# Role of chitinase-3-like-1 (Chi3l1) in acetaminophen-induced liver injury

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR HOUSTON · 2022 · $394,279

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The goal of this proposal is to define the role of chitinase-3-like-1 (Chi3l1) in hepatic platelet accumulation
during acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver injury (AILI) and to evaluate the potential of targeting Chi3l1 for
the treatment of AILI. APAP overdose represents the most frequent cause of acute liver failure in the U.S. and
developing new life-saving antidotes is critically needed. Previous studies have demonstrated that hepatic
platelet accumulation and intrahepatic coagulation play an important role in exacerbating AILI. Our recent data
revealed that Chi3l1 was upregulated in the liver of mice and humans after APAP overdose. The Chi3l1-/- mice
developed attenuated AILI and intrahepatic coagulation with no apparent platelet accumulation, which is in
stark contrast to WT mice. We identified CD44 as a receptor for Chi3l1, and found that among all CD44-
expressing cells of the liver, Chi3l1/CD44 interaction only occurred on Kupffer cells, which played a critical role
in platelet accumulation. These findings led to our hypothesis that Chi3l1, signaling through CD44 on
Kupffer cells, plays a critical role in APAP-induced hepatic platelet accumulation and liver injury and
that Chi3l1 may serve as a therapeutic target for the treatment of AILI. We propose three specific aims to
(1) Investigate the critical role of CD44 in mediating the pathological effects of Chi3l1 in AILI, (2) Elucidate the
mechanism by which Chi3l1/CD44 axis mediates Kupffer cell-induced hepatic platelet accumulation, (3) Target
the Chi3l1 for the treatment of AILI.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10464890
- **Project number:** 5R01DK122708-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR HOUSTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Cynthia Ju
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $394,279
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-17 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10464890

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10464890, Role of chitinase-3-like-1 (Chi3l1) in acetaminophen-induced liver injury (5R01DK122708-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10464890. Licensed CC0.

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