A. Neisser et al., SERUM ANTIBODIES AGAINST GANGLIOSIDES AND CAMPYLOBACTER-JEJUNI LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDES IN MILLER-FISHER-SYNDROME, Infection and immunity, 65(10), 1997, pp. 4038-4042
Seven patients with Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS), six in the acute pha
se and one in the recovery phase, were investigated for serum antibodi
es against gangliosides and purified lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from di
fferent strains of Campylobacter jejuni, including the MFS-associated
serotypes 0:2 and 0:23. Immunoglobulin G antibodies against gangliosid
es GT1a and GQ1b were found in five of six patients in the acute phase
of disease, Three of these patients also displayed antibodies to gang
lioside GD2, a finding not previously reported for MFS, All anti-GT1a-
and anti-GQ1b-seropositive patients showed antibody binding to C. jej
uni LPS, predominantly to 0:2 and 0:23 LPS. Antibody cross-reactivity
between gangliosides GT1a and GQ1b and 0:2 and 0:23 LPS was demonstrat
ed by adsorption studies. This cross-reactivity between gangliosides a
nd C. jejuni LPS, which is obviously due to oligosaccharide homologies
, mag be an important pathogenetic factor in the development of MFS af
ter C. jejuni infection.