title: Characterization of oversulfated chondroitin sulfate rich in 4,6-O-disulfated disaccharides in breast cyst fluids collected from human breast gross cysts.
abstract: Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) from breast cyst fluid (BCF) of gross cysts, subdivided into apocrine and flattened, directly collected from 27 gross-cystic-breast-disease (GCBD)-affected women were analysed. Heparan sulfate, not further investigated, and chondroitin sulfate were identified. This last polysaccharide, in a content of 25-27 µg ml(-1) BCF and having a high molecular mass (~20 000-22 000), was found rich in glucuronic acid (~96%-98%) and mainly sulfated in position 4 of the N-acetyl-galactosamine (~60%-64%). Moreover, the presence of ~19%-24% of uncommon 4,6-O-disulfated disaccharides CS-E inside the polysaccharide chains with a high charge density of ~1.15-1.20 was determined. No substantial differences between apocrine and flattened cysts were observed. The current study describes the first effort to examine the yield and distribution of complex macromolecules like GAGs in BCF, and the understanding of their structure may help explain some functions associated with physiological and pathological conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Section of Clinical Biochemistry, Unit of Cell Biology, "Carlo Bo" University, Urbino, Italy.
authors.forename: Ferdinando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mannello
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maccari
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ligi
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Canale
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Galeotti
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Volpi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000737:chemistry*; D020420:Cyst Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D004187:Disaccharides / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005348:Fibrocystic Breast Disease / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D004187:Disaccharides; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates
keywords: breast cancer; breast cyst fluids; chondroitin sulfate; dermatan sulfate; glycosaminoglycan; human gross breast cyst disease