Despite numerous reports indicating the role of YKL-40 in the support of angiogenesis, tumor cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis, the role of its structurally related protein SI-CLP in cancer was not reported.
YKL-40 supports tumor angiogenesis by interaction with syndecan-1 on endothelial cells and metastatic spread by stimulating production of pro-inflammatory and pro-invasive factors MMP9, CCL2 and CXCL2.
Collectively, the data inform new mechanistic insights into the cooperation of mural cells with endothelial cells induced by YKL-40 during tumor angiogenesis, and also enhance our understanding of YKL-40 in both mural and endothelial cell biology.
These findings have shed light on the mechanisms by which YKL-40 promotes tumor angiogenesis and malignancy, and thus provide a therapeutic target for tumor treatment.
Our current study sought to establish a monoclonal anti-YKL-40 antibody as a neutralizing antibody for the purpose of blocking tumor angiogenesis and metastasis.