Serum protein levels of YKL-40 and plasma miR-214 expression in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Objectives: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease with incompletely revealed etiology and pathophysiology. There are still no specific and reliable biomarkers. Here we examined YKL-40 as a biomarker of inflammation and fibrosis, and suggest a possible mechanism for its regulation.