Antibodies induced by ganglioside-mimicking Campylobacter jejuni lipooligosaccharides recognise epitopes at the nodes of Ranvier.

Molecular mimicry of gangliosides by Campylobacter jejuni lipooligosaccharides (LOSs) in the induction of anti-ganglioside antibodies has been hypothesised to contribute to GBS development. Rabbits were immunised with ganglioside-mimicking C. jejuni LOSs and anti-LOS responses were analysed using passive haemagglutination, and anti-ganglioside responses by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and thin-layer chromatography with immunostaining. High titres of anti-LOS antibodies were demonstrated in rabbit antisera that were cross-reactive with a panel of gangliosides. Non-ganglioside-mimicking C. jejuni HS:3 LOS induced a strong anti-LOS response, but no anti-ganglioside antibodies. Control rabbit antisera had no anti-LOS or -ganglioside responses. Moreover, IgG from a patient treated with parenteral gangliosides, who exhibited Guillain-Barré syndrome, had antibodies reactive with C. jejuni LOS. Biotinylated IgG fractions from the rabbit and the patient sera recognised epitopes at the nodes of Ranvier in sectioned human nerves, whereas fractions from controls did not. This study demonstrates that immunisation with ganglioside-mimicking C. jejuni LOS triggers the production of cross-reactive anti-ganglioside antibodies that recognise epitopes at the nodes of Ranvier.