverdiseasesacomprehensivereview
AT baochenbai roleofchitinase3likeprotein1inliverdiseasesacomprehensivereview
AT laiwei roleofchitinase3likeprotein1inliverdiseasesacomprehensivereview