Research Article

Levels of YKL-40 in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Serum of Newly Diagnosed Patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Volume: 9 Number: 3 December 22, 2025
EN TR

Levels of YKL-40 in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Serum of Newly Diagnosed Patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Purpose: Chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1 or YKL-40), novel inflammatory glycoprotein predominantly produced by reactive astrocytes. The aim of this study was to investigate YKL-40 levels in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of newly diagnosed relapsingremitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted at the Neurology Clinic of Recep Tayyip Erdogan University Faculty of Medicine Training and Research Hospital between October 2012 and November 2016. A total of 50 participants, including 30 newly diagnosed and untreated RRMS patients (18 females, 12 males, age range 18-40 year) and 20 controls (12 females, 8 males, age range 20-40 year) were included in the study. CSF and serum YKL-40 levels of RRMS patients and controls were measured by ELISA. Results: CSF YKL-40 levels of RRMS patients were significantly higher than in controls. (respectively,168.8±28.3 ng/ml and 70.1±14.3 ng/ml, p<0.001). However, no significant differences were detected in serum YKL-40 levels between RRMS patients and controls. Serum YKL-40 levels were 51.2±12.1 ng/ml in RRMS patients and 46.8±8.2 ng/ml in controls (p=0.102). There were no correlation between serum and CSF YKL-40 activity in patients with RRMS (r=0.134 p=0.308). Conclusion: Our study supports the activation microglial in the early stages of newly diagnosed RRMS, as evidenced by elevated CSF YKL-40 levels. These findings should be corroborated by larger-scale clinical studies employing more specific glial inflammatory biomarkers. This may pave the way for the future use of drugs targeting glial inflammation in the early treatment of RRMS patients.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University Faculty of Medicine (dated September 7, 2012, and numbered 2012/126).

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Clinical Sciences (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

December 22, 2025

Submission Date

February 16, 2025

Acceptance Date

August 1, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 9 Number: 3

APA
Kırbaş, S., Kırbaş, A., & Cumhur Cüre, M. (2025). Levels of YKL-40 in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Serum of Newly Diagnosed Patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. Ahi Evran Medical Journal, 9(3), 346-351. https://doi.org/10.46332/aemj.1640948
AMA
1.Kırbaş S, Kırbaş A, Cumhur Cüre M. Levels of YKL-40 in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Serum of Newly Diagnosed Patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. Ahi Evran Med J. 2025;9(3):346-351. doi:10.46332/aemj.1640948
Chicago
Kırbaş, Serkan, Aynur Kırbaş, and Medine Cumhur Cüre. 2025. “Levels of YKL-40 in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Serum of Newly Diagnosed Patients With Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis”. Ahi Evran Medical Journal 9 (3): 346-51. https://doi.org/10.46332/aemj.1640948.
EndNote
Kırbaş S, Kırbaş A, Cumhur Cüre M (December 1, 2025) Levels of YKL-40 in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Serum of Newly Diagnosed Patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. Ahi Evran Medical Journal 9 3 346–351.
IEEE
[1]S. Kırbaş, A. Kırbaş, and M. Cumhur Cüre, “Levels of YKL-40 in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Serum of Newly Diagnosed Patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis”, Ahi Evran Med J, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 346–351, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.46332/aemj.1640948.
ISNAD
Kırbaş, Serkan - Kırbaş, Aynur - Cumhur Cüre, Medine. “Levels of YKL-40 in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Serum of Newly Diagnosed Patients With Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis”. Ahi Evran Medical Journal 9/3 (December 1, 2025): 346-351. https://doi.org/10.46332/aemj.1640948.
JAMA
1.Kırbaş S, Kırbaş A, Cumhur Cüre M. Levels of YKL-40 in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Serum of Newly Diagnosed Patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. Ahi Evran Med J. 2025;9:346–351.
MLA
Kırbaş, Serkan, et al. “Levels of YKL-40 in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Serum of Newly Diagnosed Patients With Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis”. Ahi Evran Medical Journal, vol. 9, no. 3, Dec. 2025, pp. 346-51, doi:10.46332/aemj.1640948.
Vancouver
1.Serkan Kırbaş, Aynur Kırbaş, Medine Cumhur Cüre. Levels of YKL-40 in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Serum of Newly Diagnosed Patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. Ahi Evran Med J. 2025 Dec. 1;9(3):346-51. doi:10.46332/aemj.1640948

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