Antibody to GalNAc-GD1a and GalNAc-GM1b in Guillain-Barré syndrome subsequent to Campylobacter jejuni enteritis.
N-Acetylgalactosaminyl GD1a (GalNAc-GD1a) is a proposed target molecule for serum antibody in some patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) (Kusunoki et al., 1994). We examined autoantibody to GalNAc-GD1a in sera from 58 GBS patients. Eight GBS patients had high IgG anti-GalNAc-GD1a antibody titers, 3 of whom also had high IgM anti-GalNAc-GD1a antibody titers. These 8 patients had experienced gastrointestinal infection before the onset of their neurological symptoms. Campylobacter jejuni was isolated from 4 of them. An absorption test indicated the presence of the GalNAc-GD1a epitope in lipopolysaccharides of C. jejuni. Sera that had anti-GalNAc-GD1a antibody reacted with several acidic glycolipids in bovine peripheral nerve, one of which was identified as N-acetylgalactosaminyl GM1b (GalNAc-GM1b). Serum binding to GalNAc-GM1b was decreased by absorption with GalNAc-GD1a. The presence of GalNAc-GM1b as well as GalNAc-GD1a has been reported in human peripheral nerves. We assume that C. jejuni, which bears the [GalNAc beta 1-4 (NeuAc alpha 2-3) Gal beta 1-3 GalNAc beta 1-] epitope, is the immunogen and that the glycoconjugates with the epitope are target molecules for the autoantibody in peripheral nerves of some GBS patients.
Yuki
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Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan. yuki@dokkyomed.ac.jp
Taki
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T
Handa
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S
D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D002417:Cattle; D004751:Enteritis / Q000276:immunology*; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000276:immunology; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000276:immunology*; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology; D011129:Polyradiculoneuropathy / Q000276:immunology*
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D005732:Gangliosides; D006017:Glycolipids; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; C021298:ganglioside, GD1a; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside; C029624:ganglioside M1b