GP39/YKL40 [D11]

Human cartilage glycoprotein 39 (GP39), also known as YKL40 or Chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1), a glycoprotein encoded by the CHI3L1 gene, is secreted by articular chondrocytes, synoviocytes and macrophages but is undetectable in muscle tissues, lung, pancreas, mononuclear cells and fibroblasts. Unlike other members of the chitinase-like protein family, GP39 is not an active chitinase. It is a pro-inflammatory molecule that contributes to the progression of many inflammatory diseases, including fibrosis, neurodegenerative disease, breast, lung, prostate, liver, bladder, colon cancers. Levels of GP39 in serum and plasma in patients with various types of tumors have been reported to predict poor prognosis. It can be used as a predictive biomarker of cancer outcome.