RECOVERY FROM GUILLAIN-BARRE-SYNDROME IS ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED LEVELS OF NEUTRALIZING AUTOANTIBODIES TO INTERFERON-GAMMA

Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is an immune-mediated demyelinating dise ase of peripheral nerves that is often preceded by an infection and is usually self-restricted. The Th1 cytokine interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma ) is thought to be disease-promoting in organ-specific autoimmune dise ases. We report the spontaneous induction of IFN-gamma and a mechanism involving the generation of neutralizing autoantibodies (Aabs) to IFN -gamma that may regulate the disease. Numbers of cells spontaneously s ecreting IFN-gamma in peripheral blood were augmented in GBS, in parti cular at the peak, of clinical disease, and decreased during recovery. This decrease was associated with elevated serum concentrations of Ig G Aabs to IFN-gamma. These Aabs specifically bound to IFN-gamma and ne utralized its effects in a biological assay. Aabs to IFN-gamma are pro posed to be another important regulatory mechanism in IFN-gamma-driven GBS. (C) 1998 Academic Press.