MONOCLONAL IGM ANTIBODIES TO GM1 AND ASIALO-GM1 IN CHRONIC NEUROPATHIES CROSS-REACT WITH CAMPYLOBACTER-JEJUNI LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDES

We tested monoclonal IgM anti-GM1 and asialo-GM1 antibodies from 6 pat ients with chronic motor neuropathies for binding to lipopolysaccharid es (LPS) from three strains of Campylobacter jejuni. Four of the 6 pat ients showed strong reactivity with LPS from at least one of the three C. jejuni strains tested as shown by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assa y or western blot. Preabsorption with GM1 or asialo-GM1, of blocking w ith cholera toxin, prevented antibody binding to LPS. These studies in dicate that human anti-GM1 or anti-asialo-GM1 antibodies cross-react w ith LPS from certain strains of C. jejuni, and that bacterial LPS migh t provide antigenic stimuli for the activation of B cells expressing a nti-GM1 antibodies.