Glycomics in the Clinic:A Brief Introduction toGlycosylation-Informed Medicine

<ns3:p>&lt;b&gt;Objective:&lt;/b&gt; Glycans – structurally diverse carbohydrates that decorate proteins and lipids – are fundamental regulators of biological processes. They influence protein folding and stability, receptor signalling, immune modulation, cellular migration and tissue homeostasis. Despite being the most abundant class of biomolecules in living organisms, their biomedical relevance was long neglected. One major challenge lies in their structural complexity: glycan profiles integrate both genetic and environmental inputs, making them highly dynamic indicators of physiological and pathological states. Consequently, aberrant glycosylation is increasingly recognised as a hallmark of disease.&lt;/br&gt; &lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Methods:&lt;/b&gt; This article presents a subjective review of recent literature on the significance of glycosylation in biomedicine.&lt;/br&gt; &lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Results and conclusions:&lt;/b&gt; Characteristic glycomic alterations are observed in cancer, autoimmune disorders, inflammation, congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDGs) and neurodegenerative diseases, positioning glycans as promising biomarkers and prognostic tools. Concurrently, analytical advances, including high-resolution mass spectrometry (MS), glycan arrays and mass spectrometry imaging (MSI), are enabling clinical translation. These technologies are transforming glycan analysis from a descriptive discipline into a driver of biomarker discovery, patient stratification and therapeutic innovation. This overview highlights the biomedical potential of glycans, illustrated through selected examples of analytical approaches and emerging diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.&lt;/br&gt;</ns3:p>