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Updated: Jul 8, 2026
Imaging Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
Published on: June 16, 2020
Evaluation of Sphingolipid Metabolism in Silicosis Patients
Neslihan Aksu1, Tuba Reçber, Suat Sari
1From the Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey (N.A., M.C., S.S.); Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey (T.R., E.N.); Department of Pulmonology, Ankara Occupational and Environmental Diseases Hospital (T.N.O.), Ankara, Turkey; Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey (S.S.); Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kırklareli University, Kırklareli, Turkey (Y.K.); and Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey (E.O., Y.O.).
Objective:
Silicosis is a fibrotic lung disease caused by the inhalation of crystalline silica. This study investigates sphingolipid metabolism in silicosis patients using plasma samples.
Methods:
GC-MS-based untargeted metabolomics identified alterations in the sphingolipid pathway, while LC-MS targeted specific ceramide and sphingomyelin species. Enzyme activities of acid ceramidase, neutral sphingomyelinase, sphingosine kinase-1, and sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase-1 were also assessed.
Results:
Results showed elevated sphingolipid levels and reduced enzyme activities in patients versus controls. In silico molecular docking suggested interactions between SiO 2 and pathway enzymes. Metabolomic analysis revealed disrupted sphingolipid and fatty acid pathways.
Conclusions:
These findings highlight the role of sphingolipid dysregulation in silicosis pathogenesis and suggest its potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target. Understanding these mechanisms could improve management and treatment strategies for this debilitating disease.
