Anti-GM1 ganglioside igm-antibodies present in human plasma: Affinity and biological activity changes in a patient with neuropathy
✍ Scribed by Roxana K. Mizutamari; Leonardo J. Kremer; Elizabeth A. Basile; Gustavo A. Nores
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1998
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 93 KB
- Volume
- 51
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0360-4012
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✦ Synopsis
Low affinity anti-GM 1 IgM-antibodies are part of the normal repertoire of human plasma antibodies (Mizutamari et al.: J Neuroimmunol 50:215-220, 1994), a fact that is against the pathological role proposed for them in autoimmune diseases. Here we present evidence that these low affinity IgM-antibodies are devoid of complement-mediated lytic activity to GM 1liposomes, suggesting that they should not be considered harmful. In contrast to the absence in normal individuals, in the plasma of a patient with sensory polyneuropathy we detected high affinity anti-GM 1 IgM-antibodies. Concomitant with the presence of these high affinity anti-GM 1 IgM-antibodies, the patient plasma is capable of producing complement-mediated lysis of GM 1 -liposomes. These results suggest that an increase in the affinity of the naturally existing anti-GM 1 antibodies could be the trigger that switches them from non-harmful to pathological.