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Elevated long-to-very-long-chain ceramide ratio correlates with disease severity in inflammatory bowel disease and primary sclerosing cholangitis
Elger, Tanja, Huss, Muriel, Liebisch, Gerhard
, Höring, Marcus
, Loibl, Johanna, Kandulski, Arne
, Müller, Martina, Tews, Hauke Christian and Buechler, Christa
(2025)
Elevated long-to-very-long-chain ceramide ratio correlates with disease severity in inflammatory bowel disease and primary sclerosing cholangitis.
Scientific Reports 15 (1).
Date of publication of this fulltext: 02 Jul 2025 09:30
Article
DOI to cite this document: 10.5283/epub.76931
Abstract
There is strong evidence that ceramides play a significant role in the pathology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and chronic liver injury. Long-chain (LC) and very long-chain (VLC) ceramides have opposing functions, yet the associations of circulating levels of ceramide species in patients with IBD and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC)—as inflammatory biliary-hepatic disease closely linked ...
There is strong evidence that ceramides play a significant role in the pathology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and chronic liver injury. Long-chain (LC) and very long-chain (VLC) ceramides have opposing functions, yet the associations of circulating levels of ceramide species in patients with IBD and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC)—as inflammatory biliary-hepatic disease closely linked to IBD— with disease severity remain poorly studied. This study investigates whether serum levels of ceramide (Cer) and hexosylceramide, a glycated ceramide derivative, are associated with disease severity in these conditions. Serum levels of eight ceramide and five hexosylceramide species were measured in 16 healthy controls, 57 patients with IBD, 7 patients with PSC, and 13 patients with PSC-IBD. Lipid levels were determined using direct flow injection analysis with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. Patients with IBD exhibited higher levels of Cer 18:1;O2/16:0 and Cer 18:1;O2/18:0 compared to controls. Their LC/VLC ceramide ratio was elevated and positively correlated with C-reactive protein and fecal calprotectin. However, ceramide and hexosylceramide levels were not associated with stool consistency, disease localization, or extra-intestinal manifestations. Patients with PSC and PSC-IBD also had increased LC/VLC ceramide ratios, primarily due to a decline in VLC ceramide species. In PSC-IBD, this ratio correlated positively with cholestasis markers. Additionally, serum hexosylceramide 18:1;O2/16:0 and 24:1 levels were specifically elevated in PSC. This study demonstrates that an altered LC/VLC ceramide balance is associated with disease severity in IBD, PSC-IBD, and PSC, highlighting its potential as a biomarker for IBD, PSC-IBD, and PSC. As our PSC cohorts were small, a confirmatory study is required.
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| Item type | Article | ||||
| Journal or Publication Title | Scientific Reports | ||||
| Publisher: | Springer | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volume: | 15 | ||||
| Number of Issue or Book Chapter: | 1 | ||||
| Date | 25 June 2025 | ||||
| Institutions | Medicine > Lehrstuhl für Innere Medizin I Medicine > Lehrstuhl für Klinische Chemie und Laboratoriumsmedizin | ||||
| Identification Number |
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| Keywords | Calprotectin, Inflammatory bowel disease, Disease activity, Primary sclerosing cholangitis | ||||
| Dewey Decimal Classification | 600 Technology > 610 Medical sciences Medicine | ||||
| Status | Published | ||||
| Refereed | Yes, this version has been refereed | ||||
| Created at the University of Regensburg | Yes | ||||
| URN of the UB Regensburg | urn:nbn:de:bvb:355-epub-769312 | ||||
| Item ID | 76931 |
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