title: Review: Glycosphingolipids in health and disease.
abstract: Glycosphingolipids are ubiquitous membrane constituents that are subdivided in neutral or acidic fractions (gangliosides and sulfatides). Their analysis requires extraction and separation by thin-layer chromatography or high-performance liquid chromatography. Ganglioside composition changes occur in response to variations in cellular morphology and function. Glycosphingolipids are implicated in the pathogenesis of various diseases, including glycosphingolipidoses, peripheral neuropathies caused by anti-ganglioside antibodies, and secretory diarrhea. Gangliosides play a role in the induction of apoptosis. For example, ceramide-induced apoptosis is associated with increased synthesis of a ganglioside, GD3. Gangliosides are also potential diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan 48073-6769, USA.
authors.forename: Xinbo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Frederick L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Kiechle
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D015415:Biomarkers; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology*; D006028:Glycosphingolipids / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D013106:Sphingolipidoses / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006028:Glycosphingolipids