Evaluation of Sphingolipid Metabolism in Silicosis Patients
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 8, 2026
Imaging Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
Published on: June 16, 2020
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.
