Chitin-binding lectin 1 Antibody

Structure and Binding Partners of CHI3L1

CHI3L1 features a (β/α)₈-barrel fold with a β+α domain insertion, enabling interactions with multiple receptors and extracellular components . Key binding partners include:

Cancer Progression

CHI3L1 promotes tumorigenesis through:

• Cell proliferation: Activation of MAPK and PI3K pathways in glioblastoma, colon cancer, and gastric cancers

• Metastasis: Upregulation of MMP-9 and IL-8, enhancing ECM degradation and angiogenesis

• Immune evasion: Polarization of Th2 cells and suppression of cytotoxic T lymphocytes

Elevated serum CHI3L1 correlates with poor prognosis in metastatic cancers (HR = 2.4, 95% CI: 1.8–3.1) .

Inflammatory Diseases

In asthma and rheumatoid arthritis, CHI3L1 drives:

• Bronchial smooth muscle hyperplasia via PAR-2/Akt signaling

• Synovial fibroblast activation, exacerbating joint destruction

CHI3L1-Targeted Antibodies: Mechanisms and Applications

CHI3L1 antibodies inhibit pathological processes by:

1. Blocking receptor interactions (e.g., IL-13Rα2 and CD44)

2. Neutralizing pro-tumorigenic cytokines (IL-8, CCL2)

3. Restoring Th1/Th2 balance in autoimmune conditions

Therapeutic applications under investigation:

Technical Advances in CHI3L1 Antibody Development

Recent methodologies include:

• Affinity chromatography: Used to isolate chitin-binding proteins like CHI3L1 with 70% yield

• Mutagenesis screens: A138D/L140E substitutions enhance binding specificity to chitin oligomers

• Glycoarray profiling: Identifies cross-reactivity risks with LacdiNAc structures

Challenges and Future Directions

Key limitations include:

• Receptor redundancy: Co-expression of IL-13Rα2, TMEM219, and CD44 complicates targeting

• Species variability: Murine models underrepresent human CHI3L1-IL-13Rα2 interactions

Ongoing research focuses on bispecific antibodies and CAR-T cells engineered against CHI3L1-positive stroma .