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Elger, Tanja ; Huss, Muriel ; Liebisch, Gerhard ; Höring, Marcus ; Loibl, Johanna ; Kandulski, Arne ; Müller, Martina ; Tews, Hauke Christian ; Buechler, Christa

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.



Involved Institutions


Details

Item typeArticle
Journal or Publication TitleScientific Reports
Publisher:Springer
Volume:15
Number of Issue or Book Chapter:1
Date25 June 2025
InstitutionsMedicine > Lehrstuhl für Innere Medizin I
Medicine > Lehrstuhl für Klinische Chemie und Laboratoriumsmedizin
Identification Number
ValueType
10.1038/s41598-025-07308-8DOI
KeywordsCalprotectin, Inflammatory bowel disease, Disease activity, Primary sclerosing cholangitis
Dewey Decimal Classification600 Technology > 610 Medical sciences Medicine
StatusPublished
RefereedYes, this version has been refereed
Created at the University of RegensburgYes
URN of the UB Regensburgurn:nbn:de:bvb:355-epub-769312
Item ID76931

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