Chitinase 3-like protein 1: a diagnostic biomarker for early liver fibrosis in autoimmune liver diseases

Background and AimsChitinase 3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1) is a marker of liver fibrosis produced mainly by hepatic macrophages. However, few studies have assessed the relationship between CHI3L1 and liver fibrosis in autoimmune liver diseases (AILDs). We aimed to explore the diagnostic value of CHI3L1...

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Main Authors: Shafei Liu, Conggao Peng, Shijia Xia, Chaonan Li, Xiahong Dai, Xingyu Liu, Meng Zhang, Xiaoping Li, Lingling Tang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1504066/full
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author Shafei Liu
Conggao Peng
Conggao Peng
Shijia Xia
Chaonan Li
Xiahong Dai
Xiahong Dai
Xingyu Liu
Meng Zhang
Xiaoping Li
Lingling Tang
Lingling Tang
author_facet Shafei Liu
Conggao Peng
Conggao Peng
Shijia Xia
Chaonan Li
Xiahong Dai
Xiahong Dai
Xingyu Liu
Meng Zhang
Xiaoping Li
Lingling Tang
Lingling Tang
author_sort Shafei Liu
collection DOAJ
description Background and AimsChitinase 3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1) is a marker of liver fibrosis produced mainly by hepatic macrophages. However, few studies have assessed the relationship between CHI3L1 and liver fibrosis in autoimmune liver diseases (AILDs). We aimed to explore the diagnostic value of CHI3L1 for liver fibrosis in AILDs and to compare its application differences between AILDs and chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.MethodsThe fibrotic group was defined as liver stiffness measurement (LSM) > 9.70kPa. Serum CHI3L1 levels were measured by ELISA in 78 AILDs patients, 65 chronic hepatitis B patients. The diagnostic accuracy was evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC).ResultsSerum CHI3L1 levels in AILDs patients were positively correlated with LSM (r=0.750, p <0.001). The AUROC for serum CHI3L1 in identifying significant liver fibrosis was 0.939 (95% CI: 0.891 - 0.988), which was higher than that of other non - invasive fibrosis scores (APRI, FIB - 4, GPR, AAR, NLP, and PLR). At the optimal cutoff value of 86.84 ng/mL, the sensitivity and specificity were 92.9% and 83.3%, respectively. Furthermore, in patients with no significant difference in LSM, serum CHI3L1 levels were higher in the autoimmune liver disease group than in the CHB group.ConclusionSerum CHI3L1 is an effective non-invasive indicator for assessing liver fibrosis in AILDs patients and may vary in different etiologies.
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spelling doaj-art-be4e36f47d36474e9ac5d1f0b25e7a332025-08-20T03:14:17ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-04-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.15040661504066Chitinase 3-like protein 1: a diagnostic biomarker for early liver fibrosis in autoimmune liver diseasesShafei Liu0Conggao Peng1Conggao Peng2Shijia Xia3Chaonan Li4Xiahong Dai5Xiahong Dai6Xingyu Liu7Meng Zhang8Xiaoping Li9Lingling Tang10Lingling Tang11School of Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Artificial Organs and Computational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Shulan(Hangzhou)Hospital, Hangzhou, ChinaShulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, ChinaSchool of Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, ChinaSchool of Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Artificial Organs and Computational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Shulan(Hangzhou)Hospital, Hangzhou, ChinaShulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, ChinaSchool of Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, ChinaKey Laboratory of Artificial Organs and Computational Medicine in Zhejiang Province, Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Artificial Organs and Computational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Shulan(Hangzhou)Hospital, Hangzhou, ChinaShulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, ChinaBackground and AimsChitinase 3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1) is a marker of liver fibrosis produced mainly by hepatic macrophages. However, few studies have assessed the relationship between CHI3L1 and liver fibrosis in autoimmune liver diseases (AILDs). We aimed to explore the diagnostic value of CHI3L1 for liver fibrosis in AILDs and to compare its application differences between AILDs and chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.MethodsThe fibrotic group was defined as liver stiffness measurement (LSM) > 9.70kPa. Serum CHI3L1 levels were measured by ELISA in 78 AILDs patients, 65 chronic hepatitis B patients. The diagnostic accuracy was evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC).ResultsSerum CHI3L1 levels in AILDs patients were positively correlated with LSM (r=0.750, p <0.001). The AUROC for serum CHI3L1 in identifying significant liver fibrosis was 0.939 (95% CI: 0.891 - 0.988), which was higher than that of other non - invasive fibrosis scores (APRI, FIB - 4, GPR, AAR, NLP, and PLR). At the optimal cutoff value of 86.84 ng/mL, the sensitivity and specificity were 92.9% and 83.3%, respectively. Furthermore, in patients with no significant difference in LSM, serum CHI3L1 levels were higher in the autoimmune liver disease group than in the CHB group.ConclusionSerum CHI3L1 is an effective non-invasive indicator for assessing liver fibrosis in AILDs patients and may vary in different etiologies.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1504066/fullchitinase 3 like protein 1liver fibrosisautoimmune liver diseaseschronic HBVfibroscan
spellingShingle Shafei Liu
Conggao Peng
Conggao Peng
Shijia Xia
Chaonan Li
Xiahong Dai
Xiahong Dai
Xingyu Liu
Meng Zhang
Xiaoping Li
Lingling Tang
Lingling Tang
Chitinase 3-like protein 1: a diagnostic biomarker for early liver fibrosis in autoimmune liver diseases
Frontiers in Immunology
chitinase 3 like protein 1
liver fibrosis
autoimmune liver diseases
chronic HBV
fibroscan
title Chitinase 3-like protein 1: a diagnostic biomarker for early liver fibrosis in autoimmune liver diseases
title_full Chitinase 3-like protein 1: a diagnostic biomarker for early liver fibrosis in autoimmune liver diseases
title_fullStr Chitinase 3-like protein 1: a diagnostic biomarker for early liver fibrosis in autoimmune liver diseases
title_full_unstemmed Chitinase 3-like protein 1: a diagnostic biomarker for early liver fibrosis in autoimmune liver diseases
title_short Chitinase 3-like protein 1: a diagnostic biomarker for early liver fibrosis in autoimmune liver diseases
title_sort chitinase 3 like protein 1 a diagnostic biomarker for early liver fibrosis in autoimmune liver diseases
topic chitinase 3 like protein 1
liver fibrosis
autoimmune liver diseases
chronic HBV
fibroscan
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1504066/full
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