Targeting Chitinase 1 and Chitinase 3-Like 1 as Novel Therapeutic Strategy of Pulmonary Fibrosis

Abstract

Chitinase 1 (CHIT1) and chitinase 3-like-1 (CHI3L1), two representative members of 18-Glycosyl hydrolases family, are significantly implicated in the pathogenesis of various human diseases characterized by inflammation and remodeling. Notably, dysregulated expression of CHIT1 and CHI3L1 was noted in the patients with pulmonary fibrosis and their levels were inversely correlated with clinical outcome of the patients. CHIT1 and CHI3L1, mainly expressed in alveolar macrophages, regulate profibrotic macrophage activation, fibroblast proliferation and myofibroblast transformation, and TGF-β signaling and effector function. Although the mechanism or the pathways that CHIT1 and CHI3L1 use to regulate pulmonary fibrosis have not been fully understood yet, these studies identify CHIT1 and CHI3L1 as significant modulators of fibroproliferative responses leading to persistent and progressive pulmonary fibrosis. These studies suggest a possibility that CHIT1 and CHI3L1 could be reasonable therapeutic targets to intervene or reverse established pulmonary fibrosis. In this review, we will discuss specific roles and regulatory mechanisms of CHIT1 and CHI3L1 in profibrotic cell and tissue responses as novel therapeutic targets of pulmonary fibrosis.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Mar 17, 2022
Source ID
10.3389/fphar.2022.826471

Entities

People

  • Bing Ma
  • Chang-min Lee
  • Chun Geun Lee
  • Jack A. Elias
  • Suchitra Kamle
  • Suh-young Lee
  • Yang Zhou

Organizations

  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
  • United States Department of Defense

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Biology
  • Medicine

Readers

  • Immunology and Pathology
  • Occupational Health and Safety.
  • Prostate Cancer Biology.