Glycosaminoglycans and glycolipids as potential biomarkers in lung cancer

Targeting nanoparticles to lung cancer-derived A549 cells based on changes on interstitial stiffness in biomimetic models

The mechanical properties and forces of the extracellular environment modulate alveolar epithelial cell behavior. To model cancer/fibrosis associated stiffening and dynamic stretch, a biomimetic device was developed that imitates the active forces in the alveolus, while allowing control over the interstitial matrix stiffness. Alveolar epithelial A549 cancer cells were cultured on the devices and their transcriptome was profiled with RNA sequencing. Pathway analysis showed soft materials upregulated the expression of proteoglycans associated with cancer. Consequently, liposomes were modified with peptides targeting heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfates of the cell surface glycocalyx. Chondroitin sulfate A targeting improved uptake in cells seeded on stiff biomimetic devices, which is attributed to increased chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan localization on cell surfaces in comparison to cells grown on soft devices. These results demonstrate the critical role that mechanical stiffness and stretch play in the alveolus and the importance of including these properties in nanotherapeutic design.

Discriminating Benign from Malignant Lung Diseases Using Plasma Glycosaminoglycans and Cell-Free DNA

We aimed to investigate the use of free glycosaminoglycan profiles (GAGomes) and cfDNA in plasma to differentiate between lung cancer and benign lung disease, in a cohort of 113 patients initially suspected of lung cancer. GAGomes were analyzed in all samples using the MIRAM® Free Glycosaminoglycan Kit with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography and electrospray ionization triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. In a subset of samples, cfDNA concentration and NGS-data was available. We detected two GAGome features, 0S chondroitin sulfate (CS), and 4S CS, with cancer-specific changes. Based on the observed GAGome changes, we devised a model to predict lung cancer. The model, named the GAGome score, could detect lung cancer with 41.2% sensitivity (95% CI: 9.2-54.2%) at 96.4% specificity (95% CI: 95.2-100.0%, n = 113). When we combined the GAGome score with a cfDNA-based model, the sensitivity increased from 42.6% (95% CI: 31.7-60.6%, cfDNA alone) to 70.5% (95% CI: 57.4-81.5%) at 95% specificity (95% CI: 75.1-100%, n = 74). Notably, the combined GAGome and cfDNA testing improved the sensitivity, compared to cfDNA alone, especially in ASCL stage I (55.6% vs 11.1%). Our findings show that plasma GAGome profiles can enhance cfDNA testing performance, highlighting the applicability of a multiomics approach in lung cancer diagnostics.

Discovery of Novel 2-Oxoacetamide Derivatives as B3GAT3 Inhibitors for the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Beta-1,3-glucuronosyltransferase (B3GAT3), overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and negatively correlated to prognosis, is a promising target for cancer therapy. Currently, no studies have reported small molecule inhibitors of B3GAT3. In this study, we designed and synthesized a series of small-molecule inhibitors of B3GAT3 through virtual screening and structure optimization. The lead compound TMLB-C16 exhibited potent B3GAT3 inhibitory activity (KD = 3.962 μM) by effectively suppressing proliferation and migration, and inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in MHCC-97H (IC50= 6.53 ± 0.18 μM) and HCCLM3 (IC50= 6.22 ± 0.23 μM) cells. Furthermore, compound TMLB-C16 demonstrated favorable pharmacokinetic properties with a relatively high bioavailability of 68.37%. It significantly inhibited tumor growth in both MHCC-97H and HCCLM3 xenograft tumor models without causing obvious toxicity. These results indicate that compound TMLB-C16 is an effective small molecule inhibitor of B3GAT3, providing a basis for the future development of B3GAT3-targeted drugs.

Protein glycosylation in lung cancer from a mass spectrometry perspective

Lung cancer is a severe disease for which better diagnostic and therapeutic approaches are urgently needed. Increasing evidence implies that aberrant protein glycosylation plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis and progression of lung cancer. Differences in glycosylation patterns have been previously observed between healthy and cancerous samples as well as between different lung cancer subtypes, which suggests untapped diagnostic potential. In addition, understanding the changes mediated by glycosylation may shed light on possible novel therapeutic targets and personalized treatment strategies for lung cancer patients. Mass spectrometry based glycomics and glycoproteomics have emerged as powerful tools for in-depth characterization of changes in protein glycosylation, providing valuable insights into the molecular basis of lung cancer. This paper reviews the literature on the analysis of protein glycosylation in lung cancer using mass spectrometry, which is dominated by manuscripts published over the past 5 years. Studies analyzing N-glycosylation, O-glycosylation, and glycosaminoglycan patterns in tissue, serum, plasma, and rare biological samples of lung cancer patients are highlighted. The current knowledge on the potential utility of glycan and glycoprotein biomarkers is also discussed.

Biomarkers in Cancer Detection, Diagnosis, and Prognosis

Biomarkers are vital in healthcare as they provide valuable insights into disease diagnosis, prognosis, treatment response, and personalized medicine. They serve as objective indicators, enabling early detection and intervention, leading to improved patient outcomes and reduced costs. Biomarkers also guide treatment decisions by predicting disease outcomes and facilitating individualized treatment plans. They play a role in monitoring disease progression, adjusting treatments, and detecting early signs of recurrence. Furthermore, biomarkers enhance drug development and clinical trials by identifying suitable patients and accelerating the approval process. In this review paper, we described a variety of biomarkers applicable for cancer detection and diagnosis, such as imaging-based diagnosis (CT, SPECT, MRI, and PET), blood-based biomarkers (proteins, genes, mRNA, and peptides), cell imaging-based diagnosis (needle biopsy and CTC), tissue imaging-based diagnosis (IHC), and genetic-based biomarkers (RNAseq, scRNAseq, and spatial transcriptomics).

Inter- and intratumoral proteomics and glycosaminoglycan characterization of ALK rearranged lung adenocarcinoma tissues: a pilot study

Lung cancer is one of the most common types of cancer with limited therapeutic options, therefore a detailed understanding of the underlying molecular changes is of utmost importance. In this pilot study, we investigated the proteomic and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) profile of ALK rearranged lung tumor tissue regions based on the morphological classification, mucin and stromal content. Principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering revealed that both the proteomic and GAG-omic profiles are highly dependent on mucin content and to a lesser extent on morphology. We found that differentially expressed proteins between morphologically different tumor types are primarily involved in the regulation of protein synthesis, whereas those between adjacent normal and different tumor regions take part in several other biological processes (e.g. extracellular matrix organization, oxidation-reduction processes, protein folding) as well. The total amount and the sulfation profile of heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate showed small differences based on morphology and larger differences based on mucin content of the tumor, while an increase was observed in both the total amount and the average rate of sulfation in tumors compared to adjacent normal regions.

Compositional Analysis of Glycosaminoglycans in Different Lung Cancer Types-A Pilot Study

Lung cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancer types. Studying the molecular changes that occur in lung cancer is important to understand tumor formation and identify new therapeutic targets and early markers of the disease to decrease mortality. Glycosaminoglycan chains play important roles in various signaling events in the tumor microenvironment. Therefore, we have determined the quantity and sulfation characteristics of chondroitin sulfate and heparan sulfate in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded human lung tissue samples belonging to different lung cancer types as well as tumor adjacent normal areas. Glycosaminoglycan disaccharide analysis was performed using HPLC-MS following on-surface lyase digestion. Significant changes were identified predominantly in the case of chondroitin sulfate; for example, the total amount was higher in tumor tissue compared to the adjacent normal tissue. We also observed differences in the degree of sulfation and relative proportions of individual chondroitin sulfate disaccharides between lung cancer types and adjacent normal tissue. Furthermore, the differences in the 6-O-/4-O-sulfation ratio of chondroitin sulfate were different between the lung cancer types. Our pilot study revealed that further investigation of the role of chondroitin sulfate chains and enzymes involved in their biosynthesis is an important aspect of lung cancer research.

Association between glycolipids and risk of obstructive sleep apnea: A population-based study

Background

This study aimed to investigate the associations between multiple glycolipid biomarkers and the risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Methods

Participants (10,286) aged from 35 to 74 years old were included in this cross-sectional study from the baseline survey of the Guangzhou Heart Study. OSA was ascertained using both Berlin Questionnaire and STOP-BANG Questionnaire. Fasting blood samples were collected from each participant; fasting blood glucose (FBG) and serum concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-CH), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-CH), total cholesterol (TC), and triglyceride (TG) were determined. Odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated using the multivariate logistic regression model after adjustment for covariates.

Results

Of the participants included, 15.56% were categorized into the pre-OSA group, and 8.22% into the OSA group. When comparing the highest with the lowest quartiles, HDL-HC was associated with a 22% (OR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.65–0.94) and 41% (OR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.45–0.78) reduced risk of pre-OSA and OSA, triglyceride was associated with a 32% (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.08–1.60) and a 56% (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.18–2.07) increased risk of pre-OSA and OSA, and FBG was associated with a 1.37-fold (95% CI 1.13–1.67) risk of pre-OSA and 1.38-fold (95% CI 1.03–1.85) risk of OSA. A significant exposure-response trend was observed for HDL-HC, TG, and FBG with both OSA and Pre-OSA (all p < 0.05). No significant association of LDL-CH and TC with the risk of both pre-OSA and OSA was observed.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that serum HDL-CH was inversely associated with OSA risk, while elevated serum TG and FBG could increase the risk of OSA. Healthy glycolipid metabolism warrants more attention in the field of OSA prevention.

State-of-the-art glycosaminoglycan characterization

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are heterogeneous acidic polysaccharides involved in a range of biological functions. They have a significant influence on the regulation of cellular processes and the development of various diseases and infections. To fully understand the functional roles that GAGs play in mammalian systems, including disease processes, it is essential to understand their structural features. Despite having a linear structure and a repetitive disaccharide backbone, their structural analysis is challenging and requires elaborate preparative and analytical techniques. In particular, the extent to which GAGs are sulfated, as well as variation in sulfate position across the entire oligosaccharide or on individual monosaccharides, represents a major obstacle. Here, we summarize the current state-of-the-art methodologies used for GAG sample preparation and analysis, discussing in detail liquid chromatograpy and mass spectrometry-based approaches, including advanced ion activation methods, ion mobility separations and infrared action spectroscopy of mass-selected species.

Identification and Structural Characterization of Novel Chondroitin/Dermatan Sulfate Hexassacharide Domains in Human Decorin by Ion Mobility Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Chondroitin sulfate (CS) and dermatan sulfate (DS) are found in nature linked to proteoglycans, most often as hybrid CS/DS chains. In the extracellular matrix, where they are highly expressed, CS/DS are involved in fundamental processes and various pathologies. The structural diversity of CS/DS domains gave rise to efforts for the development of efficient analytical methods, among which is mass spectrometry (MS), one of the most resourceful techniques for the identification of novel species and their structure elucidation. In this context, we report here on the introduction of a fast, sensitive, and reliable approach based on ion mobility separation (IMS) MS and MS/MS by collision-induced dissociation (CID), for the profiling and structural analysis of CS/DS hexasaccharide domains in human embryonic kidney HEK293 cells decorin (DCN), obtained after CS/DS chain releasing by β-elimination, depolymerization using chondroitin AC I lyase, and fractionation by size-exclusion chromatography. By IMS MS, we were able to find novel CS/DS species, i.e., under- and oversulfated hexasaccharide domains in the released CS/DS chain. In the last stage of analysis, the optimized IMS CID MS/MS provided a series of diagnostic fragment ions crucial for the characterization of the misregulations, which occurred in the sulfation code of the trisulfated-4,5-Δ-GlcAGalNAc[IdoAGalNAc]2 sequence, due to the unusual sulfation sites.

Lipid profiling in malignant mesothelioma reveals promising signatures for diagnosis and prognosis: A plasma-based LC-MS lipidomics study

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Malignant mesothelioma (MM), being a rare and aggressive carcinoma, can barely be cured. Incidence of this cancer will keep climbing up in the next few decades since its major carcinogen, asbestos, is still in use in many countries. Unfortunately, prognosis of MM is unsatisfactory principally due to poor early diagnosis as a result of its long latency period and ambiguous symptoms. Lipids are known to contribute to cellular structure, signaling, and energy storage, and are widely reported to be related with tumorigenesis. Therefore, we aim to discover novel lipid biomarkers by plasma-based lipidomics that may improve MM diagnosis.

METHODS

Plasma samples from 25 MM patients and 32 healthy controls (HCs) were collected and analysed using a high-throughput liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Univariate and multivariate analyses were subsequently performed to visualize the separation trend between two groups and to screen for differential feature ions. Ions were annotated using LipidSearch 4.2 and their enriched pathways were detected on LIPEA. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used for analysing each annotated lipid's diagnostic value. Survival analyses were performed to investigate each lipid's prognostic value.

RESULTS

In supervised partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), clear separation between MM and HC groups was observed. A total of 34 differential lipids were annotated, among which 5 upregulated and 29 downregulated. Levels of plasma triacylglycerols (TGs) were higher in smoking versus non-smoking patients, and lower in female versus male patients. The top six lipids possessing highest diagnostic value included two phosphatidylethanolamines (PEs), two phosphatidylcholines (PCs) and two ceramides. Moreover, elevated circulating TG levels were associated with poorer survival, whereas increased monohexosylceramide (Hex1Cer) might be beneficial.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study revealed differentially expressed lipid patterns in MM compared to HC. PC, PE, and ceramides showed outstanding diagnostic performance, while TG and Hex1Cer exhibited significant prognostic values. Nevertheless, more studies should verify these trends as well as further investigating on underlying mechanisms.

Extracellular Matrix: Surface Proteoglycans

Cell surface proteoglycans, such as syndecans and glypicans, regulate molecular interactions that mediate cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, and differentiation. Through these activities, surface proteoglycans modulate critical biological processes of development, inflammation, infection, tissue repair, and cancer metastasis. Proteoglycans are unique glycoproteins comprised of one or several glycosaminoglycans attached covalently to core proteins. Glycosaminoglycans mediate the majority of ligand-binding functions of proteoglycans. Accumulating evidence indicates that surface proteoglycans regulate the onset, progression, and outcome of lung diseases, including lung injury, infection, fibrosis, and cancer. This article will review key features of surface proteoglycan biology in lung health and disease.

Prognostic Significance of Alternative Splicing Genes in Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Endocervical Adenocarcinoma

Background

Alternative splicing (AS) acts on many tumors and its relationship with cervical squamous cell carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma (CESC) needs to be researched.

Methods

RNA sequencing data and clinical information of CESC cohorts were obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and SpliceSeq was used to analyze the splicing profile of mRNA in CESC. UpSetR displayed the intersections among AS events and univariate analysis chose survival-associated AS and splicing factor (SF) genes. Functional analysis was operated on Enrichr, STRING database and MCODE analysis were used to evaluate protein-protein interaction (PPI) information. LASSO and multivariate analysis constructed prognostic model and risk analysis of tumor infiltrating immune cells was also conducted.

Results

A total of 402 AS-generated genes were found to be associated with CESC prognosis. Functional analysis showed that Golgi to lysosome transport was enriched. PPI network suggested that UBA52 was most functional. Dendritic cells activated, dendritic cells resting, macrophages M0, mast cells resting, T cells CD4 memory activated and T cells CD8 were most correlative with the risk score.

Conclusion

SFs and AS events can directly or indirectly affect the prognosis of CESC patients and this study identified SNRPA and CELF2 as two CESC-engaged SFs.

Pulmonary tissue-mimetic hydrogel niches for small cell lung cancer cell culture

Although small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is characterized by early metastasis and high resistance to most anti-cancer therapeutics, resulting in poor prognosis, surgical treatment is unavailable for most patients. Instead, clinical treatment for SCLC patients relies largely on chemotherapy. Therefore, an analysis platform supporting research into the physiology of SCLC cells and novel anti-cancer drugs is strongly needed. Decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) hydrogel is a promising candidate cell-culture system that could provide a tissue-specific environment. However, dECM-based hydrogels have limited property control, poor mechanical properties, and loss of components during decellularization. In this study, porcine decellularized lung tissue and hyaluronic acid (HA) were hybridized via photopolymerization to form a pulmonary tissue-mimetic hydrogel. dECM solution was obtained by decellularization and pepsin digestion. The dECM and HA were then modified with methacrylic moieties, which produced dECM-methacrylate (dECM-MA) and HA methacrylate (HA-MA). dECM-MA/HA-MA hydrogels were fabricated by photopolymerization using a photoinitiator under UV light irradiation. The mechanical properties of the dECM-based hydrogel were compared with those of native tissue. SCLC cells (NCI-H69) were encapsulated in multiple types of dECM-based hydrogels, and they exhibited higher cell proliferation, drug resistance, and CD44 expression in the presence of dECM-MA and HA-MA than in the control condition.

Xanthine Oxidase Drives Hemolysis and Vascular Malfunction in Sickle Cell Disease

OBJECTIVE

Chronic hemolysis is a hallmark of sickle cell disease (SCD) and a driver of vasculopathy; however, the mechanisms contributing to hemolysis remain incompletely understood. Although XO (xanthine oxidase) activity has been shown to be elevated in SCD, its role remains unknown. XO binds endothelium and generates oxidants as a byproduct of hypoxanthine and xanthine catabolism. We hypothesized that XO inhibition decreases oxidant production leading to less hemolysis. Approach and Results: Wild-type mice were bone marrow transplanted with control (AA) or sickle (SS) Townes bone marrow. After 12 weeks, mice were treated with 10 mg/kg per day of febuxostat (Uloric), Food and Drug Administration-approved XO inhibitor, for 10 weeks. Hematologic analysis demonstrated increased hematocrit, cellular hemoglobin, and red blood cells, with no change in reticulocyte percentage. Significant decreases in cell-free hemoglobin and increases in haptoglobin suggest XO inhibition decreased hemolysis. Myographic studies demonstrated improved pulmonary vascular dilation and blunted constriction, indicating improved pulmonary vasoreactivity, whereas pulmonary pressure and cardiac function were unaffected. The role of hepatic XO in SCD was evaluated by bone marrow transplanting hepatocyte-specific XO knockout mice with SS Townes bone marrow. However, hepatocyte-specific XO knockout, which results in >50% diminution in circulating XO, did not affect hemolysis levels or vascular function, suggesting hepatocyte-derived elevation of circulating XO is not the driver of hemolysis in SCD.

CONCLUSIONS

Ten weeks of febuxostat treatment significantly decreased hemolysis and improved pulmonary vasoreactivity in a mouse model of SCD. Although hepatic XO accounts for >50% of circulating XO, it is not the source of XO driving hemolysis in SCD.

The Role of Proteoglycans in Cancer Metastasis and Circulating Tumor Cell Analysis

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are accessible by liquid biopsies via an easy blood draw. They represent not only the primary tumor site, but also potential metastatic lesions, and could thus be an attractive supplement for cancer diagnostics. However, the analysis of rare CTCs in billions of normal blood cells is still technically challenging and novel specific CTC markers are needed. The formation of metastasis is a complex process supported by numerous molecular alterations, and thus novel CTC markers might be found by focusing on this process. One example of this is specific changes in the cancer cell glycocalyx, which is a network on the cell surface composed of carbohydrate structures. Proteoglycans are important glycocalyx components and consist of a protein core and covalently attached long glycosaminoglycan chains. A few CTC assays have already utilized proteoglycans for both enrichment and analysis of CTCs. Nonetheless, the biological function of proteoglycans on clinical CTCs has not been studied in detail so far. Therefore, the present review describes proteoglycan functions during the metastatic cascade to highlight their importance to CTCs. We also outline current approaches for CTC assays based on targeting proteoglycans by their protein cores or their glycosaminoglycan chains. Lastly, we briefly discuss important technical aspects, which should be considered for studying proteoglycans.

The Emerging Role of Adhesion GPCRs in Cancer

Aberrant expression, function, and mutation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and their signaling partners, G proteins, have been well documented in many forms of cancer. These cell surface receptors and their endogenous ligands are implicated in all aspects of cancer including proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis. Adhesion GPCRs (aGPCRs) form the second largest family of GPCRs, most of which are orphan receptors with unknown physiological functions. This is mainly due to our limited insight into their structure, natural ligands, signaling pathways, and tissue expression profiles. Nevertheless, recent studies show that aGPCRs play important roles in cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix and cell-cell communication, processes that are dysregulated in cancer. Emerging evidence suggests that aGPCRs are implicated in migration, proliferation, and survival of tumor cells. We here review the role of aGPCRs in the five most common types of cancer (lung, breast, colorectal, prostate, and gastric) and emphasize the importance of further translational studies in this field.

Chondroitin sulfate derived theranostic and therapeutic nanocarriers for tumor-targeted drug delivery

The standard chemotherapy is facing the challenges of lack of cancer selectivity and development of drug resistance. Currently, with the application of nanotechnology, the rationally designed nanocarriers of chondroitin sulfate (CS) have been fabricated and their unique features of low toxicity, biocompatibility, and active and passive targeting made them drug delivery vehicles of the choice for cancer therapy. The hydrophilic and anionic CS could be incorporated as a building block into- or decorated on the surface of nanoformulations. Micellar nanoparticles (NPs) self-assembled from amphiphilic CS-drug conjugates and CS-polymer conjugates, polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) and nanogels of CS have been widely implicated in cancer directed therapy. The surface modulation of organic, inorganic, lipid and metallic NPs with CS promotes the receptor-mediated internalization of NPs to the tumor cells. The potential contribution of CS and CS-proteoglycans (CSPGs) in the pathogenesis of various cancer types, and CS nanocarriers in immunotherapy, radiotherapy, sonodynamic therapy (SDT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer are summarized in this review paper.

Characterization of Cell Glycocalyx with Mass Spectrometry Methods

The cell membrane plays an important role in protecting the cell from its extracellular environment. As such, extensive work has been devoted to studying its structure and function. Crucial intercellular processes, such as signal transduction and immune protection, are mediated by cell surface glycosylation, which is comprised of large biomolecules, including glycoproteins and glycosphingolipids. Because perturbations in glycosylation could result in dysfunction of cells and are related to diseases, the analysis of surface glycosylation is critical for understanding pathogenic mechanisms and can further lead to biomarker discovery. Different mass spectrometry-based techniques have been developed for glycan analysis, ranging from highly specific, targeted approaches to more comprehensive profiling studies. In this review, we summarized the work conducted for extensive analysis of cell membrane glycosylation, particularly those employing liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (LC-MS) in combination with various sample preparation techniques.

The dual role of the glycosaminoglycan chondroitin-6-sulfate in the development, progression and metastasis of cancer

The remarkable structural heterogeneity of chondroitin sulfate (CS) and dermatan sulfate (DS) generates biological information that can be unique to each of these glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), and changes in their composition are translated into alterations in the binding profiles of these molecules. CS/DS can bind to various cytokines and growth factors, cell surface receptors, adhesion molecules, enzymes and fibrillar glycoproteins of the extracellular matrix, thereby influencing both cell behavior and the biomechanical and biochemical properties of the matrix. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge concerning CS/DS metabolism in the human cancer stroma. The remodeling of the GAG profile in the tumor niche is manifested as a substantial increase in the CS content and a gradual decrease in the proportion between DS and CS. Furthermore, the composition of CS and DS is also affected, which results in a substantial increase in the 6‐O‐sulfated and/or unsulfated disaccharide content, which is concomitant with a decrease in the 4‐O‐sulfation level. Here, we discuss the possible impact of alterations in the CS/DS sulfation pattern on the binding capacity and specificity of these GAGs. Moreover, we propose potential consequences of the stromal accumulation of chondroitin‐6‐sulfate for the progression and metastasis of cancer.

Lipids as Biomarkers of Cancer and Bacterial Infections

Lipids are ubiquitous molecules, known to play important roles in various cellular processes. Alterations to the lipidome can therefore be used as a read-out of the signs of disease, highlighting the importance to consider lipids as biomarkers in addition of nucleic acid and proteins. Lipids are among the primary structural and functional constituents of biological tissues, especially cell membranes. Along with membrane formation, lipids play also a crucial role in cell signalling, inflammation and energy storage. It was shown recently that lipid metabolism disorders play an important role in carcinogenesis and development. As well, the role of lipids in disease is particularly relevant for bacterial infections, during which several lipid bacterial virulence factors are recognized by the human innate immune response, such as lipopolysaccharide in Gram-negative bacteria, lipoteichoic acid in Gram-positive bacteria, and lipoglycans in mycobacteria. Compared to nucleic acids and proteins, a complete analysis of the lipidome, which is the comprehensive characterization of different lipid families, is usually very challenging due to the heterogeneity of lipid classes and their intrinsic physicoproperties caused by variations in the constituents of each class. Understanding the chemical diversity of lipids is therefore crucial to understanding their biological relevance and, as a consequence, their use as potential biomarkers for non-infectious and infectious diseases. This mini-review exposes the current knowledge and limitations of the use of lipids as biomarkers of the top global killers which are cancer and bacterial infections.

Glycosaminoglycans in human cerebrospinal fluid determined by LC-MS/MS MRM

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) were recovered from human cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and after their conversion to disaccharides using polysaccharide lyases were analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry using multiple reaction monitoring. CSF showed ng/mL levels of heparan sulfate, chondroitin sulfates and hyaluronan. The amounts and disaccharide composition of these GAGs differed from those found in human plasma. This approach may offer a new method for the discovery of biomarkers for diseases of the central nervous system.

Overexpression of CLEC18B Associates With the Proliferation, Migration, and Prognosis of Glioblastoma

C-type lectin domain family 18 member B (CLEC18B), encoding a superfamily of CLEC, has been found to be expressed in some of cancer cells, which possibly indicates it associated with cancer. However, the defined functional characterizations of CLEC18B in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) progression still remain unclear. To this end, clinical relevance of CLEC18B expression with GBM patients’ prognosis was analyzed both in The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset of 174 tissues and 40 GBM tumor tissues collected from our hospital by using the Kaplan–Meier survival and the Cox proportional hazard model. The role of CLEC18B in GBM was determined by loss-of-function assay using small interfering RNA approach in vitro. Functional and signaling analyses were also performed to understand how CLEC18B facilitated the aggressiveness of GBM at molecular and cellular levels using Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, wound-healing, transwell, and Western blot analyses. Results from our analyses showed that CLEC18B was markedly elevated in both GBM tissues and cells, and exhibited strong inverse correlation with overall survival in GBM patients. Moreover, CLEC18B was identified as an independent predictor of patient survival. Functionally, knockdown of CLEC18B inhibited the growth, migration, and invasion of GBM cells. Mechanistic studies revealed that silencing of CLEC18B resulted in downregulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling activity. Collectively, our findings provide clinical, molecular, and cellular evidence of CLEC18B as a promising prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for GBM.