CHIT1 regulates the neuroinflammation and phagocytosis of microglia and suppresses Aβ plaque deposition in Alzheimer's disease

Chitinase 1 (CHIT1), as a chitin-specific hydrolase, significantly influences the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) through microglia-associated inflammation and amyloid beta (Aβ) plaque accumulation. However, the precise mechanism of CHIT1 action in AD remains uncertain. The effects of CHIT1 on cerebral blood flow (CBF), hippocampal volume, and cognitive function were investigated in APP/PS1 mice. Protein alterations resulting from CHIT1 overexpression were analyzed using four-dimensional (4D) label-free quantitative (LFQ) protein spectrometry. Additionally, the influence of CHIT1 on microglial electrophysiology was assessed using patch clamp measurements, and its effects on neuroinflammation, phagocytosis, microglia migration, and neuronal apoptosis under AD-like conditions were examined using the cell lines N9, BV-2, and HT-22. CHIT1 ameliorated hippocampal atrophy, hypoperfusion, and cognitive function deficits in the APP/PS1 mouse. CHIT1 regulates microglial function and neuronal protection through its interactions in AD. Increased levels of CHIT1/IDH1 contributed to an anti-inflammatory phenotype in microglia via the Ca2⁺-activated K+ channel, enhanced microglial phagocytosis, and promoted Aβ clearance. Conversely, knocking down IDH1 reduced the secretion of anti-inflammatory agents and increased the production of inflammatory factors, as well as diminishing the expression of phagocytic factors and inhibiting Aβ endocytosis. Moreover, CHIT1 reduced neuronal apoptosis by diminishing the expression of apoptotic factors. However, IDH1 knockdown abrogated the protective effect of CHIT1 on neurons. CHIT1 exerts a protective role in AD pathogenesis through its interaction with IDH1. The CHIT1/IDH1 pathway promotes Aβ clearance via a shift in microglia toward an anti-inflammatory state and prevents neuronal apoptosis and dysfunction caused by Aβ toxicity. © 2025 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.