CHI3L1 promotes Staphylococcus aureus-induced osteomyelitis by activating p38/MAPK and Smad signaling pathways.

Aims: Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is the most common causative bacterial pathogen involved in promoting infection-induced osteomyelitis, a disease resulting in severe bone degradation. In this study, we aimed to identify the mechanism behind inhibition of osteoclast survival and differentiation by CHI3L1, a lectin previously reported to regulate S.