Ganglioside-induced antiganglioside antibodies from a neuropathy patient cross-react with lipopolysaccharides of Campylobacter jejuni associated withGuillain-Barre syndrome

Antiganglioside serum antibodies from a patient treated with gangliosides w ere examined for cross-reactivity with lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) of Campyl obacter jejuni strains associated with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). The p atient had no preceding infection with C. jejuni and developed chronic prog ressive motor polyneuropathy following parenteral ganglioside treatment. Se rum IgG antibodies recognised GM(1) and GD(1b) gangliosides as well as asia lo-GM(1), and cross-reactivity was observed with LPSs from C. jejuni O:2, O :4, O:19 and O:41. The results give a clear indication that gangliosides an d LPSs from C. jejuni serotypes associated with GBS share common epitopes. (C)2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.