Abstract
YKL-40, also known as chitinase-3-like protein 1, is an inflammatory glycoprotein that is secreted by various cell types under acute, chronic, and subclinical inflammation conditions. Elevated serum YKL-40 levels are reportedly independently related to diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, acute myocardial infarction, and cardiovascular mortality in adults. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the relationship between serum YKL-40 levels, lipid abnormalities, and the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) in children. We enrolled 479 children aged 10–12 years (mean age: 11.52) in this general population-based, cross-sectional study. All subjects completed questionnaires and were subjected to multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to measure their height, weight, and body mass index (BMI). We collected serum samples from all participants to measure YKL-40, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglyceride (TG) levels. Mean serum YKL-40 levels were significantly higher in the low-HDL-C (p = 0.017) and high-TG (p = 0.010) groups but were not related to TC and LDL-C levels. YKL-40 levels were also higher in the high AIP group (p = 0.007). After adjusting for age, gender, and BMI z-score, the associations between serum YKL-40 levels and TG levels (p = 0.003), the TG-to-HDL-C ratio (p = 0.019), and the AIP value (p = 0.012) remained significant. Based on these findings, we suggest that serum YKL-40 may be a useful initial screening tool or follow-up risk indicator for lipid abnormalities, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease in children and adolescents with risk factors, regardless of obesity.
Highlights
YKL-40 is a 40 kDa heparin- and chitin-binding glycoprotein, known as chitinase-3-like protein 1 or human cartilage glycoprotein 39, which is secreted by various cells and holds proinflammatory activity [1,2,3]
Elevated circulating serum YKL-40 levels have been noted in many pathological conditions, such as acute and chronic inflammation, cancer, liver fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, insulin resistance, obesity, endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis, and even cardiovascular disease (CVD) [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9]
Dyslipidemia is an abnormal amount of lipids—including total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG)—and their transporting lipoproteins, such as low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), in the blood [10]
Summary
YKL-40 is a 40 kDa heparin- and chitin-binding glycoprotein, known as chitinase-3-like protein 1 or human cartilage glycoprotein 39, which is secreted by various cells and holds proinflammatory activity [1,2,3]. Elevated circulating serum YKL-40 levels have been noted in many pathological conditions, such as acute and chronic inflammation, cancer, liver fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, insulin resistance, obesity, endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis, and even cardiovascular disease (CVD) [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9]. The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) value, which is calculated as the logarithmic transformation of the TG-to-HDL-C ratio, has been used as an optimal indicator of dyslipidemia and as a strong novel index for the risk of atherosclerosis and CVD [11, 15]. Mediators of Inflammation fasting blood sampling is not always easy with children, which limits the assessment of the lipid profile and AIP values
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
