Chitinase 1 (CHIT1) and acidic mammalian chitinase (CHIA; AMCase) are the enzymatically active chitinases that are part of a key pathway in tissue remodeling, and which have been implicated in the pathology of chronic fibrotic lung diseases. Small molecule chitinase inhibitors are being investigated for anti-fibrotic efficacy in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and offer potential for other diseases with a fibrotic component.

1. Koralewski R, Dymek B, Mazur M, Sklepkiewicz P, Olejniczak S, Czestkowski W, Matyszewski K, Andryianau G, Niedziejko P, Kowalski M et al.. (2020) Discovery of OATD-01, a First-in-Class Chitinase Inhibitor as Potential New Therapeutics for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. J Med Chem, 63 (24): 15527-15540. [PMID:33078933]