title: Recovery from Guillain-Barré syndrome is associated with increased levels of neutralizing autoantibodies to interferon-gamma.
abstract: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an immune-mediated demyelinating disease of peripheral nerves that is often preceded by an infection and is usually self-restricted. The Th1 cytokine interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) is thought to be disease-promoting in organ-specific autoimmune diseases. We report the spontaneous induction of IFN-gamma and a mechanism involving the generation of neutralizing autoantibodies (Aabs) to IFN-gamma that may regulate the disease. Numbers of cells spontaneously secreting IFN-gamma in peripheral blood were augmented in GBS, in particular at the peak of clinical disease, and decreased during recovery. This decrease was associated with elevated serum concentrations of IgG Aabs to IFN-gamma. These Aabs specifically bound to IFN-gamma and neutralized its effects in a biological assay. Aabs to IFN-gamma are proposed to be another important regulatory mechanism in IFN-gamma-driven GBS.
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institute, Huddinge University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Elkarim
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dahle
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mustafa
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Press
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ekerfelt
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ernerudh
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Link
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bakhiet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D011129:Polyradiculoneuropathy / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007371:Interferon-gamma