Altered O-glycosylation and sulfation of airway mucins associated with cystic fibrosis

Sulfated Glycosaminoglycans as Viral Decoy Receptors for Human Adenovirus Type 37

Glycans on plasma membranes and in secretions play important roles in infection by many viruses. Species D human adenovirus type 37 (HAdV-D37) is a major cause of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC) and infects target cells by interacting with sialic acid (SA)-containing glycans via the fiber knob domain of the viral fiber protein. HAdV-D37 also interacts with sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), but the outcome of this interaction remains unknown. Here, we investigated the molecular requirements of HAdV-D37 fiber knob:GAG interactions using a GAG microarray and demonstrated that fiber knob interacts with a broad range of sulfated GAGs. These interactions were corroborated in cell-based assays and by surface plasmon resonance analysis. Removal of heparan sulfate (HS) and sulfate groups from human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells by heparinase III and sodium chlorate treatments, respectively, reduced HAdV-D37 binding to cells. Remarkably, removal of HS by heparinase III enhanced the virus infection. Our results suggest that interaction of HAdV-D37 with sulfated GAGs in secretions and on plasma membranes prevents/delays the virus binding to SA-containing receptors and inhibits subsequent infection. We also found abundant HS in the basement membrane of the human corneal epithelium, which may act as a barrier to sub-epithelial infection. Collectively, our findings provide novel insights into the role of GAGs as viral decoy receptors and highlight the therapeutic potential of GAGs and/or GAG-mimetics in HAdV-D37 infection.

Advances in mass spectrometry-based glycoproteomics

Protein glycosylation, an important PTM, plays an essential role in a wide range of biological processes such as immune response, intercellular signaling, inflammation, and host-pathogen interaction. Aberrant glycosylation has been correlated with various diseases. However, studying protein glycosylation remains challenging because of low abundance, microheterogeneities of glycosylation sites, and poor ionization efficiency of glycopeptides. Therefore, the development of sensitive and accurate approaches to characterize protein glycosylation is crucial. The identification and characterization of protein glycosylation by MS is referred to as the field of glycoproteomics. Methods such as enrichment, metabolic labeling, and derivatization of glycopeptides in conjunction with different MS techniques and bioinformatics tools, have been developed to achieve an unequivocal quantitative and qualitative characterization of glycoproteins. This review summarizes the recent developments in the field of glycoproteomics over the past 6 years (2012 to 2018).

Roles of mucus adhesion and cohesion in cough clearance

Clearance of intrapulmonary mucus by the high-velocity airflow generated by cough is the major rescue clearance mechanism in subjects with mucoobstructive diseases and failed cilial-dependent mucus clearance, e.g., subjects with cystic fibrosis (CF) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Previous studies have investigated the mechanical forces generated at airway surfaces by cough but have not considered the effects of mucus biophysical properties on cough efficacy. Theoretically, mucus can be cleared by cough from the lung by an adhesive failure, i.e., breaking mucus-cell surface adhesive bonds and/or by cohesive failure, i.e., directly fracturing mucus. Utilizing peel-testing technologies, mucus-epithelial surface adhesive and mucus cohesive strengths were measured. Because both mucus concentration and pH have been reported to alter mucus biophysical properties in disease, the effects of mucus concentration and pH on adhesion and cohesion were compared. Both adhesive and cohesive strengths depended on mucus concentration, but neither on physiologically relevant changes in pH nor bicarbonate concentration. Mucus from bronchial epithelial cultures and patient sputum samples exhibited similar adhesive and cohesive properties. Notably, the magnitudes of both adhesive and cohesive strength exhibited similar velocity and concentration dependencies, suggesting that viscous dissipation of energy within mucus during cough determines the efficiency of cough clearance of diseased, hyperconcentrated, mucus. Calculations of airflow-induced shear forces on airway mucus related to mucus concentration predicted substantially reduced cough clearance in small versus large airways. Studies designed to improve cough clearance in subjects with mucoobstructive diseases identified reductions of mucus concentration and viscous dissipation as key therapeutic strategies.

Mucins: the frontline defence of the lung

Mucus plays a vital role in protecting the lungs from environmental factors, but conversely, in muco-obstructive airway disease, mucus becomes pathologic. In its protective role, mucus entraps microbes and particles removing them from the lungs via the co-ordinated beating of motile cilia. This mechanism of lung defence is reliant upon a flowing mucus gel, and the major macromolecular components that determine the rheological properties of mucus are the polymeric mucins, MUC5AC and MUC5B. These large O-linked glycoproteins have direct roles in maintaining lung homeostasis. MUC5B is essential for interaction with the ciliary clearance system and MUC5AC is up-regulated in response to allergic inflammatory challenge. Mucus with abnormal biophysical properties is a feature of muco-obstructive respiratory disease and can result from many different mechanisms including alterations in mucin polymer assembly, mucin concentration and the macromolecular form in mucus, as well as changes in airway surface hydration, pH and ion composition. The abnormal mucus results in defective lung protection via compromised ciliary clearance, leading to infection and inflammation.

Green tea polyphenols modify gut-microbiota dependent metabolisms of energy, bile constituents and micronutrients in female Sprague-Dawley rats

Our recent metagenomics analysis has uncovered remarkable modifying effects of green tea polyphenols (GTP) on gut-microbiota community structure and energy conversion related gene orthologs in rats. How these genomic changes could further influence host health is still unclear. In this work, the alterations of gut-microbiota dependent metabolites were studied in the GTP-treated rats. Six groups of female SD rats (n=12/group) were administered drinking water containing 0%, 0.5%, and 1.5% GTP (wt/vol). Their gut contents were collected at 3 and 6 months and were analyzed via high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography (GC)-mass spectrometry (MS). GC-MS based metabolomics analysis captured 2668 feature, and 57 metabolites were imputatively from top 200 differential features identified via NIST fragmentation database. A group of key metabolites were quantitated using standard calibration methods. Compared with control, the elevated components in the GTP-treated groups include niacin (8.61-fold), 3-phenyllactic acid (2.20-fold), galactose (3.13-fold), mannose (2.05-fold), pentadecanoic acid (2.15-fold), lactic acid (2.70-fold), and proline (2.15-fold); the reduced components include cholesterol (0.29-fold), cholic acid (0.62-fold), deoxycholic acid (0.41-fold), trehalose (0.14-fold), glucose (0.46-fold), fructose (0.12-fold), and alanine (0.61-fold). These results were in line with the genomic alterations of gut-microbiome previously discovered by metagenomics analysis. The alterations of these metabolites suggested the reduction of calorific carbohydrates, elevation of vitamin production, decreases of bile constituents, and modified metabolic pattern of amino acids in the GTP-treated animals. Changes in gut-microbiota associated metabolism may be a major contributor to the anti-obesity function of GTP.

Molecular principles for heparin oligosaccharide-based inhibition of neutrophil elastase in cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a multifactorial disease in which dysfunction of protease-antiprotease balance plays a key role. The current CF therapy relies on dornase α, hypertonic saline, and antibiotics and does not address the high neutrophil elastase (NE) activity observed in the lung and sputum of CF patients. Our hypothesis is that variants of heparin, which potently inhibit NE but are not anticoagulant, would help restore the protease-antiprotease balance in CF. To realize this concept, we studied molecular principles governing the effectiveness of different heparins, especially 2-O,3-O-desulfated heparin (ODSH), in the presence of sputum components and therapeutic agents. Using sputa from CF patients and an NE activity assay, we found that heparins are ineffective if used in the absence of dornase. This is true even when mucolytics, such as DTT or N-acetylcysteine, were used. Computational modeling suggested that ODSH and DNA compete for binding to an overlapping allosteric site on NE, which reduces the anti-NE potential of ODSH. NE inhibition of both DNA and ODSH is chain length-dependent, but ODSH chains exhibit higher potency per unit residue length. Likewise, ODSH chains exhibit higher NE inhibition potential compared with DNA chains in the presence of saline. These studies suggest fundamental differences in DNA and ODSH recognition and inhibition of NE despite engaging overlapping sites and offer unique insights into molecular principles that could be used in developing antiprotease agents in the presence of current treatments, such as dornase and hypertonic saline.

Analysis of Mammalian O-Glycopeptides-We Have Made a Good Start, but There is a Long Way to Go

Glycosylation is perhaps the most common post-translational modification. Recently there has been growing interest in cataloging the glycan structures, glycoproteins, and specific sites modified and deciphering the biological functions of glycosylation. Although the results are piling up for N-glycosylation, O-glycosylation is seriously trailing behind. In our review we reiterate the difficulties researchers have to overcome in order to characterize O-glycosylation. We describe how an ingenious cell engineering method delivered exciting results, and what could we gain from "wild-type" samples. Although we refer to the biological role(s) of O-glycosylation, we do not provide a complete inventory on this topic.

3-Sulfogalactosyl-dependent adhesion of Escherichia coli HS multivalent adhesion molecule is attenuated by sulfatase activity

Bacterial adhesion to host receptors is an early and essential step in bacterial colonization, and the nature of adhesin–receptor interactions determines bacterial localization and thus the outcome of these interactions. Here, we determined the host receptors for the multivalent adhesion molecule (MAM) from the gut commensal Escherichia coli HS (MAM^HS), which contains an array of seven mammalian cell entry domains. The MAM^HS adhesin interacted with a range of host receptors, through recognition of a shared 3-O-sulfogalactosyl moiety. This functional group is also found in mucin, a component of the intestinal mucus layer and thus one of the prime adherence targets for commensal E. coli. Mucin gels impeded the motility of E. coli by acting as a physical barrier, and the barrier effect was enhanced by specific interactions between mucin and MAM^HS in a sulfation-dependent manner. Desulfation of mucin by pure sulfatase or the sulfatase-producing commensal Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron decreased binding of E. coli to mucin and increased the attachment of bacteria to the epithelial surface via interactions with surface-localized sulfated lipid and protein receptors. Together, our results demonstrate that the E. coli adhesin MAM^HS facilitates retention of a gut commensal by attachment to mucin. They further suggest that the amount of sulfatase secreted by mucin-foraging bacteria such as B. thetaiotaomicron, inhabiting the same niche, may affect the capacity of the mucus barrier to retain commensal E. coli.

Histo-blood group antigens as mediators of infections

The critical first step of a microbial infection is usually the attachment of pathogens to host cell glycans. Targets on host tissues are in particular the histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs), which are present in rich diversity in the mucus layer and on the underlying mucosa. Recent structural and functional studies have revealed significant new insight into the molecular mechanisms, explaining why individuals with certain blood groups are at increased risk of some infections. The most prominent example of blood-group-associated diseases is cholera, caused by infection with Vibrio cholerae. Many other microbial pathogens, for example Pseudomonas aeruginosa infecting the airways, and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) causing traveler's diarrhea, also bind to histo-blood group antigens, but show a less clear correlation with blood group phenotype. Yet other pathogens, for example norovirus and Helicobacter pylori, recognize HBGAs differently depending on the strain. In all cases, milk oligosaccharides can aid the hosts' defenses, acting as natural receptor decoys, and anti-infectious therapy can be designed along similar strategies. In this review, we focus on important infections of humans, but the molecular mechanisms are of general relevance to a broad range of microbial infections of humans and animals.

Decoding of O-Linked Glycosylation by Mass Spectrometry

Protein glycosylation (N- and O-linked) plays an important role in many biological processes, including protein structure and function. However, the structural elucidation of glycans, specifically O-linked glycans, remains a major challenge and is often overlooked during protein analysis. Recently, mass spectrometry (MS) has matured as a powerful technology for high-quality analytical characterization of O-linked glycans. This review summarizes the recent developments and insights of MS-based glycomics technologies, with a focus on mucin-type O-glycan analysis. Three main MS-based approaches are outlined: O-glycan profiling (structural analysis of released O-glycan), a "bottom-up" approach (analysis of an O-glycan covalently attached to a glycopeptide), and a "top-down" approach (analysis of a glycan attached to an intact glycoprotein). In addition, the most widely used MS ionization techniques, i.e., matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization and electrospray ionization, as well as ion activation techniques like collision-induced dissociation, electron capture dissociation, and electron transfer dissociation during O-glycan analysis are discussed. The MS technical approaches mentioned above are already major improvements for studying O-linked glycosylation and appear to be valuable for in-depth analysis of the type of O-glycan attached, branching patterns, and the occupancy of O-glycosylation sites.

Sialic acid-to-urea ratio as a measure of airway surface hydration

Although airway mucus dehydration is key to pathophysiology of cystic fibrosis (CF) and other airways diseases, measuring mucus hydration is challenging. We explored a robust method to estimate mucus hydration using sialic acid as a marker for mucin content. Terminal sialic acid residues from mucins were cleaved by acid hydrolysis from airway samples, and concentrations of sialic acid, urea, and other biomarkers were analyzed by mass spectrometry. In mucins purified from human airway epithelial (HAE), sialic acid concentrations after acid hydrolysis correlated with mucin concentrations (r² = 0.92). Sialic acid-to-urea ratios measured from filters applied to the apical surface of cultured HAE correlated to percent solids and were elevated in samples from CF HAEs relative to controls (2.2 ± 1.1 vs. 0.93 ± 1.8, P < 0.01). Sialic acid-to-urea ratios were elevated in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from β-epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) transgenic mice, known to have reduced mucus hydration, and mice sensitized to house dust mite allergen. In a translational application, elevated sialic acid-to-urea ratios were measured in BALF from young children with CF who had airway infection relative to those who did not (5.5 ± 3.7 vs. 1.9 ± 1.4, P < 0.02) and could be assessed simultaneously with established biomarkers of inflammation. The sialic acid-to-urea ratio performed similarly to percent solids, the gold standard measure of mucus hydration. The method proved robust and has potential to serve as flexible techniques to assess mucin hydration, particularly in samples like BALF in which established methods such as percent solids cannot be utilized.

Role of Cytokine-Induced Glycosylation Changes in Regulating Cell Interactions and Cell Signaling in Inflammatory Diseases and Cancer

Glycosylation is one of the most important modifications of proteins and lipids, and cell surface glycoconjugates are thought to play important roles in a variety of biological functions including cell-cell and cell-substrate interactions, bacterial adhesion, cell immunogenicity and cell signaling. Alterations of glycosylation are observed in number of diseases such as cancer and chronic inflammation. In that context, pro-inflammatory cytokines have been shown to modulate cell surface glycosylation by regulating the expression of glycosyltransferases involved in the biosynthesis of carbohydrate chains. These changes in cell surface glycosylation are also known to regulate cell signaling and could contribute to disease pathogenesis. This review summarizes our current knowledge of the glycosylation changes induced by pro-inflammatory cytokines, with a particular focus on cancer and cystic fibrosis, and their consequences on cell interactions and signaling.

Histochemical study of the effects on abomasal mucins of Haemonchus contortus or Teladorsagia circumcincta infection in lambs

Previously, chemical analysis of gastric fundic mucin showed that infection of sheep with Haemonchus contortus or Teladorsagia circumcincta changed the proportions of monosaccharides and decreased terminal mucin fucosylation and sialylation. To identify the effects of these parasites on the two mucin-secreting cell lineages, fundic and antral tissues were collected for histochemistry from 69 lambs aged from 3-4 to 9-10 months-of-age which had received a single infection of either H. contortus or T. circumcincta and euthanased at Day 21 or 28 post- infection respectively. All fundic tissues were stained separately with: (1) with Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) for all mucins; (2) Alcian Blue (AB) pH 2.5 for acidic mucins (sialylated and sulphated); (3) AB pH 1 for sulphated mucins and (4) High Iron Diamine (HID) for sulphated mucins. Antral and fundic tissues from 24 lambs were also stained for acidic and neutral mucins or with specific lectins for α-1-linked fucose and for α-2,3- and α-2,6-linked sialic acids. Only mucin sulphation appeared to differ visually in uninfected lambs over this age range: there was weak staining with HID in tissues from lambs 3-6 months-of-age, but was generally more intense in those over 7 months-of-age. Sulphomucins were not apparent in surface mucous cells (SMC) or generally in the upper pits. Sialylomucins were located predominantly in the pits and glands, with small amounts of sialylated mucins in SMC and on the luminal surface, mainly in younger animals up to 6 months-of-age and less in the older animals. Parasitism markedly reduced the predominantly neutral surface mucin5AC of the SMC and pit cells, despite pit elongation in both antrum and fundus, whereas the acidic Muc6 secreted by mucus neck cells (MNC) increased along with MNC hyperplasia. Sulphated mucins were present mainly from the mid-pits downward and heavy staining was more common in older animals. In these sheep, the markedly reduced neutral mucin in the SMC and pit cells in both antrum and fundus contrasts with reported hypersecretion of mucus in the intestine, which is believed to aid in parasite expulsion. It has been proposed that intestinal goblet cell hypersecretion occurs only in resistant animals, therefore reduced mucins in the abomasum may be indicative of susceptibility to abomasal parasites.

Acidic pH increases airway surface liquid viscosity in cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) disrupts respiratory host defenses, allowing bacterial infection, inflammation, and mucus accumulation to progressively destroy the lungs. Our previous studies revealed that mucus with abnormal behavior impaired mucociliary transport in newborn CF piglets prior to the onset of secondary manifestations. To further investigate mucus abnormalities, here we studied airway surface liquid (ASL) collected from newborn piglets and ASL on cultured airway epithelia. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching revealed that the viscosity of CF ASL was increased relative to that of non-CF ASL. CF ASL had a reduced pH, which was necessary and sufficient for genotype-dependent viscosity differences. The increased viscosity of CF ASL was not explained by pH-independent changes in HCO3- concentration, altered glycosylation, additional pH-induced disulfide bond formation, increased percentage of nonvolatile material, or increased sulfation. Treating acidic ASL with hypertonic saline or heparin largely reversed the increased viscosity, suggesting that acidic pH influences mucin electrostatic interactions. These findings link loss of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator-dependent alkalinization to abnormal CF ASL. In addition, we found that increasing Ca2+ concentrations elevated ASL viscosity, in part, independently of pH. The results suggest that increasing pH, reducing Ca2+ concentration, and/or altering electrostatic interactions in ASL might benefit early CF.

A Novel N-Tetrasaccharide in Patients with Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation, Including Asparagine-Linked Glycosylation Protein 1, Phosphomannomutase 2, and Mannose Phosphate Isomerase Deficiencies

BACKGROUND

Primary deficiencies in mannosylation of N-glycans are seen in a majority of patients with congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG). We report the discovery of a series of novel N-glycans in sera, plasma, and cultured skin fibroblasts from patients with CDG having deficient mannosylation.

METHOD

We used LC-MS/MS and MALDI-TOF-MS analysis to identify and quantify a novel N-linked tetrasaccharide linked to the protein core, an N-tetrasaccharide (Neu5Acα2,6Galβ1,4-GlcNAcβ1,4GlcNAc) in plasma, serum glycoproteins, and a fibroblast lysate from patients with CDG caused by ALG1 [ALG1 (asparagine-linked glycosylation protein 1), chitobiosyldiphosphodolichol β-mannosyltransferase], PMM2 (phosphomannomutase 2), and MPI (mannose phosphate isomerase).

RESULTS

Glycoproteins in sera, plasma, or cell lysate from ALG1-CDG, PMM2-CDG, and MPI-CDG patients had substantially more N-tetrasaccharide than unaffected controls. We observed a >80% decline in relative concentrations of the N-tetrasaccharide in MPI-CDG plasma after mannose therapy in 1 patient and in ALG1-CDG fibroblasts in vitro supplemented with mannose.

CONCLUSIONS

This novel N-tetrasaccharide could serve as a diagnostic marker of ALG1-, PMM2-, or MPI-CDG for screening of these 3 common CDG subtypes that comprise >70% of CDG type I patients. Its quantification by LC-MS/MS may be useful for monitoring therapeutic efficacy of mannose. The discovery of these small N-glycans also indicates the presence of an alternative pathway in N-glycosylation not recognized previously, but its biological significance remains to be studied.

Mammalian protein glycosylation--structure versus function

Carbohydrates fulfil many common as well as extremely important functions in nature. They show a variety of molecular displays--e.g., free mono-, oligo-, and polysaccharides, glycolipids, proteoglycans, glycoproteins, etc.--with particular roles and localizations in living organisms. Structure-specific peculiarities are so many and diverse that it becomes virtually impossible to cover them all from an analytical perspective. Hence this manuscript, focused on mammalian glycosylation, rather than a complete list of analytical descriptors or recognized functions for carbohydrate structures, comprehensively reviews three central issues in current glycoscience, namely (i) structural analysis of glycoprotein glycans, covering both classical and novel approaches for teasing out the structural puzzle as well as potential pitfalls of these processes; (ii) an overview of functions attributed to carbohydrates, covering from monosaccharide to complex, well-defined epitopes and full glycans, including post-glycosylational modifications, and (iii) recent technical advances allowing structural identification of glycoprotein glycans with simultaneous assignation of biological functions.

Genome-wide interaction study of gene-by-occupational exposure and effects on FEV1 levels

BACKGROUND

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex disease characterized by impaired lung function and airway obstruction resulting from interactions between multiple genes and multiple environmental exposures. Thus far, genome-wide association studies have largely disregarded environmental factors that might trigger the development of lung function impairment and COPD, such as occupational exposures, which are thought to contribute to 15% to 20% of the COPD prevalence.

OBJECTIVES

We performed a genome-wide interaction study to identify novel susceptibility loci for occupational exposure to biological dust, mineral dust, and gases and fumes in relation to FEV1 levels.

METHODS

We performed an identification analysis in 12,400 subjects from the LifeLines cohort study and verified our findings in 1436 subjects from a second independent cohort, the Vlagtwedde-Vlaardingen cohort. Additionally, we assessed whether replicated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were cis-acting expression (mRNA) quantitative trait loci in lung tissue.

RESULTS

Of the 7 replicated SNPs that interacted with one of the occupational exposures, several identified loci were plausible candidates that might be involved in biological pathways leading to lung function impairment, such as PCDH9 and GALNT13. Two of the 7 replicated SNPs were cis-acting expression quantitative trait loci associated with gene expression of PDE4D and TMEM176A in lung tissue.

CONCLUSION

This genome-wide interaction study on occupational exposures in relation to the level of lung function identified several novel genes. Further research should determine whether the identified genes are true susceptibility loci for occupational exposures and whether these SNP-by-exposure interactions consequently contribute to the development of COPD.

Targeted methods for quantitative analysis of protein glycosylation

Quantification of proteins by LC-MS/MS-MRM has become a standard method with broad projected clinical applicability. MRM quantification of protein modifications is, however, far less utilized, especially in the case of glycoproteins. This review summarizes current methods for quantitative analysis of protein glycosylation with a focus on MRM methods. We describe advantages of this quantitative approach, analytical parameters that need to be optimized to achieve reliable measurements, and point out the limitations. Differences between major classes of N- and O-glycopeptides are described and class-specific glycopeptide assays are demonstrated.

The Cosmc connection to the Tn antigen in cancer

The Tn antigen is a tumor-associated carbohydrate antigen that is not normally expressed in peripheral tissues or blood cells. Expression of this antigen, which is found in a majority of human carcinomas of all types, arises from a blockage in the normal O-glycosylation pathway in which glycans are extended from the common precursor GalNAcα1-O-Ser/Thr (Tn antigen). This precursor is generated in the Golgi apparatus on newly synthesized glycoproteins by a family of polypeptide α-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferases (ppGalNAcTs) and then extended to the common core 1 O-glycan Galβ1-3GalNAcα1-O-Ser/Thr (T antigen) by a single enzyme termed the T-synthase (core 1 β3-galactosyltransferase or C1GalT). Formation of the active form of the T-synthase requires a unique molecular chaperone termed Cosmc, encoded by Cosmc on the X-chromosome (Xq24 in humans, Xc3 in mice). Cosmc resides in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and prevents misfolding, aggregation, and proteasome-dependent degradation of newly synthesized T-synthase. Loss of expression of active T-synthase or Cosmc can lead to expression of the Tn antigen, along with its sialylated version Sialyl Tn antigen as observed in several cancers. Both genetic and epigenetic pathways, in addition to potential metabolic regulation, can result in abnormal expression of the Tn antigen. Engineered expression of the Tn antigen by disruption of either C1GalT (T-syn) or Cosmc in mice is associated with a tremendous range of pathologies and engineered expression of the Tn antigen in mouse embryos leads to embryonic death. Studies indicate that many membrane glycoproteins expressing the Tn antigen and/or truncated O-glycans may be dysfunctional, due to degradation and/or misfolding. Thus, expression of normal O-glycans is associated with health and homeostasis whereas truncation of O-glycans, e.g. the Tn and/or Sialyl Tn antigens is associated with cancer and other pathologies.

Protein O glycosylation regulates activation of hepatic stellate cells

It was reported that O glycosylation is associated with hepatic stellate cell activation and regulates collagen expression. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of O glycosylation on the activation of human hepatic stellate cells. We found that the inhibitor of O glycosylation, benzyl-α-GalNAc (2 and 4 mM), could significantly inhibit cells proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, benzyl-α-GalNAc decreased the expressions of α-smooth muscle actin, collagen I, and collagen III. The results indicate that O glycosylation is involved in the activation of hepatic stellate cells.

The challenge and promise of glycomics

Glycomics is a broad and emerging scientific discipline focused on defining the structures and functional roles of glycans in biological systems. The staggering complexity of the glycome, minimally defined as the repertoire of glycans expressed in a cell or organism, has resulted in many challenges that must be overcome; these are being addressed by new advances in mass spectrometry as well as by the expansion of genetic and cell biology studies. Conversely, identifying the specific glycan recognition determinants of glycan-binding proteins by employing the new technology of glycan microarrays is providing insights into how glycans function in recognition and signaling within an organism and with microbes and pathogens. The promises of a more complete knowledge of glycomes are immense in that glycan modifications of intracellular and extracellular proteins have critical functions in almost all biological pathways.

A HPLC-based glycoanalytical protocol allows the use of natural O-glycans derived from glycoproteins as substrates for glycosidase discovery from microbial culture

Many disorders are characterised by changes in O-glycosylation, but analysis of O-glycosylation has been limited by the availability of specific endo- and exo-glycosidases. As a result chemical methods are employed. However, these may give rise to glycan degradation, so therefore novel O-glycosidases are needed. Artificial substrates do not always identify every glycosidase activity present in an extract. To overcome this, an HPLC-based protocol for glycosidase identification from microbial culture was developed using natural O-glycans and O-glycosylated glycoproteins (porcine stomach mucin and fetuin) as substrates. O-glycans were released by ammonia-based β-elimination for use as substrates, and the bacterial culture supernatants were subjected to ultrafiltration to separate the proteins from glycans and low molecular size molecules. Two bacterial cultures, the psychrotroph Arthrobacter C1-1 and a Corynebacterium isolate, were examined as potential sources of novel glycosidases. Arthrobacter C1-1 culture contained a β-galactosidase and N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase when assayed using 4-methylumbelliferyl substrates, but when defucosylated O-glycans from porcine stomach mucin were used as substrate, the extract did not cleave β-linked galactose or N-acetylglucosamine. Sialidase activity was identified in Corynebacterium culture supernatant, which hydrolysed sialic acid from fetuin glycans. When both culture supernatants were assayed using the glycoproteins as substrate, neither contained endoglycosidase activity. This method may be applied to investigate a microbial or other extract for glycosidase activity, and has potential for scale-up on high-throughput platforms.

Sugar administration is an effective adjunctive therapy in the treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia

Treatment of acute and chronic pulmonary infections caused by opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa is limited by the increasing frequency of multidrug bacterial resistance. Here, we describe a novel adjunctive therapy in which administration of a mix of simple sugars-mannose, fucose, and galactose-inhibits bacterial attachment, limits lung damage, and potentiates conventional antibiotic therapy. The sugar mixture inhibits adhesion of nonmucoid and mucoid P. aeruginosa strains to bronchial epithelial cells in vitro. In a murine model of acute pneumonia, treatment with the sugar mixture alone diminishes lung damage, bacterial dissemination to the subpleural alveoli, and neutrophil- and IL-8-driven inflammatory responses. Remarkably, the sugars act synergistically with anti-Pseudomonas antibiotics, including β-lactams and quinolones, to further reduce bacterial lung colonization and damage. To probe the mechanism, we examined the effects of sugars in the presence or absence of antibiotics during growth in liquid culture and in an ex vivo infection model utilizing freshly dissected mouse tracheas and lungs. We demonstrate that the sugar mixture induces rapid but reversible formation of bacterial clusters that exhibited enhanced susceptibility to antibiotics compared with individual bacteria. Our findings reveal that sugar inhalation, an inexpensive and safe therapeutic, could be used in combination with conventional antibiotic therapy to more effectively treat P. aeruginosa lung infections.

Mechanosensitive ATP release maintains proper mucus hydration of airways

The clearance of mucus from the airways protects the lungs from inhaled noxious and infectious materials. Proper hydration of the mucus layer enables efficient mucus clearance through beating of cilia on airway epithelial cells, and reduced clearance of excessively concentrated mucus occurs in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cystic fibrosis. Key steps in the mucus transport process are airway epithelia sensing and responding to changes in mucus hydration. We reported that extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine were important luminal autocrine and paracrine signals that regulated the hydration of the surface of human airway epithelial cultures through their action on apical membrane purinoceptors. Mucus hydration in human airway epithelial cultures was sensed by an interaction between cilia and the overlying mucus layer: Changes in mechanical strain, proportional to mucus hydration, regulated ATP release rates, adjusting fluid secretion to optimize mucus layer hydration. This system provided a feedback mechanism by which airways maintained mucus hydration in an optimum range for cilia propulsion. Understanding how airway epithelia can sense and respond to changes in mucus properties helps us to understand how the mucus clearance system protects the airways in health and how it fails in lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis.

The use of sialidase therapy for respiratory viral infections

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DAS181 is a novel inhaled therapy for the treatment of influenza.

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Treatment targets sialic acid on the cell surface.

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The sialidase removes both α2-3 and α2-6 linked sialic acids.

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The use of an amphiregulin tag to the sialidase anchors it to the cell surface.

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Treatment for 3 days appears effective in treating influenza and parainfluenza.

DAS181 is an inhaled bacterial sialidase which functions by removing sialic acid (Sia) from the surface of epithelial cells, preventing attachment and subsequent infection by respiratory viruses that utilize Sia as a receptor. DAS181 is typical of bacterial sialidases in cleaving Sia α2-3 and Sia α2-6 linkages, and it also has a demonstrated effect against acetylated and hydroxylated forms of Sia. The potency of the compound has been enhanced by coupling the active sialidase with an amphiregulin tag, allowing a longer duration of action and minimizing spread to the systemic circulation. DAS181 is now in Phase II development for the treatment of influenza, and it has also demonstrated activity in individual cases of parainfluenza in immunosuppressed patients. Continued evaluation of the roles and activities of bacterial sialidases is required to expand the range of successful antiviral therapies targeting Sia or its derivatives.

Glycomic analysis of human respiratory tract tissues and correlation with influenza virus infection

The first step in influenza infection of the human respiratory tract is binding of the virus to sialic (Sia) acid terminated receptors. The binding of different strains of virus for the receptor is determined by the α linkage of the sialic acid to galactose and the adjacent glycan structure. In this study the N- and O-glycan composition of the human lung, bronchus and nasopharynx was characterized by mass spectrometry. Analysis showed that there was a wide spectrum of both Sia α2-3 and α2-6 glycans in the lung and bronchus. This glycan structural data was then utilized in combination with binding data from 4 of the published glycan arrays to assess whether these current glycan arrays were able to predict replication of human, avian and swine viruses in human ex vivo respiratory tract tissues. The most comprehensive array from the Consortium for Functional Glycomics contained the greatest diversity of sialylated glycans, but was not predictive of productive replication in the bronchus and lung. Our findings indicate that more comprehensive but focused arrays need to be developed to investigate influenza virus binding in an assessment of newly emerging influenza viruses.

This study was performed to determine what possible glycan receptors for influenza were present in the human respiratory tract. We compared the glycans present on existing published glycan arrays with the actual glycans identified in the human respiratory tract by mass spectrometric analysis to determine how representative these arrays would be for potential binding. The most comprehensive array to date only contained approximately half the range of the actual glycans present. Over the past 5 years we have performed ex-vivo infection of 113 bronchial and 185 lung samples with seasonal, avian and swine influenza viruses, and have demonstrated that the lung is able to be infected by all types of influenza viruses but that the bronchus can also be infected by a limited range of avian, swine and seasonal viruses. The key findings are that there is wide spectrum of glycans present in the respiratory tract which can be used by influenza viruses for infection, and the currently available arrays are not predictive of successful infection. Our findings will be of use for researchers in developing more comprehensive and focused arrays for the screening of emerging influenza viruses and bacteria in order to determine their potential threat to humans.

Characterization of novel O-glycans isolated from tear and saliva of ocular rosacea patients

O-Glycans in saliva and tear isolated from patients suffering from ocular rosacea, a form of inflammatory ocular surface disease, were profiled, and their structures were elucidated using high resolution mass spectrometry. We have previously shown that certain structures, particularly sulfated oligosaccharides, increased in the tear and saliva of rosacea patients. In this study, the structures of these glycans were elucidated using primarily tandem mass spectrometry. There were important similarities in the glycan profiles of tears and saliva with the majority of the structures in common. The structures of the most abundant species common to both tear and saliva, which were also the most abundant species in both, were elucidated. For sulfated species, the positions of the sulfate groups were localized. The majority of the structures were new, with the sulfated glycans comprising mucin core 1- and core 2-type structures. As both saliva and tear are rich in mucins, it is suggested that the O-glycans are mainly components of mucins. The study further illustrates the strong correspondence between the glycans in the tear and saliva of ocular rosacea patients.

Cellular and molecular biology of airway mucins

Airway mucus constitutes a thin layer of airway surface liquid with component macromolecules that covers the luminal surface of the respiratory tract. The major function of mucus is to protect the lungs through mucociliary clearance of inhaled foreign particles and noxious chemicals. Mucus is comprised of water, ions, mucin glycoproteins, and a variety of other macromolecules, some of which possess anti-microbial, anti-protease, and anti-oxidant activities. Mucins comprise the major protein component of mucus and exist as secreted and cell-associated glycoproteins. Secreted, gel-forming mucins are mainly responsible for the viscoelastic property of mucus, which is crucial for effective mucociliary clearance. Cell-associated mucins shield the epithelial surface from pathogens through their extracellular domains and regulate intracellular signaling through their cytoplasmic regions. However, neither the exact structures of mucin glycoproteins, nor the manner through which their expression is regulated, are completely understood. This chapter reviews what is currently known about the cellular and molecular properties of airway mucins.

A procedure for Alcian blue staining of mucins on polyvinylidene difluoride membranes

The isolation and characterization of mucins are critically important for obtaining insight into the molecular pathology of various diseases, including cancers and cystic fibrosis. Recently, we developed a novel membrane electrophoretic method, supported molecular matrix electrophoresis (SMME), which separates mucins on a polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membrane impregnated with a hydrophilic polymer. Alcian blue staining is widely used to visualize mucopolysaccharides and acidic mucins on both blotted membranes and SMME membranes; however, this method cannot be used to stain mucins with a low acidic glycan content. Meanwhile, periodic acid-Schiff staining can selectively visualize glycoproteins, including mucins, but is incompatible with glycan analysis, which is indispensable for mucin characterizations. Here we describe a novel staining method, designated succinylation-Alcian blue staining, for visualizing mucins on a PVDF membrane. This method can visualize mucins regardless of the acidic residue content and shows a sensitivity 2-fold higher than that of Pro-Q Emerald 488, a fluorescent periodate Schiff-base stain. Furthermore, we demonstrate the compatibility of this novel staining procedure with glycan analysis using porcine gastric mucin as a model mucin.

CFTR, mucins, and mucus obstruction in cystic fibrosis

Mucus pathology in cystic fibrosis (CF) has been known for as long as the disease has been recognized and is sometimes called mucoviscidosis. The disease is marked by mucus hyperproduction and plugging in many organs, which are usually most fatal in the airways of CF patients, once the problem of meconium ileus at birth is resolved. After the CF gene, CFTR, was cloned and its protein product identified as a cAMP-regulated Cl(-) channel, causal mechanisms underlying the strong mucus phenotype of the disease became obscure. Here we focus on mucin genes and polymeric mucin glycoproteins, examining their regulation and potential relationships to a dysfunctional cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). Detailed examination of CFTR expression in organs and different cell types indicates that changes in CFTR expression do not always correlate with the severity of CF disease or mucus accumulation. Thus, the mucus hyperproduction that typifies CF does not appear to be a direct cause of a defective CFTR but, rather, to be a downstream consequence. In organs like the lung, up-regulation of mucin gene expression by inflammation results from chronic infection; however, in other instances and organs, the inflammation may have a non-infectious origin. The mucus plugging phenotype of the β-subunit of the epithelial Na(+) channel (βENaC)-overexpressing mouse is proving to be an archetypal example of this kind of inflammation, with a dehydrated airway surface/concentrated mucus gel apparently providing the inflammatory stimulus. Data indicate that the luminal HCO(3)(-) deficiency recently described for CF epithelia may also provide such a stimulus, perhaps by causing a mal-maturation of mucins as they are released onto luminal surfaces. In any event, the path between CFTR dysfunction and mucus hyperproduction has proven tortuous, and its unraveling continues to offer its own twists and turns, along with fascinating glimpses into biology.

The role of Galactose in human health and disease

According to the universal biological findings, cellular bodies are covered with an intense coating of glycans. Diversity of glycan chains, linked to lipids and proteins is due to isomeric and conformational modifications of various sugar residues, giving rise to unique carbohydrate structures with a wide range of sequences and anomeric configurations. Proteins and lipids, carrying specific sugar residues (like Galactose) with particular stereochemical properties (sequence, anomery and linkages) are involved in broad spectrums of biological processes, including intercellular and intracellular interactions, microbial adhesion and cellular signaling. By studying the role of specific seterochemical features of galactose (Gal), we have improved our understanding about the normal physiology and diseases in human bodies.

Infection, inflammation and host carbohydrates: a Glyco-Evasion Hypothesis

Microbial immune evasion can be achieved through the expression, or mimicry, of host-like carbohydrates on the microbial cell surface to hide from detection. However, disparate reports collectively suggest that evasion could also be accomplished through the modulation of the host glycosylation pathways, a mechanism that we call the "Glyco-Evasion Hypothesis". Here, we will summarize the evidence in support of this paradigm by reviewing three separate bodies of work present in the literature. We review how infection and inflammation can lead to host glycosylation changes, how host glycosylation changes can increase susceptibility to infection and inflammation and how glycosylation impacts molecular and cellular function. Then, using these data as a foundation, we propose a unifying hypothesis in which microbial products can hijack host glycosylation to manipulate the immune response to the advantage of the pathogen. This model reveals areas of research that we believe could significantly improve our fight against infectious disease.

Proteomic profiling of Pseudomonas aeruginosa AES-1R, PAO1 and PA14 reveals potential virulence determinants associated with a transmissible cystic fibrosis-associated strain

Background

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). While most CF patients are thought to acquire P. aeruginosa from the environment, person-person transmissible strains have been identified in CF clinics worldwide. The molecular basis for transmissibility and colonization of the CF lung remains poorly understood.

Results

A dual proteomics approach consisting of gel-based and gel-free comparisons were undertaken to analyse protein profiles in a transmissible, early (acute) isolate of the Australian epidemic strain 1 (AES-1R), the virulent burns/wound isolate PA14, and the poorly virulent, laboratory-associated strain PAO1. Over 1700 P. aeruginosa proteins were confidently identified. AES-1R protein profiles revealed elevated abundance of proteins associated with virulence and siderophore biosynthesis and acquisition, antibiotic resistance and lipopolysaccharide and fatty acid biosynthesis. The most abundant protein in AES-1R was confirmed as a previously hypothetical protein with sequence similarity to carbohydrate-binding proteins and database search revealed this gene is only found in the CF-associated strain PA2192. The link with CF infection may suggest that transmissible strains have acquired an ability to rapidly interact with host mucosal glycoproteins.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that AES-1R expresses higher levels of proteins, such as those involved in antibiotic resistance, iron acquisition and virulence that may provide a competitive advantage during early infection in the CF lung. Identification of novel proteins associated with transmissibility and acute infection may aid in deciphering new strategies for intervention to limit P. aeruginosa infections in CF patients.

Modifications of glycans: biological significance and therapeutic opportunities

Carbohydrates play a central role in a wide range of biological processes. As with nucleic acids and proteins, modifications of specific sites within the glycan chain can modulate a carbohydrate's overall biological function. For example, acylation, methylation, sulfation, epimerization, and phosphorylation can occur at various positions within a carbohydrate to modulate bioactivity. Therefore, there is significant interest in identifying discrete carbohydrate modifications and understanding their biological effects. Additionally, enzymes that catalyze those modifications and proteins that bind modified glycans provide numerous targets for therapeutic intervention. This review will focus on modifications of glycans that occur after the oligomer/polymer has been assembled, generally referred to as post-glycosylational modifications.

Genomic expression analysis reveals strategies of Burkholderia cenocepacia to adapt to cystic fibrosis patients' airways and antimicrobial therapy

Pulmonary colonization of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with Burkholderia cenocepacia or other bacteria of the Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) is associated with worse prognosis and increased risk of death. During colonization, the bacteria may evolve under the stressing selection pressures exerted in the CF lung, in particular, those resulting from challenges of the host immune defenses, antimicrobial therapy, nutrient availability and oxygen limitation. Understanding the adaptive mechanisms that promote successful colonization and long-term survival of B. cenocepacia in the CF lung is essential for an improved therapeutic outcome of chronic infections. To get mechanistic insights into these adaptive strategies a transcriptomic analysis, based on DNA microarrays, was explored in this study. The genomic expression levels in two clonal variants isolated during long-term colonization of a CF patient who died from the cepacia syndrome were compared. One of the isolates examined, IST439, is the first B. cenocepacia isolate retrieved from the patient and the other isolate, IST4113, was obtained three years later and is more resistant to different classes of antimicrobials. Approximately 1000 genes were found to be differently expressed in the two clonal variants reflecting a marked reprogramming of genomic expression. The up-regulated genes in IST4113 include those involved in translation, iron uptake (in particular, in ornibactin biosynthesis), efflux of drugs and in adhesion to epithelial lung tissue and to mucin. Alterations related with adaptation to the nutritional environment of the CF lung and to an oxygen-limited environment are also suggested to be a key feature of transcriptional reprogramming occurring during long-term colonization, antibiotic therapy and the progression of the disease.

Analysis of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry: an update for the period 2005-2006

This review is the fourth update of the original review, published in 1999, on the application of MALDI mass spectrometry to the analysis of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates and brings coverage of the literature to the end of 2006. The review covers fundamental studies, fragmentation of carbohydrate ions, method developments, and applications of the technique to the analysis of different types of carbohydrate. Specific compound classes that are covered include carbohydrate polymers from plants, N- and O-linked glycans from glycoproteins, glycated proteins, glycolipids from bacteria, glycosides, and various other natural products. There is a short section on the use of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for the study of enzymes involved in glycan processing, a section on industrial processes, particularly the development of biopharmaceuticals and a section on the use of MALDI-MS to monitor products of chemical synthesis of carbohydrates. Large carbohydrate-protein complexes and glycodendrimers are highlighted in this final section.

Interleukin-1 as a phenotypic immunomodulator in keratinizing squamous metaplasia of the ocular surface in Sjögren's syndrome

Chronic inflammation of the ocular surface in Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is associated with a vision-threatening, phenotypic change of the ocular surface, which converts from a nonkeratinized, stratified squamous epithelium to a nonsecretory, keratinized epithelium. This pathological process is known as squamous metaplasia. Based on a significant correlation between ocular surface interleukin (IL)-1beta expression and squamous metaplasia in patients with SS, we investigated the role of IL-1 in the pathogenesis of squamous metaplasia in an animal model that mimics the clinical characteristics of SS. Using autoimmune-regulator (aire)-deficient mice, we assessed lacrimal gland and ocular surface immunopathology by quantifying the infiltration of major histocompatibility complex class II(+) (I-A(d+)) dendritic cells and CD4(+) T cells. We examined squamous metaplasia using a biomarker of keratinization, small proline-rich protein 1B. We used lissamine green staining as a readout for ocular surface epitheliopathy and Alcian blue/periodic acid-Schiff histochemical analysis to characterize goblet cell muco-glycoconjugates. Within 8 weeks, the eyes of aire-deficient mice were pathologically keratinized with significant epithelial damage and altered mucin glycosylation. Although knockdown of IL-1 receptor 1 did not attenuate lymphocytic infiltration of the lacrimal gland or eye, it significantly reduced ocular surface keratinization, epitheliopathy, and muco-glycoconjugate acidification. These data demonstrate a phenotypic modulation role for IL-1 in the pathogenesis of squamous metaplasia and suggest that IL-1 receptor 1-targeted therapies may be beneficial for treating ocular surface disease associated with SS.