Glycobiology and Human Diseases

This book discusses glycobiology and various forms of human diseases. Topics covered include immunoglobulins, inflammation and glycosylation, the role and therapeutic significance of natural anti-glycan antibodies in malignancies and in normal and aberrant pregnancy, identifying urinary glycans as a possible method for the diagnosis of lysosomal storage diseases, glycobiology of human milk (biological roles and diseases) and pectins as biological modulators of human physiological reactions. The book includes analysis of comprehensive data and some productive conclusions and perspectives.

Introduction: Glycobiology and diseases. Immunoglobulins, inflammation and glycosylation. Analytical Techniques for structural Characterization of Glycosaminoglycan Oligosaccharides. Natural anti-glycan antibodies in malignancies in normal and aberrant pregnancy. Identifying urinary glycans as a possible method for the diagnosis of lysosomal storage diseases. Proteoglycans in health and disease. Glycobiology of Human Milk: Biological Roles and Diseases. Pectins as biological modulators of human physiological reactions. Role of glycosylation in TOLL-like receptor activation and proinflammatory responses. Studying carbohydrate-lectin interactions by computational approaches. Altered sialylation of glycoproteins and its impact on disease pathogenesis. Connection between Parkinson’s disease and Gaucher disease.

Gherman Wiederschain, M.D., Ph.D., is Research Associate Professor and Visiting Scholar in the Biology Department at Boston College, Boston, MA, USA.