Molecular mimicry: sensitization of Lewis rats with Campylobacter jejuni lipopolysaccharides induces formation of antibody toward GD3 ganglioside.

ABSTRACT: Recently we have reported cases of demyelinating inflammatory neuropathy showing elevated titers of anti-GD3 antibodies, which occurs rarely in Guillain-Barré syndrome. To examine the correlation between the anti-GD3 antibody titer and Campylobacter jejuni infection, we sensitized female Lewis rats with lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) from serotype HS19 of C. jejuni and examined changes in nerve conduction velocity and nerve conduction block (P/D ratio). After 16 weeks of sensitization, animals revealed decreases of nerve conduction velocity and conduction block (P/D ratio) and high titer of anti-GD3 antibodies. These anti-GD3 antibodies also blocked transmission in neuromuscular junctions of spinal cord-muscle cells cocultures. The GD3 epitope was verified to be located on the Schwann cell sur

SUBMITTER: Usuki S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2762320 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature