We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us
PURITAN MEDICAL

THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC

Thermo Fisher Scientific provides analytical instruments, lab equipment, specialty diagnostics, reagents and integrat... read more Featured Products: More products

Download Mobile App




Blood Sphingolipidomics Associated with Lupus Cardiovascular Comorbidity

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 04 Dec 2019
Print article
Image: The Quantum Access triple quadruple mass spectrometer (Photo courtesy of Thermo Scientific)
Image: The Quantum Access triple quadruple mass spectrometer (Photo courtesy of Thermo Scientific)
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease with heterogeneous organ involvement and severity. The cause of SLE is unknown, and there is at present no cure. The majority of people with lupus are females, and African-American women are three times more likely than White women to have lupus and develop severe symptoms.

The risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) is almost ten times higher in patients with autoimmune diseases than in the general population. Despite the dyslipidemia and accelerated CVD associated with SLE, the significance of the conventional plasma lipid panel (e.g., cholesterol and triglycerides) in the diagnosis/prognosis of CVD in SLE patients has been in question.

Scientists from the Medical University of South Carolina (Charleston, SC, USA) enrolled 411 new lupus and 141 control participants since April, 2013. Plasma samples have been collected, often across multiple visits, from 358 lupus patients and 179 healthy controls that were negative for autoimmune disease. For this study, 73 female SLE patients and 34 unrelated controls were selected from the cohorts for comparison of their sphingolipid profiles.

Mass spectroscopy was used to measure plasma levels of individual species of five classes of sphingolipids: Cers, sphingoid bases: sphingosine and dihydrosphingosine (dhSph) and their phosphates (S1P and dhSph-1P, respectively), SM, and hexosyl- and lactosylceramides (Hex-Cer and Lact-Cer, respectively). The sphingolipids in plasma extracts were separated and their masses quantitated using high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Lipids eluted during chromatography were detected and quantitated using a Quantum Access triple quadruple mass spectrometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA) equipped with an electrospray ion source (ESI) operating in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) positive ion mode.

The scientists reported that compared to African-American controls, African-American SLE patients had higher levels of ceramides, hexosylceramides, sphingosine and dihydrosphingosine 1-phosphate. Compared to White controls, White SLE patients exhibited higher levels of sphingoid bases and their phosphates, but lower ratios of C16:0 ceramide/sphingosine 1-phosphate and C24:1 ceramide/sphingosine 1-phosphate. White SLE patients with atherosclerosis exhibited lower levels of sphingoid bases compared to White SLE patients without atherosclerosis. In contrast, African-American SLE patients with atherosclerosis had higher levels of sphingoid bases and sphingomyelins compared to African-American SLE patients without atherosclerosis. Compared to White SLE patients with atherosclerosis, African-American SLE patients with atherosclerosis had higher levels of select sphingolipids.

Samar M. Hammad, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology and first author of the study, said, “We know that the African American community has higher high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, which is a good thing, and lower triglycerides, which is a good thing, but nonetheless, they have more heart disease than the white population. So it is about time to start looking at other molecules and other markers that can explain, at least in part, why African Americans develop more cardiovascular disease, and that's particularly true in autoimmune diseases such as lupus and Type 1 diabetes.” The study was published on November 20, 2019 in the journal PLOS ONE.

Related Links:
Medical University of South Carolina
Thermo Fisher Scientific


Platinum Member
COVID-19 Rapid Test
OSOM COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
Specimen Collection & Transport
Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Test
GPP-100 Anti-CCP Kit
Gold Member
ADAMTS-13 Protease Activity Test
ATS-13 Activity Assay

Print article

Channels

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: The study showed the blood-based cancer screening test detects 83% of people with colorectal cancer with specificity of 90% (Photo courtesy of Guardant Health)

Blood Test Shows 83% Accuracy for Detecting Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is the second biggest cause of cancer deaths among adults in the U.S., with forecasts suggesting 53,010 people might die from it in 2024. While fewer older adults are dying from this... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: The Gazelle Hb Variant Test (Photo courtesy of Hemex Health)

First Affordable and Rapid Test for Beta Thalassemia Demonstrates 99% Diagnostic Accuracy

Hemoglobin disorders rank as some of the most prevalent monogenic diseases globally. Among various hemoglobin disorders, beta thalassemia, a hereditary blood disorder, affects about 1.5% of the world's... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: The new platform is designed to perform blood-based diagnoses of nontuberculosis mycobacteria (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

New Blood Test Cuts Diagnosis Time for Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Infections from Months to Hours

Breathing in nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is a common experience for many people. These bacteria are present in water systems, soil, and dust all over the world and usually don't cause any problems.... Read more

Industry

view channel
Image: These new assays are being developed for use on the recently introduced DxI 9000 Immunoassay Analyzer (Photo courtesy of Beckman Coulter)

Beckman Coulter and Fujirebio Expand Partnership on Neurodegenerative Disease Diagnostics

Beckman Coulter Diagnostics (Brea, CA, USA) and Fujirebio Diagnostics (Tokyo, Japan) have expanded their partnership focused on the development, manufacturing and clinical adoption of neurodegenerative... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.