Enhancement of TNF-alpha production by ganglioside GM2 in human mononuclear cell culture

SOME gangliosides have been regarded as autoantigens of immune-mediated neu rological disorders such as Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), Miller Fisher sy ndrome and multifocal motor neuropathy. On the other hand, proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interferon-g amma (IFN-gamma), may be important in the pathogenesis of some neuroimmunol ogical disorders. To clarify the interactions between immune cells and gang liosides, we investigated the effects of gangliosides on the production of proinflammatory cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cultu res. We found that ganglioside GM2 markedly enhances the production of TNF- alpha and that TNF-alpha induction by coated GM2 is still more marked. Thes e findings suggest that immune cells, especially monocytes/macrophages, cau se inflammation upon encountering GM2. NeuroReport 10:703-706 (C) 1999 Lipp incott Williams & Wilkins.