Serum YKL-40 Levels Are Associated with the Atherogenic Index of Plasma in Children

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.

YKL-40 as a novel diagnostic biomarker in Toxoplasmosis

“…On the other hand, previous studies have documented the major role of YKL-40 in the inflammatory reactions, tissue injuries, remodeling, and repair, 43,51,52 and polarization of Th2, 40,53,54 which are all from the induced changes and mechanisms during the infection and the conflict against the parasite invasion. In addition, as variety of cells, including macrophages, neutrophils, SMC and FLC, are known to secrete the YKL-40 40,41,55,56 and essentially engaged in fighting the parasite and inducing an immune response, 57,58 it has been expected that excessive secretion of…”

Is High Milk Intake Good for Children’s Health? A National Population-Based Observational Cohort Study

“…The early adiposity rebound (AR) period (the age of 4–7 years), known as the risk period for obesity, has been determined to have a particularly important relationship with the prevalence of childhood obesity [ 31 , 32 ]. Obesity was defined as BMI z-score of ≥1.64 (95th percentile) [ 33 , 34 ] based on the BMI recorded at the last round of the 5th–7th NHSPIC [ 35 , 36 , 37 ]. BMI was calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared.…”

Investigating the Relationship of Serum Cd163, Ykl40 and Vilip-1 Levels with Autism Severity and Language-Cognitive Development in Preschool Children with Autism

“…Our result is consistent with the results of studies in the literature reporting no signi cant relationship between CSF or serum YKL-40 levels in diseases in which neuroin ammation plays a role in the etiopathogenesis ( ). This may be related to non-neurodegenerative diseases such as obesity and asthma that affect YKL-40 levels (Chupp et al, 2007;Johansen, 2006;Kwon et al, 2020). Since there is no other literature data on this subject, clinical studies with larger samples are needed.…”