ANTI-FUCOSYL-GM1 GANGLIOSIDE IGG AND IGM AUTOANTIBODIES IN HUMAN SERUM - NO LINK TO PATHOLOGY

Anti-fucosyl-GM1 ganglioside antibodies were detected in sera of five persons: four patients with autoimmune neuropathies and, more recently , Ige antibodies in one with Graves' disease (Adler et al., Autoimmuni ty 18, 149-152, 1994) [1]. In the latter case, we were unable to find any relation between the occurrence of antibodies and thyroid disease. Now we report a detailed study on the anti-glycolipid antibodies in t his patient. We found that her serum contained not only IgG but also a high level of anti-FucGM1 IgM antibodies, with a titer stable over a period of 5 years of treatment and follow-up. The carbohydrate structu re of the epitope recognized by IgG and some of IgM antibodies seems t o consist of Fuc-Gal-GalNAc-Gal- or a part of this sequence. Moreover, this patient's serum contained other IgM antibodies active against Fu cGM1 and also asialo GM1 glycolipids. Our results indicate that anti-F ucGM1 ganglioside antibodies of G and M classes occur in serum of this patient with no apparent adverse health effects.