Ganglioside-induced antiganglioside antibodies from a neuropathy patient cross-react with lipopolysaccharides of Campylobacter jejuni associated with Guillain–Barré syndrome

Abstract

Antiganglioside serum antibodies from a patient treated with gangliosides were examined for cross-reactivity with lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) of Campylobacter jejuni strains associated with Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS). The patient had no preceding infection with C. jejuni and developed chronic progressive motor polyneuropathy following parenteral ganglioside treatment. Serum IgG antibodies recognised GM 1 and GD 1b gangliosides as well as asialo-GM 1, and cross-reactivity was observed with LPSs from C. jejuni O:2, O:4, O:19 and O:41. The results give a clear indication that gangliosides and LPSs from C. jejuni serotypes associated with GBS share common epitopes.