Ulex europaeus agglutinin-I-binding alpha-1,2-fucosylated glycan is applicable for the diagnosis and treatment of meningioma

Meningiomas are the most common primary intracranial tumors, and improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies are needed. Meningioma (MG) exhibits abnormal glycosylation, which can be used for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment strategies. In this study, we use Ulex europaeus agglutinin-I (UEA-I) to develop an in-house enzyme-linked lectin assay for detecting meningioma (MG)-associated glycan in patient serum. The level of serum UEA-I binding glycan (UEAG) was significantly higher in MG and other brain tumors compared with healthy controls (HC). Moreover, we found that patients with a higher grade of MG (WHO Grade II) have a higher level of serum UEAG compared to those with Grade I. The functional analysis in MG cell lines showed that UEA-I can inhibit the migration and invasion of MG cells, with no effect on cell viability, suggesting the role of UEAG in MG progression. In conclusion, we have demonstrated the potential of UEAG as a serum glycobiomarker for diagnosis, and it may also serve as a target for MG treatment.