Biological Roles of Chitinase 1 in Pathogenic Conditions

Abstract

Chitin is a prevalent biopolymer found in arthropods such as mollusks, crustaceans, nematodes, worms, and insects. Chitin do not consider as a structural component in mammals. Chitinase enzymes are a group of proteins that have a special ability to attach to and break down chitin, and they are widely preserved throughout evolution. Chitinase in humans was first identified by its ability to break down chitotrioside which is considered as its substrates and for that reason it named chitotriosidase which is also known as CHIT1 or chitinase-1. It is primarily secreted from macrophages during their activated phase in both typical and inflammatory circumstances. Individuals with Gaucher's disease (GD) have a notable rise in CHIT1 activity in both plasma and tissues compared to those without the condition. GD is a hereditary ailment characterized by lipid buildup in certain organs’ macrophages such as the lungs, spleen, liver, kidneys, bone marrow, and brain. Serum CHIT1 levels are commonly utilized as a robust diagnostic biomarker to assess the effectiveness of therapy for several diseases that we reviewed in this review.