The relation of circulating YKL-40 to levels and decline of lung function in adult life

Stefano Guerra, Marilyn Halonen, Duane L. Sherrill, Claire Venker, Amber Spangenberg, Anne Elie Carsin, Lluïsa Tarès, Iris Lavi, Esther Barreiro, Jesús Martínez-Moratalla, Isabel Urrutia, Jordi Sunyer, Josep M. Antó, Fernando D. Martinez

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background YKL-40 is a chitinase-like protein that, in cross-sectional clinical studies, has been associated with severe asthma and COPD in smokers. Aim To determine the longitudinal relation of circulating YKL-40 to levels and decline of lung function in the general population. Methods We used longitudinal data from up to 13 surveys from the population-based TESAOD study which was conducted in Tucson, Arizona between 1972 and 1996. In cross-sectional analyses, we also used data from 3 Spanish centers of the multicenter ECRHS study (ECRHS-Sp). Serum YKL-40 was measured at baseline in TESAOD and in survey 2 in ECRHS-Sp using ELISAs. Multivariate linear regression was used to test associations of serum YKL-40 to concomitant lung function. In TESAOD, random coefficients models were used to test associations of serum YKL-40 to subsequent decline of lung function. Results Data on YKL-40 and lung function were available from 1088 TESAOD and 854 ECRHS-Sp adult participants (59% and 51% females; respectively). In adjusted multivariate meta-analyses, being in the highest YKL-40 quartile was associated cross-sectionally with significant deficits in FEV1 and FVC %predicted. In adjusted longitudinal analyses, TESAOD participants in the top YKL-40 quartile had an FEV1 decline that was 5 ml/yr (p = 0.05) faster than subjects in the third quartile, 5 ml/yr (p = 0.02) faster than subjects in the second quartile, and 10 ml/yr (p < 0.001) faster than subjects in the lowest YKL-40 quartile. These longitudinal effects were particularly strong in smokers and absent in never smokers. After adjusting for covariates, as compared with the other three quartiles combined, the top YKL-40 quartile was associated with a 9 ml/yr (p = 0.001) faster FEV1 decline among smokers, while no significant effects were found among never smokers (2 ml/yr, p = 0.35). Conclusions Circulating YKL-40 is associated with levels and decline of lung function in the general population and may be a biomarker of susceptibility to the long-term effects of cigarette smoking.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1923-1930
Number of pages8
JournalRespiratory Medicine
Volume107
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2013

Keywords

  • Lung function
  • Smoking
  • YKL-40

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The relation of circulating YKL-40 to levels and decline of lung function in adult life'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this