Chitinase-3-like　protein　1　(CHI3L1),　a　chitinase-like　protein　family　member,　is　a　secreted　glycoprotein　that　mediates　macrophage　polarization,　inflammation,　apoptosis,　angiogenesis,　and　carcinogenesis.　Abnormal　CHI3L1　expression　has　been　associated　with　multiple　metabolic　and　neurological　disorders,　including　diabetes,　atherosclerosis,　and　Alzheimer＇s　disease.　Aberrant　CHI3L1　expression　is　also　reportedly　associated　with　tumor　migration　and　metastasis,　as　well　as　contributions　to　immune　escape,　playing　important　roles　in　tumor　progression.　However,　the　physiological　and　pathophysiological　roles　of　CHI3L1　in　the　development　of　metabolic　and　neurodegenerative　diseases　and　cancer　remain　unclear.　Understanding　the　polarization　relationship　between　CHI3L1　and　macrophages　is　crucial　for　disease　progression.　Recent　research　has　uncovered　the　complex　mechanisms　of　CHI3L1　in　different　diseases,　highlighting　its　close　association　with　macrophage　functional　polarization.　In　this　article,　we　review　recent　findings　regarding　the　various　disease　types　and　summarize　the　relationship　between　macrophages　and　CHI3L1.　Furthermore,　this　article　also　provides　a　brief　overview　of　the　various　mechanisms　and　inhibitors　employed　to　inhibit　CHI3L1　and　disrupt　its　interaction　with　receptors.　These　endeavors　highlight　the　pivotal　roles　of　CHI3L1　and　suggest　therapeutic　approaches　targeting　CHI3L1　in　the　development　of　metabolic　diseases,　neurodegenerative　diseases,　and　cancers.