title: Motor neuron syndrome and monoclonal IgM with antibody activity against gangliosides GM1 and GD1b.
abstract: We demonstrated that an IgM M-protein from a patient with motor neuron syndrome had antibody activity against gangliosides GM1, GD1b, and asialo GM1. Studies with a sugar-binding lectin suggested that the epitope in the patient's M-IgM involved the Gal(beta 1-3) GalNAc moiety. Immunohistological techniques demonstrated staining of axons in the lumbar roots, granular cells, and white matter in the cerebellum by the patient's M-IgM. We propose that, in this case, an autoimmune mechanism of motor neuron syndrome associated with a monoclonal protein is most likely.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nardelli
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Steck
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Barkas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schluep
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jerusalem
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside / Q000276:immunology*; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000276:immunology*; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000276:immunology; D013577:Syndrome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001323:Autoantibodies; D005732:Gangliosides; C033851:ganglioside, GD1b; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside