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Chitinase-3-like-1: a multifaceted player in neuroinflammation and degenerative pathologies with therapeutic implications
Pharaoh Fellow Mwale, Cheng-Ta Hsieh, Ting‐Lin Yen, Jing‐Shiun Jan, Rajeev Taliyan, Chih‐Hao Yang, Wen‐Bin Yang. Molecular Neurodegeneration, 2025-01-18
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Chitinase-3-like-1 (CHI3L1) is an evolutionarily conserved protein involved in key biological processes, including tissue remodeling, angiogenesis, and neuroinflammation. It has emerged as a significant player in various neurodegenerative diseases and brain disorders. Elevated CHI3L1 levels have been observed in neurological conditions such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), multiple sclerosis (MS), Neuromyelitis optica (NMO), HIV-associated dementia (HAD), Cerebral ischemic stroke (CIS), and brain tumors. This review explores the role of CHI3L1 in the pathogenesis of these disorders, with a focus on its contributions to neuroinflammation, immune cell infiltration, and neuronal degeneration. As a key regulator of neuroinflammation, CHI3L1 modulates microglia and astrocyte activity, driving the release of proinflammatory cytokines that exacerbate disease progression. In addition to its role in disease pathology, CHI3L1 has emerged as a promising biomarker for the diagnosis and monitoring of brain disorders. Elevated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of CHI3L1 have been linked to disease severity and cognitive decline, particularly in AD and MS, highlighting its potential for clinical diagnostics. Furthermore, therapeutic strategies targeting CHI3L1, such as small-molecule inhibitors and neutralizing antibodies, have shown promise in preclinical studies, demonstrating reduced neuroinflammation, amyloid plaque accumulation, and improved neuronal survival. Despite its therapeutic potential, challenges remain in developing selective and safe CHI3L1-targeted therapies, particularly in ensuring effective delivery across the blood-brain barrier and mitigating off-target effects. This review addresses the complexities of targeting CHI3L1, highlights its potential in precision medicine, and outlines future research directions aimed at unlocking its full therapeutic potential in treating neurodegenerative diseases and brain pathologies.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Mwale, P. F., Hsieh, C.-T., Yen, T., Jan, J., Taliyan, R., Yang, C., et al. (2025). Chitinase-3-like-1: a multifaceted player in neuroinflammation and degenerative pathologies with therapeutic implications. Molecular Neurodegeneration. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13024-025-00801-8
Vancouver
Mwale PF, Hsieh C.-T, Yen T, Jan J, Taliyan R, Yang C, et al. Chitinase-3-like-1: a multifaceted player in neuroinflammation and degenerative pathologies with therapeutic implications. Molecular Neurodegeneration. 2025. doi:10.1186/s13024-025-00801-8. PMID: 39827337.
BibTeX
@article{mwale2025-39827337,
author = {Mwale, Pharaoh Fellow and Hsieh, Cheng-Ta and Yen, Ting‐Lin and Jan, Jing‐Shiun and Taliyan, Rajeev and Yang, Chih‐Hao and Yang, Wen‐Bin},
title = {{Chitinase-3-like-1: a multifaceted player in neuroinflammation and degenerative pathologies with therapeutic implications}},
journal = {Molecular Neurodegeneration},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1186/s13024-025-00801-8},
pmid = {39827337},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s13024-025-00801-8}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 7 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- It has emerged as a significant player in various neurodegenerative diseases and brain disorders.
Why it matters
This review describes CHI3L1 as a protein involved in neuroinflammation that is elevated in Alzheimer's and other brain disorders and may serve as a biomarker. It discusses therapeutic strategies targeting CHI3L1 but does not report an established treatment or cure.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 45/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Molecular Neurodegeneration) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Molecular Neurodegeneration: journal h-index 164 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 46 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 15.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 14.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 46 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Wen‐Bin Yang: h-index 45 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | National Tsing Hua University: institution h-index 571 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 39827337) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 45 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1186/s13024-025-00801-8
- PubMed: 39827337
- Original source →
- Free full text: Molecular Neurodegeneration →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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