title: T cell-dependent activity of ganglioside GM1-specific B cells in Guillain-Barré syndrome and multifocal motor neuropathy in vitro.
abstract: Synthesis of anti-ganglioside GM1 antibodies of the IgM class by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) from patients with immune-mediated neuropathies and motor neuron diseases and from normal controls was stimulated by Pokeweed mitogen (PWM) in vitro. In patients with acute Guillain-Barré syndrome or multifocal motor neuropathy and high serum titers of IgM anti-ganglioside GM1 antibodies this culture response was greatly enhanced as compared to controls and already detectable in unstimulated cultures. Limiting dilution analysis demonstrated high frequencies of GM1-specific B cells in these patients. Anti-ganglioside GM1 antibodies of the IgG and IgA class were only produced by PBMNC from patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome corresponding to serum titers. In cultures taken at intervals over 6 months in vitro B cell activity for IgM, IgG and IgA anti-ganglioside GM1 antibodies in two Guillain-Barré syndrome patients declined accompanied by clinical improvement and falling serum titers. We conclude that GM1-specific PWM-responsive B cells pre-exist in peripheral blood and respond to T cell-dependent stimulation in Guillain-Barré syndrome and multifocal motor neuropathy.
authors.affiliation: Neurologische Klinik, Medizinische Einrichtungen, Heinrich-Heine Universität, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Heidenreich
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Leifeld
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jovin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D011129:Polyradiculoneuropathy / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside