The YKL-40 protein is a potential biomarker for COPD: a meta-analysis and systematic review.

Abstract

Background:

Many studies have found that YKL-40 may play an important pathogenic role in COPD. However, the results of these studies were inconsistent. Therefore, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the role of YKL-40 in COPD.

Methods:

We performed a systematic literature search in many database and commercial internet search engines to identify studies involving the role of YKL-40 in patients with COPD. The standardized mean difference (SMD) and Fisher's Z-value with its 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to investigate the effect sizes.

Results:

A total of 15 eligible articles including 16 case-control/cohort groups were included in the meta-analysis. The results indicated that the serum YKL-40 levels in patients with COPD were significantly higher than those in healthy controls (SMD =1.58, 95% CI =0.68-2.49, P=0.001), and it was correlated with lung function (pooled r=-0.32; Z=-0.33; P<0.001). The results of subgroup analysis found that the serum YKL-40 levels were statistically different between the exacerbation group and the stable group in patients with COPD (SMD =1.55, 95% CI =0.81-2.30, P<0.001). Moreover, the results indicated that the sputum YKL-40 levels in patients with COPD were also significantly higher than those in healthy controls (SMD =0.70, 95% CI =0.10-1.30, P=0.022).

Conclusion:

The current study suggests that YKL-40 may be implicated in bronchial inflammation and remodeling in COPD and may be considered as a useful biomarker for COPD diagnosis and monitoring.

• Authors: Xiang Tong, Dongguang Wang, Sitong Liu, Yao Ma, Zhenzhen Li, Panwen Tian, Hong Fan
• Journal: International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis) Vol. 13 Pg. 409-418 ( 2018) ISSN: 1178-2005 [Electronic] New Zealand
• PMID: 29430175 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Review, Systematic Review)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• CHI3L1 protein, human
• Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Airway Remodeling
• Biomarkers (blood)
• Chi-Square Distribution
• Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1 (blood)
• Female
• Humans
• Lung (physiopathology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Predictive Value of Tests
• Prognosis
• Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive (blood, diagnosis, physiopathology)
• Up-Regulation