Sialic acid (Sia), the acylated derivative of the nine-carbon sugar neuraminic acid, is a terminal component of the oligosaccharide chains of many glycoproteins and glycolipids. In light of its important biological and pathological functions, the relationship between Sia and coronary artery disease (CAD) has been drawing great attentions recently. Large-scale epidemiological surveys have uncovered a positive correlation between plasma total Sia and CAD risk. Further research demonstrated that N-Acetyl-Neuraminic Acid, acting as a signaling molecule, triggered myocardial injury via activation of Rho/ROCK-JNK/ERK signaling pathway both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, there were some evidences showing that the aberrant sialylation of low-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein receptor and blood cells was involved in the pathological process of atherosclerosis. Significantly, the Sia regulates immune response by binding to sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectin (Siglecs). The Sia-Siglecs axis is involved in the immune inflammation of atherosclerosis. The generation of Sia and sialylation of glycoconjugate both depend on many enzymes, such as sialidase, sialyltransferase and trans-sialidase. Abnormal activation or level of these enzymes associated with atherosclerosis, and inhibitors of them might be new CAD treatments. In this review, we focus on summarizing current understanding of Sia metabolism and of its relevance to atherosclerosis.

中文翻译：

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唾液酸代谢可作为动脉粥样硬化的潜在治疗靶标

唾液酸（Sia）是九碳糖神经氨酸的酰化衍生物，是许多糖蛋白和糖脂寡糖链的末端组分。鉴于其重要的生物学和病理学功能，Sia与冠状动脉疾病（CAD）之间的关系近来引起了极大的关注。大规模的流行病学调查发现血浆总Sia与CAD风险呈正相关。进一步的研究表明，作为信号分子的N-乙酰神经氨酸在体内外均通过激活Rho / ROCK-JNK / ERK信号通路触发了心肌损伤。此外，有证据表明低密度脂蛋白的唾液酸化异常，低密度脂蛋白受体和血细胞参与了动脉粥样硬化的病理过程。重要的是，Sia通过与唾液酸结合的免疫球蛋白样凝集素（Siglecs）结合来调节免疫反应。Sia-Siglecs轴与动脉粥样硬化的免疫炎症有关。Sia的产生和糖缀合物的唾液酸化都取决于许多酶，例如唾液酸酶，唾液酸转移酶和反唾液酸酶。这些酶的异常激活或水平与动脉粥样硬化有关，它们的抑制剂可能是新的CAD治疗方法。在这篇综述中，我们集中于总结对Sia代谢及其与动脉粥样硬化的相关性的当前理解。Sia-Siglecs轴与动脉粥样硬化的免疫炎症有关。Sia的产生和糖缀合物的唾液酸化都取决于许多酶，例如唾液酸酶，唾液酸转移酶和反唾液酸酶。这些酶的异常激活或水平与动脉粥样硬化有关，它们的抑制剂可能是新的CAD治疗方法。在这篇综述中，我们集中于总结对Sia代谢及其与动脉粥样硬化的相关性的当前理解。Sia-Siglecs轴与动脉粥样硬化的免疫炎症有关。Sia的产生和糖缀合物的唾液酸化都取决于许多酶，例如唾液酸酶，唾液酸转移酶和反唾液酸酶。这些酶的异常激活或水平与动脉粥样硬化有关，它们的抑制剂可能是新的CAD治疗方法。在这篇综述中，我们集中于总结对Sia代谢及其与动脉粥样硬化的相关性的当前理解。