Antibodies to fucogangliosides in neurological diseases.

Abstract

We examined serum antibodies to 4 species of fucogangliosides: fucosyl-GM1, fucosyl-GD1b, alpha galactosyl (alpha fucosyl) GM1 and alpha galactosyl (alpha fucosyl) GD1b, in 329 patients with various neurologic diseases, 32 patients with non-neurologic autoimmune diseases and 50 healthy persons. Nine patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome, 2 with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and 2 with cerebral infarction had IgG anti-fucosyl-GM1 antibody. Five patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome, 1 with cerebral infarction and 1 normal control subject had IgM anti-fucosyl-GM1 antibody, 3 of whom also had IgG anti-fucosyl-GM1 antibody. Sixteen of 17 patients who had IgG or IgM antibody to fucosyl-GM1 showed no sensory dysfunction. Yoshino et al. [J. Neurochem. 1993, 61: 658-663] speculated that anti-fucosyl-GM1 antibody functions in the development of sensory neuropathy, but our results do not support this. Two patients with sensory ataxic neuropathy had high IgM antibody titers to fucosyl-GD1b and alpha galactosyl (alpha fucosyl) GD1b. These fucogangliosides may be the target molecules for serum antibodies in some patients with sensory ataxic neuropathy.

• Authors: N Yuki, T Ariga
• Journal: Journal of the neurological sciences (J Neurol Sci) Vol. 150 Issue 1 Pg. 81-4 (Sep 01 1997) ISSN: 0022-510X [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 9260862 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Autoantibodies
• Biomarkers
• Gangliosides
• fucogangliosides

Topics

• Autoantibodies (blood)
• Biomarkers (blood)
• Carbohydrate Conformation
• Carbohydrate Sequence
• Gangliosides (chemistry, immunology)
• Humans
• Molecular Sequence Data
• Nervous System Diseases (blood, immunology)
• Reference Values