Serum Antibodies to N-Glycolylneuraminic Acid Are Elevated in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and Correlate with Increased Disease Pathology in Cmah −/−mdx Mice

Humans cannot synthesize the common mammalian sialic acid N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) because of an inactivating deletion in the cytidine-5'-monophospho-(CMP) –N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase (CMAH) gene responsible for its synthesis. Human Neu5Gc deficiency can lead to development of anti-Neu5Gc serum antibodies, the levels of which can be affected by Neu5Gc-containing diets and by disease. Metabolic incorporation of dietary Neu5Gc into human tissu es in the face of circulating antibodies against Neu5Gc-bearing glycans is thought to exacerbate inflammation-driven diseases like cancer and atherosclerosis.

Source: American Journal of Pathology - July 20, 2021 Category: Pathology Authors: Paul T. Martin, Kunio Kawanishi, Anna Ashbrook, Bethannie Golden, Annie Samraj, Kelly E. Crowe, Deborah A. Zygmunt, Jonathan Okerblom, Hai Yu, Agatha Maki, Sandra Diaz, Xi Chen, Paul M.L. Janssen, Ajit Varki Tags: Regular article Source Type: research