27 Feb Brigham Researchers Developing Novel Glycan Marker to Predict Cardiovascular Disease
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. Hoshi
Rosangela Akemi Hoshi, Ph.D.
Lemann Foundation Cardiovascular Research Postdoctoral Fellowship
Center for Lipid Metabolomics
Divisions of Preventive and Cardiovascular Medicine
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Boston, MA
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Would you describe the IgG N-glycan profile?
Response: Glycans are sugar coatings of proteins, made of monosaccharide building blocks, that are involved in a variety of biological pathways. Different sugar structures can dictate or modify the protein’s activity through specific interactions with cellular receptors. For example, proteins lacking glycans have a reduced level or a complete loss of function. Glycans are of such importance that the 2022 Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded for glycan-based science.
In this study, we examined glycans attached to Immunoglobulins G (IgG) and their link with incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) due to their impact on IgG inflammatory properties. Since inflammation is not only a cause, but also an aggravating factor and a mediator of a worse prognosis in cardiometabolic disorders and CVD, we investigated whether different glycan structures may characterize an at-risk phenotype for CVD development.
Determining glycan profiles involved in multiple conditions can serve prognostic and diagnostic purposes. Yet, unlike other types of macromolecules, glycans are still not as much explored, characterizing a promising but underappreciated class that should be further investigated.
MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?
Response: In this study, we detected an IgG glycan biosignature protective for CVD in the presence of galactose or sialic acid molecules in the glycan structure. Additionally, we found that lacking these molecules increases the risk of future CVD. We also identified a score based on IgG glycans that positively associated with CVD incidence and improved risk prediction performance.
MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?
Response: There is a potential IgG glycan biosignature that may play a role in CVD risk by regulating the pro- or anti-inflammatory responses of IgG. Therefore, IgG glycans might be novel biomarkers for CVD. Furthermore, these markers have the potential for risk stratification, prevention, diagnostics, and possibly as drug targets, pending future research.
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a results of this study?
Response: Since glycans are promising novel biomarkers, understanding the relationship between the glycome and diseases can contribute new insights to the fields of glycobiology and risk prediction. Future research should target populations with ethnic diversity and applications in various diseases and public health practice.
Any disclosures? Disclosures and funding sources are listed in the publication https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.123.323623
Citation: N-Glycosylation Profiles of Immunoglobulin G and Future Cardiovascular Events
Rosangela A. Hoshi, Branimir Plavša, Yanyan Liu, Irena Trbojević-Akmačić, Robert J. Glynn, Paul M. Ridker, Richard D. Cummings, Ivan Gudelj, Gordan Lauc, Olga V. Demler, Samia Mora
13 Feb 2024 https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.123.323623 Circulation Research. 2024;0
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Last Updated on February 27, 2024 by Marie Benz MD FAAD