Constitutive neuronal expression and disease-associated upregulation of chitinases in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - PubMed
5 hours ago
- #neuroinflammation
- #ALS
- #chitinase
- Chitinases are hydrolytic enzymes involved in degrading chitin and are evolutionarily conserved across species.
- Specific chitinase isoforms (CHIT1, CHI3L1, CHI3L2) are markers of inflammation in neurodegenerative diseases like ALS.
- ALS is a fatal neuromuscular condition with unclear etiology and limited therapeutic options.
- Elevated levels of CHIT1, CHI3L1, and CHI3L2 in ALS patients' CSF correlate with disease severity.
- Neurons are identified as a primary source of chitinases under physiological conditions.
- CHI3L1 is widely expressed across cell types, while CHIT1 is predominantly neuronal.
- ALS models show isoform-specific expression profiles in astrocytes, microglia, and neurons.
- CSF CHIT1 and CHI3L2 levels help distinguish ALS from non-ALS controls, while CHI3L1 is linked to inflammation and aging.
- Chitinases do not outperform neurofilament proteins as diagnostic biomarkers but may aid in trial design.
- Neuronal chitinase expression provides new insights into ALS disease mechanisms.