A new Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Imaging Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-IMS) method to spatially profile the location and distribution of multiple N-linked glycan species in tissues is described. Application of an endoglycosidase, peptide N-glycosidase F (PNGaseF), directly on tissues followed by incubation releases N-linked glycan species amenable to detection by MALDI-IMS. The method has been designed to simultaneously profile the multiple glycan species released from intracellular organelle and cell surface glycoproteins, while maintaining histopathology compatible preparation workflows. A recombinant PNGaseF enzyme was sprayed uniformly across mouse brain tissue slides, incubated for two hours, then sprayed with 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid matrix for MALDI-IMS analysis. Using this basic approach, global snapshots of major cellular N-linked glycoforms were detected, including their tissue localization and distribution, structure and relative abundance. Off-tissue extraction and modification of glycans from similarly processed tissues and further mass spectrometry or HPLC analysis was done to assign structural designations. MALDI-IMS has primarily been utilized to spatially profile proteins, lipids, drug and small molecule metabolites in tissues, but it has not been previously applied to N-linked glycan analysis. The translatable MALDI-IMS glycan profiling workflow described herein can readily be applied to any tissue type of interest. From a clinical diagnostics perspective, the ability to differentially profile N glycans and correlate their molecular expression to histopathological changes can offer new approaches to identifying novel disease related targets for biomarker and therapeutic applications.

Purpose Using prostatic fluids rich in glycoproteins like prostate specific antigen (PSA) and prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) , the goal of this study was to identify the structural types and relative abundance of glycans associated with prostate cancer status for subsequent use in emerging mass spectrometry-based glycopeptide analysis platforms. Experimental Design A series of pooled samples of expressed prostatic secretions (EPS) and exosomes reflecting different stages of prostate cancer disease were used for N-linked glycan profiling by three complementary methods, MALDI-TOF profiling, normal-phase HPLC separation, and triple quadropole MS analysis of PAP glycopeptides. Results Glycan profiling of N-linked glycans from different EPS fluids indicated a global decrease in larger branched tri- and tetra-antennary glycans. Differential exoglycosidase treatments indicated a substantial increase in bisecting N-acetylglucosamines correlated with disease severity. A triple quadrupole MS analysis of the N-linked glycopeptides sites from PAP in aggressive prostate cancer pools was done to cross-reference with the glycan profiling data. Conclusion and clinical relevance Changes in glycosylation as detected in EPS fluids reflect the clinical status of prostate cancer. Defining these molecular signatures at the glycopeptide level in individual samples could improve current approaches of diagnosis and prognosis.

Purpose Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary cancer of the liver that is predominantly the result of infection with a hepatotropic virus such as hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV). As liver cancer is often asymptomatic, the development of sensitive non-invasive biomarkers is needed for early detection and improved survival. Experimental Design We have previously identified alterations in the N-linked glycosylation of serum proteins with the development of HCC and identified many of the proteins that contained the altered glycosylation. In the current study, we compared the ability of the identified proteins to diagnose HCC with the total serum glycan analysis. Results Surprisingly, glycan analysis of total serum had the greatest ability to distinguish HCC from cirrhosis with an AUROC of 0.851, a sensitivity of 73% at a specificity of 88%. When total glycan sequencing was combined with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), the sensitivity increased to 95% at a specificity of 90%. Conclusion and clinical relevance Changes in glycosylation as detected in whole serum could be used to diagnose HCC with greater sensitivity and specificity than that observed through the analysis of specific protein glycoforms or protein levels. Such an assay could have value in the management of those at risk for the development of HCC.

Alterations in N-linked glycosylation have long been associated with cancer but for the most part, the reasons why have remained poorly understood. Here we show that increased core fucosylation is associated with de-differentiation of primary hepatocytes and with the appearance of markers indicative of a transition of cells from an epithelial to a mesenchymal state. This increase in core fucosylation was associated with increased levels of two enzymes involved in α-1,6 linked fucosylation, GDP-mannose 4, 6-dehydratase (Gmds) and to a lesser extent fucosyltransferase 8 (Fut8). In addition, the activation of cancer-associated cellular signaling pathways in primary rat hepatocytes can increase core fucosylation and induce additional glycoform alterations on hepatocyte proteins. Specifically, we show that increased levels of protein sialylation and α-1,6-linked core fucosylation are observed following activation of the β-catenin pathway. Activation of the Akt signaling pathway or induction of hypoxia also results in increased levels of fucosylation and sialylation. We believe that this knowledge will help in the better understanding of the genetic factors associated with altered glycosylation and may allow for the development of more clinically relevant biomarkers.

In this report, the possibility of pharmacologically altering the hepatitis B virus (HBV) epitopes presented by major histocompatibility complex class I on infected cells is demonstrated. The HBV middle envelope glycoprotein (MHBs) maturation appears to require calnexin-mediated folding. This interaction is dependent on glucosidases in the endoplasmic reticulum. Prevention of HBV envelope protein maturation in cultured cells through use of glucosidase inhibitors, such as 6-O-butanoyl castanospermine and N-nonyl deoxynorjirimycin, resulted in MHBs degradation by proteasomes. The de-N-glycosylation associated with polypeptide degradation was predicted to result in conversion of asparagine residues into aspartic acid residues. This prediction was confirmed by showing that peptides corresponding to the N-glycosylation sequons of MHBs, but with aspartic acid replacing asparagine, (1) can prime human cytotoxic T lymphocytes that recognize HBVproducing cells and (2) that the presentation of these envelope motifs by major histocompatibility complex class I is enhanced by incubation with glucosidase inhibitors. Moreover, although peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from woodchucks chronically infected with woodchuck hepatitis virus and vaccinated with woodchuck hepatitis virus surface antigen could be induced to recognize the natural MHBs asparagine-containing peptides, only cells isolated from animals treated with glucosidase inhibitor recognized the aspartic acid-containing peptides. Conclusion: These data suggest that pharmacological intervention with glucosidase inhibitors can alter the MHBs epitopes presented. This editing of the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide results in a new epitope, or ''editope'', with possible medical significance. (HEPATOLOGY 2010;52:1242-1250 C hronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) is characterized by a lack of robust T cell responsiveness to viral antigens. 1,2 Indeed, an inadequate CD8þ T cell response is thought to be key to the establishment of chronicity. Typically, virusspecific CD8þ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are elicited by infected cells presenting virus-derived peptides by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I. However, poor CTL responses in chronic HBV infection are likely a consequence of multiple factors, 1,2 including viral interference with efficient processing and presentation of HBV epitopes.3 Thus, methods that can cause enhanced recognition or presentation of viral epitopes by MHC class I might be useful as therapeutic interventions and as research tools.Viral glycoproteins represent important targets for any antiviral immune response. HBV is an enveloped

Liver disease, in the form of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for >700,000 deaths worldwide. A major reason for this is late diagnosis of HCC. The currently used biomarker, serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is elevated in 40–60% of those with HCC and other markers that can either compliment or replace AFP are desired. Our previous work has identified a number of proteins that contain altered glycans in HCC. Specifically, these altered glycans were increased levels of core and outer arm fucosylation. To determine the clinical usefulness of those identified glycoproteins, a plate based assay was developed that allowed for the detection of fucosylated glycoforms. While this method was applicable to a number of independent patient sets, it was unable to specifically detect fucosylated glycoforms in many patient samples. That is, some material was present in serum that led to non-specific signal in the lectin-fluorescence-linked immunosorbent assay (lectin-FLISA). To address this issue, a systematic process was undertaken to identify the material. This material was found to be increased levels of lectin reactive IgM. Removal of both IgG and IgM using a multi-step protein A/G incubation and filtration step removed the contaminating signal and allowed for the analysis of specific protein glycoforms. This assay was subsequently used on two sample sets, one that was shown previously to be unable to be tested via a lectin FLISA and in a larger independent sample set. The clinical usefulness of this assay in the early detection of HCC is discussed.

Purpose Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a malignancy of the bile ducts. The purpose of this discovery study was to identify effective serum markers for surveillance of cholangiocarcinoma. Experimental design Using a glycomic method, patients with CCA were determined to have increased levels of alpha-1,3 and alpha-1,6 linked fucosylated glycan. Proteomic analysis of the serum fucosylated proteome identified proteins such as alpha-2-macroglobulin, kininogen, hemopexin, fetuin-A, alpha-1 anti-trypsin, and ceruloplasmin as being hyperfucosylated in HCC. The levels of these glycoproteins in 109 patients with CCA, primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), and control patients were compared to the performance of CA-19-9, the current “gold standard” assay for cholangiocarcinoma. Results Fucosylated Fetuin-A (fc-Fetuin-A) had the best ability to differentiate CCA from PSC, with an AUROC of 0.812 or 0.8665 at differentiating CCA from those with PSC or other liver disease. CA-19-9 had poor ability to differentiate PSC from cholangiocarcinoma (AUROC of 0.625). Conclusion and clinical relevance Using glycomic and proteomic methods we identified a set of proteins that contain altered glycan in the sera of those with CCA. One of these proteins, fucosylated Fetuin-A may have value in the surveillance of people at risk for the development of cholangiocarcinoma.

Alterations in N-linked glycosylation have been associated with the development of cancer. One such modification, core fucosylation has been observed in many cancers and is actually used clinically in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the reason why core fucosylation is increased in cancer is unclear. In this study, we show that the activation of specific cancer-associated cellular signaling pathways can increase core fucosylation and induce additional glycoform alterations on hepatocyte proteins. Specifically, we were able to determine that increased levels of protein sialylation and alpha-1,6-linked core fucosylation were observed following activation of the beta catenin pathway. Activation of the AKT pathway or induction of hypoxia also resulted in increased levels of fucosylation and sialylation. Furthermore, we show that increased core fucosylation was directly associated with de-differentiation of hepatocytes and with the transition of cells from an epithelial to a mesenchymal state. In conclusion, we show that increased core fucosylation, a modification of N-linked glycoproteins associated with HCC, occurs as a result of the process of cellular de-differentiation. We believe that this knowledge may help in the use of this glycan modification in the management of those with HCC. Citation Format: Anand S. Mehta, Mary Ann Comunale, Siddhartha Rawat, Jessica Garner, Lucy Betesh, Mengjun Wang, Laura Steel, Michael Bouchard. Increased core fucosylation, a glycan alteration associated with cancer, is the result of hepatocyte dedifferentiation. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 4982. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-4982