Serum chitotriosidase: a circulating biomarker in polycythemia vera

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Serum chitotriosidase activity (CHIT1) is a biomarker of macrophage activation with an important role in inflammation-induced tissue remodeling and fibrosis. Macrophages have been described to play a crucial role in regulating pathological erythropoiesis in polycythemia vera (PV). The aim of this study was to evaluate CHIT1 in patients diagnosed with Philadelphia-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs).

Methods: Using fluorometric assay, we measured CHIT1 in 28 PV, 27 essential thrombocythemia (ET), 17 primary myelofibrosis (PMF), 19 patients with secondary myelofibrosis and in 25 healthy controls.

Results: CHIT1 was significantly higher in PV (p?p?=?.020), but not in ET (p?=?.080), post-ET MF transformation (p?=?.086), and PMF patients (p?=?.287), when compared to healthy controls. CHIT1 in PV was positively correlated with hemoglobin (p?=?.026), hematocrit (p?=?.012), absolute basophil count (p?=?.030) and the presence of reticulin fibrosis in the bone marrow (p?=?.023).

Discussion: A positive correlation between CHIT1 and these distinct laboratory PV features might imply macrophages closely related to clonal erythropoiesis as cells of CHIT1 origin. In addition, a positive association between CHIT1 and reticulin fibrosis might indicate its potential role in PV progression.

Conclusion: CHIT1 might be considered as a circulating biomarker in PV. Additional studies are needed to clarify the role of CHIT1 in promoting disease progression and bone marrow fibrosis in PV.