Microarray technology using glycans extracted from natural sources for serum antibody fluorescent detection.

Glycan microarray technology enables the screening of large numbers of glycan samples for glycan-protein interactions, based on the presentation of immobilized glycans in a discrete pattern on a solid support. Here we describe a glycan microarray approach employing glycans enzymatically released from proteins and lipids of in vitro cultured cells and of human and animal tissues, followed by the detection of serum antibody binding. This approach may be used to detect autoantibodies in cancer as well as in autoimmune diseases.