A bacterium lipopolysaccharide that elicits Guillain-Barré syndrome has a GM1 ganglioside-like structure.

• DOI: 10.1084/jem.178.5.1771
• Publication Date: 2004-06-24T07:56:10Z
• Authors: N Yuki; T Taki; F Inagaki; T Kasama; M Takahashi; K Saito; S Handa; T Miyatake
• Keywords: Ganglioside; Oligosaccharide; Molecular mimicry; Carbohydrate conformation

There is a strong association between Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and Penner's serotype 19 (PEN 19) of Campylobacter jejuni. Sera from patients with GBS after C. jejuni infection have autoantibodies to GM1 ganglioside in the acute phase illness. Our previous work has suggested that results an immune response cross-reactive antigen lipopolysaccharide (LPS) Gram-negative bacterium membrane components peripheral nerves. To clarify pathogenesis GBS, we investigated whether GM1-oligosaccharide structure present LPS was isolated patient. After extraction LPS, showing binding activity cholera toxin, specifically recognizes purified by silica bead column chromatography. Gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis shown contained Gal, GalNAc, NeuAc, which are sugar ganglioside. 1H NMR methods [Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG), total correlation spectroscopy (TOCSY), nuclear Overhauser effect (NOESY)] revealed oligosaccharide [Gal beta 1-3 GalNAc 1-4(NeuAc alpha 2-3)Gal beta] protrude core. This terminal 1-3GalNAc identical tetrasaccharide first study demonstrate existence molecular mimicry nerve tissue infectious agent elicits GBS.