Editorial
Copyright ©2009 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Nov 14, 2009; 15(42): 5249-5259
Published online Nov 14, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.5249
Potential role of chitinase 3-like-1 in inflammation-associated carcinogenic changes of epithelial cells
Katrin Eurich, Mayuko Segawa, Satoko Toei-Shimizu, Emiko Mizoguchi
Katrin Eurich, Mayuko Segawa, Satoko Toei-Shimizu, Emiko Mizoguchi, Gastrointestinal Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, United States
Emiko Mizoguchi, Center for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, United States
Author contributions: Mizoguchi E designed the research; Eurich K, Segawa M, Toei-Shimizu S and Mizoguchi E performed the research, analyzed and summarized the data; Eurich K and Mizoguchi E wrote the paper.
Supported by NIH (DK64289, DK74454, DK43351 and DK80070) and grants from the Eli and Edythe L. Broad Medical Foundation and American Gastroenterological Association Foundation for Digestive Health and Nutrition to Mizoguchi E
Correspondence to: Emiko Mizoguchi, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Gastrointestinal Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, GRJ 702, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, United States. emizoguchi@partners.org
Telephone: +1-617-7267892 Fax: +1-617-7263673
Received: September 4, 2009
Revised: October 7, 2009
Accepted: October 14, 2009
Published online: November 14, 2009
Abstract

The family of mammalian chitinases includes members both with and without glycohydrolase enzymatic activity against chitin, a polymer of N-acetylglucosamine. Chitin is the structural component of fungi, crustaceans, insects and parasitic nematodes, but is completely absent in mammals. Exposure to antigens containing chitin- or chitin-like structures sometimes induces strong T helper type-I responses in mammals, which may be associated with the induction of mammalian chitinases. Chitinase 3-like-1 (CHI3L1), a member of the mammalian chitinase family, is induced specifically during the course of inflammation in such disorders as inflammatory bowel disease, hepatitis and asthma. In addition, CHI3L1 is expressed and secreted by several types of solid tumors including glioblastoma, colon cancer, breast cancer and malignant melanoma. Although the exact function of CHI3L1 in inflammation and cancer is still largely unknown, CHI3L1 plays a pivotal role in exacerbating the inflammatory processes and in promoting angiogenesis and remodeling of the extracellular matrix. CHI3L1 may be highly involved in the chronic engagement of inflammation which potentiates development of epithelial tumorigenesis presumably by activating the mitogen-activated protein kinase and the protein kinase B signaling pathways. Anti-CHI3L1 antibodies or pan-chitinase inhibitors may have the potential to suppress CHI3L1-mediated chronic inflammation and the subsequent carcinogenic change in epithelial cells.

Keywords: Mammals; Chitinase 3-like 1; Colon; Epithelial cells; Inflammation; Colitis; Colon neoplasms; Inflammatory bowel disease