Mouse Chitotriosidase/CHIT1 Antibody

Chitotriosidase, encoded by the mouse CHIT1 gene, is a typical member of the chitinase family (1). It is distinct from another member known as acidic mammalian chitinase (AMC), encoded by the CHIA gene, in several aspects. AMC/CHIA is expressed mainly in alveolar macrophages and in both the mouse and human gastrointestinal tract (2). CHIT1, however, is expressed exclusively by phagocytes in humans and in the gastrointestinal tract, tongue, fore-stomach, and Paneth cells of the small intestine in mice (2). Both CHIA and CHIT1 are secreted as 50 kDa proteins. In contrast to CHIA, CHIT1 is not stable under acidic pH and can be processed into a C-terminally truncated 39 kDa form (2‑4). Human CHIT1 is the best of three biomarkers in the monitoring of Gaucher disease (5). The other two commonly used markers include acid phosphatase and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) (5). Human CHIT1 is also a specific marker of macrophage activation in acute ischemic stroke (6).