Leukocyte and complement activation by GM1-specific antibodies is associated with acute motor axonal neuropathy in rabbits.
Acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN) in humans is associated with the presence of GM1-specific antibodies. Immunization of rabbits with GM1-containing ganglioside mixtures, purified GM1, or Campylobacter jejuni lipo-oligosaccharide exhibiting a GM1-like structure elicits GM1-specific antibodies, but axonal polyneuropathy only occurs in a subset of animals. This study aimed to dissect the molecular basis for the variable induction of AMAN in rabbits. Therefore, we analyzed the pro-inflammatory characteristics of GM1-specific antibodies in plasma samples from ganglioside-immunized rabbits with and without neurological deficits. GM1-specific plasma samples from all rabbits with AMAN were capable of activating both complement and leukocytes, in contrast to none of the plasma samples from rabbits without paralysis. Furthermore, GM1-specific IgG-mediated activation of leukocytes was detected before the onset of clinical signs. These data suggest that AMAN only occurs in rabbits that develop GM1-specific antibodies with pro-inflammatory properties.
van Sorge
Nina M
NM
Department of Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Lundlaan 6, 3584 EA Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Yuki
Nobuhiro
N
Jansen
Marc D
MD
Nishimoto
Yukihiro
Y
Susuki
Keiichiro
K
Wokke
John H J
JH
van de Winkel
Jan G J
JG
van den Berg
Leonard H
LH
van der Pol
W-Ludo
WL
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D001369:Axons; D015550:Cell Degranulation; D003167:Complement Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside / Q000276:immunology*; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D009123:Muscle Hypotonia / Q000276:immunology; D010243:Paralysis / Q000276:immunology; D011817:Rabbits; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000276:immunology
D001323:Autoantibodies; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D005677:G(M1) Ganglioside