Lysosomal exoglycosidases as biomarkers of systemic diseases - what's new?
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 2, 2026

Glycan Node Analysis: A Bottom-up Approach to Glycomics
Published on: May 22, 2016
Iwona Ptaszyńska-Sarosiek1, Weronika Wiktoria Sarosiek2, Gabriela Iga Sarosiek2
1Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland.
Abstract:
Numerous studies suggest that lysosomal exoglycosidases can be utilised in the diagnosis and monitoring of various diseases. This paper summarises recent reports on the clinical use of N-acetyl-β-D-hexosaminidase (HEX), β-glucuronidase (GLU), β-galactosidase (GAL), α-mannosidase (MAN) and α-L-fucosidase (FUC) in systemic diseases. The clinical relevance of exoglycosidases has been demonstrated in liver disease, alcohol use disorder (AUD) in adults, nicotine addiction, kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, nasopharyngeal disease and musculoskeletal disorders. Exoglycosidase activity correlates with disease severity and is characterised by high sensitivity, though low specificity. However, lysosomal exoglycosidases may have a particular application in addiction medicine. Compared to routine biomarkers, they are more sensitive and specific to alcohol-induced damage. Importantly, lysosomal exoglycosidases (especially HEX and its isoenzymes) show a greater correlation with acute ethanol exposure and are less dependent on individual factors (age, gender, comorbidities).
Related Concept Videos
Overview of Exosomes
Stahl et al. discovered exosomes in 1983, but the exosomes were initially considered waste products released from the...
Lysosomal Hydrolases
Oligosaccharide Assembly
Multiple sugar molecules that may or may...
Proteoglycans
