Increased catabolism and decreased unsaturation of ganglioside in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Figure 1 Biochemical pathway of ganglioside catabolism. Pathway of ganglioside catabolism adapted from Miklavcic et al[15]. A-series gangliosides are highlighted in the upper boxed area and b-series gangliosides are highlighted in the lower boxed area. Enzyme catalyzing specific metabolic processes are adjacent to respective arrows. Cer: Ceramide; HEXA: Beta-hexosaminidase A; NEU3: Sialidase-3.

Figure 2 Ganglioside catabolism enzymes beta-hexosaminidase A and sialidase-3 are elevated in inflammatory bowel disease. Figure 2A shows representative western blot of enzymes beta-hexosaminidase A (HEXA) and sialidase-3 (NEU3) which regulate ganglioside catabolism (n = 16). Bars in Figure 2B report the mean protein density (with standard error bars) of intestinal HEXA and NEU3 content expressed as a proportion relative to GAPDH (^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01 vs control). CRC: Colorectal cancer; GAPDH: Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase; IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease.