CHI3L1 and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis: Neutrophil depleted mice also showed a significantly decreased level of chitinase-3-like 1 protein (CHI3L1) expression (2.6-fold decrease; p = 0.044) (Fig. 3e), a fibrosis marker described in NASH and other inflammation-related disorders19, opening the question of whether neutrophils are a major source of this protein or an important inducer of its upregulation.