The Expression and/or Role of Glycoconjugates in Physiological and Pathological Conditions

Dear Colleagues,

Glycobiology is a developing field of studying both the structure and functions of glycoconjugates (glycoproteins and glycolipids). Over the past fifteen to twenty years, outstanding studies have demonstrated that glycomolecules are capable of governing numerous biological events. Examples include the following: immune responses, protein–protein and /or protein–carbohydrate interactions, cell signaling pathways, cancer development and progression and host–pathogen interactions, among others. Thanks to technological advances, the study of glycan structures, which is a hallmark of all living cells, is becoming a cutting-edge discipline in basic and clinical research, and has contributed to the discovery of new biomarkers and therapeutic targets for different diseases. In this Research Topic, we invite researchers to contribute papers that address the impact of glycobiology on modern medicine, and how this emerging area of knowledge has contributed to generating new information in both physiological and pathological conditions.

Dr. Leonardo Freire-de-Lima
Dr. Leonardo Marques Da Fonseca
Dr. Célio Geraldo Freire-de-Lima
Dr. Alexandre Morrot
Guest Editors

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• glycobiology
• glycoproteins
• glycolipids
• glycosyltransferases
• glycoconjugates

Title: O-glycosylated fibronectin expression in infectious disease: the first description in lesions of patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis
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Abstract: Although still neglected in several areas of the biomedical field, especially in parasitology, over the last ten to fifteen years, many outstanding articles have shown that the host’s extracellular matrix (ECM) components play indispensable roles in many biological events. It has been proved by many research groups that the intimate relationship between immune cells, ECM glycoproteins and microbial pathogens is one the factors directing the outcome of infection diseases. Among the different ECM components, the glycoprotein fibronectin (FN) stands out. Since the 90's, it has been demonstrated that FN expression influences the interaction of Leishmania sp, the etiologic agent of leishmaniasis, with the host cell. However, the glycophenotype of the glycoprotein, as well as its impact on the course of infection, are still unknown. Here, we demonstrate for the first time the expression of an O-glycosylated isoform of FN, called oncofetal FN (onf-FN) in lesions of patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis. In addition, we demonstrated that human macrophages present in the inflammatory microenvironment of cutaneous lesions are potential producers of this unusual glycoprotein. Since this oncofetal isoform of FN is structurally different from the plasma one, and able to impact numerous biological events, such as cell migration, modulation of the epithelial-mesenchymal phenotype and production of metalloproteinases, its functions in the course of infection by parasitic protozoa need to be better understood. Taken together, our findings are unprecedented, and report for the first time the expression of O-glycosylated onf-FN in a case of infectious disease.