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Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: OBJECTIVE, METHODS, RESULTS. Meshes: Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate, Biomarkers, Humans, Lectins, Multienzyme Complexes, Muscular Diseases, N-Acetylneuraminic Acid, Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules, Polysaccharides.
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Is sialylation of Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen a noninvasive blood-based biomarker for GNE myopathy? Context: The exact pathomechanism of GNE myopathy remains elusive, but likely involves aberrant sialylation. We explored sialylation status of blood-based glycans as potential disease markers. We employed immunoblotting, lectin histochemistry and mass spectrometry. GNE myopathy muscle showed hyposialylation of predominantly O-linked glycans. The O-linked glycome of patients' plasma compared with controls showed increased amounts of desialylated Thomsen-Friedenreich (T)-antigen, and/or decreased amounts of its sialylated form, ST-antigen. Importantly, all patients had increased T/ST ratios compared with controls. These ratios were normalized in a patient treated with intravenous immunoglobulins as a source of sialic acid.
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 GNE myopathy clinical trial data will reveal whether T/ST ratios correlate to muscle function.  Final Decision: yes