High Serum YKL-40 Level in Patients with COPD Is Related to Hypoxemia and Disease Severity

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major health problem with increasing morbidity and mortality throughout the world. YKL-40 is a chitin-binding glycoprotein consisting of 383 amino acids, with a molecular mass of 40 kDa, and its serum level is elevated in inflammatory diseases. YKL-40 is a newly recognized biomarker of inflammation and has not been thoroughly investigated in COPD. The aim of the study is to investigate the relationship between serum YKL-40 levels and severity of COPD. The study population consisted of 52 patients with COPD with the mean age of 60.2 ± 10.1 years. The serum YKL-40 level increased significantly with increasing age (p = 0.022, r = 0.346). In COPD patients, high serum YKL-40 level is correlated to low forced expiratory volume at 1 second (FEV 1 , percent of predicted) (r = −0.277, p = 0.047). Moreover, high serum YKL-40 level is correlated to low arterial oxygen pressure (PaO 2 , mmHg) (r = −0.387, p = 0.005). The mean serum YKL-40 level was found as 243.1 ± 129.2 ng/ml in COPD patients with desaturation during 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and this value was higher than the mean serum YKL-40 level (155.8 ± 59.1 ng/ml) of COPD patients without desaturation during 6MWT (p = 0.004). This study demonstrated that high serum YKL-40 levels were correlated to severity of COPD. We propose that circulating YKL-40 levels could be a biomarker for hypoxemia and decline in lung function.

YKL-40 expression in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: relation to acute exacerbations and airway remodeling

“…These findings indicated that YKL-40 has a potential effect on the pathogenesis of inflammation of COPD and may serve as a specific serologic marker of granulocyte function at the site of tissue inflammation as a supplement to conventional acute-phase proteins [ 36 ]. Gumus et al showed that high serum YKL-40 level is related to hypoxemia and hypoxia-related mediators may cause systemic inflammation in COPD [ 38 ]. We also found that serum YKL-40 levels correlated inversely with PaO 2 as well as FEV 1 .…”

Arterial Stiffness Measured Via Carotid Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity Is Associated With Disease Severity in COPD

“…[1][2][3] COPD is associated with systemic inflammation, which can initiate comorbidities. 1,4 Additionally, air-flow obstruction profoundly affects cardiac function and gas exchange, leading to systemic consequences. An increased prevalence of ischemic heart disease and hypertension is seen in COPD patients, and these conditions are linked to poor prognoses.…”

Serum YKL-40 levels may help distinguish exacerbation of post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans from acute bronchiolitis in young children

“…Increased serum concentrations of YKL-40 are observed in chronic lung diseases such as asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, and chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) [20][21][22]. A recent study suggested that serum YKL-40 could be a biomarker for the development of BO after lung transplantation [9].…”