Biomarkers

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ResearchersAgainstAlzheimer's would like to thank Roche Diagnostics for their support of this project.
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YKL-40

Method of Measurement (Pre-analytical Tools)
CSF
Biomarker Measured
Inflammation
Use
Diagnostic
Stage of Development
Clinical trials
Active vs Completed Trials
Completed
Aim/Results

CSF concentrations of YKL-40 were significantly higher in AD patients than in cognitively normal individuals and correlated with dementia biomarkers, such as tau proteins and amyloid beta.  Significantly increased levels of YKL-40 mRNA were found in AD brains in comparison with non-demented controls. Levels of YKL-40 in the cerebrospinal fluid were significantly higher in people with mild cognitive impairment who went on to develop Alzheimer’s dementia. Furthermore, a meta-analysis of 15 eligible comparisons showed YKL-40 to be significantly elevated in AD patients, albeit modestly (effect size = 1.291, p < 0.0001). These effects are stronger in CSF YKL-40 levels, but there is a possible trend for elevated YKL-40 in the AD patients.

What is Required from Patients

Invasive lumbar puncture, discomfort, recovery time in clinic to decrease risk of spinal fluid leakage

What is Required from the Health System

physican who can preform a lumbar puncture as well as a clinic designed for this testing, equipped lab (e.g., centrifuge), a way to measure the peptide (e.g.,mass spectrometer, protein assay kit, ELISA, or western blot)

Sponsor

Studies completed and reviewed by many different groups (see references for two reviews)

  1. “Alzheimer's Disease vs Control: YKL-40 (CSF).” Alzbiomarker. https://www.alzforum.org/alzbiomarker/meta-analysis/alzheimers-disease-vs-control-ykl-40-csf

  2. “Alzheimer's Disease vs Control: YKL-40 (Plasma).” Alzbiomarker. https://www.alzforum.org/alzbiomarker/meta-analysis/alzheimers-disease-vs-control-ykl-40-plasma

  3. Baldacci, F., Lista, S., Cavedo, E., Bonuccelli, U., & Hampel, H. (2017). Diagnostic function of the neuroinflammatory biomarker YKL-40 in Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. Expert Review of Proteomics, 14(4), 285-299. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28281838

  4.  “MCI-AD vs MCI-Stable: YKL-40 (CSF).” Alzbiomarker. https://www.alzforum.org/alzbiomarker/meta-analxysis/mci-ad-vs-mci-stable-ykl-40-csf Muszynski, P., Groblewska, M., Kulczyńska-Przybik, A., Kułakowska, A., & Mroczko, B. (2017). YKL-40 as a potential biomarker and a possible target in therapeutic strategies of Alzheimer's disease. Current Neuropharmacology, 15(6), 906-917. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28183245