INDUCTION OF ANTI-GM1 GANGLIOSIDE ANTIBODIES BY CAMPYLOBACTER-JEJUNI LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDES

A frequent association exists between acute motor neuropathy, antecede nt Campylobacter jejuni (CJ) and anti-GM1 ganglioside antibodies. Desp ite the chemical and immunological similarity between CJ lipopolysacch arides (LPS) and GM1, the mechanism of induction of anti-GM1 antibodie s is still unclear. We used CJ LPS to immunize rats, mice and immunode ficient mice lacking in NK, CD8+ or T-cell populations. None of these animals developed significant anti-GM1 titers. However, rats immunized with keyhole limpet hemocyanin which contains the cross-reactive suga r epitope Gal(beta 1-3)GalNAc developed high titers of IgM anti-GM1 an tibodies. This occurred only after these rats were given an intraperit oneal injection of CJ LPS. These results suggest that a glycoprotein a ntigenic stimulus can induce B-cells which are autoreactive to ganglio side but which remain anergic. A second stimulus with a cross-reactive LPS can then overcome the anergy to induce autoantibody production. A similar mechanism may explain the occurrence of GM1 antibodies in pat ients after CJ enteritis. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.