CHI3L1 and central nervous system cancer: Similarly, the expression levels of key mesenchymal molecules including YKL40/CHI3L1 and FN1 (FIBRONECTIN 1) in GICs can be greatly induced by TNF-α treatment or overexpressing C/EBPβ, a transcription factor essential in mesenchymal transformation of gliomas (Supplementary Figure S4A-S4B).