Efecto de miR-24 sobre YKL-40 en leucemia linfoblástica aguda.

Abstract

YKL-40 also known as CHI3L1 (Chitinase-3-like protein 1), is an inflammatory glycoprotein which is secreted by different cell types such as inflammatory cells. This protein is elevated in the serum or plasma of patients with different types of cancer and high concentration of this protein is associated with poor prognosis and short survival in patients with liver, breast, lung, bladder, and endometrial cancers. In Mexico, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common type of cancer that affects the pediatric population. The prognosis of patients with ALL is difficult to establish. Hence, the objective of this study was to analyze the plasma levels of YKL-40 in Mexican children with ALL and investigated its role as a prognostic factor. We performed a case-control study in a population of 90 children aged 1 to 18 years, among whom 45 had ALL and 45 were hematologically healthy. YKL-40 levels in the subjects¿ plasma samples were measured using an ELISA kit. We found that the plasma levels of YKL-40 were significantly higher in children with ALL than in controls (p<0.0001). Children with ALL who had high plasma levels of YKL-40 (¿36.34 ng/mL) had shorter survival durations than those with low levels (<36.34 ng /mL) (p<0.05).Our investigation revealed that the YKL-40 plasma level, age/initial leukocyte count, and Central nervous system (CNS) invasion are associated with the prognosis of children with ALL (OR= 6.06, 95%IC = 1.1-31.6, p = 0.03; OR= 8.53, 95%IC= 1.2-58.2, p= 0.03 and OR= 6.45, 95%IC= 1.01-41.2, p= 0.04). YKL-40 plasma levels could therefore be used as a prognostic biomarker in children with ALL; however, more studies are required to confirm the role of this protein in patients with this disease.