Gangliosid antibodies

Gangliosides are complex sphingolipids and components of the cell membrane in the central and peripheral nervous system that help determine its properties. They consist of a lipid, an oligosaccharide chain and N-acetylneuraminic acids. The individual gangliosides differ from each other in position and number of acids. Gangliosides occur in the central nervous system as well as in peripheral nerves.

Clarification of immune neuropathies

Test material: 2 ml serum

GM1 antibodies may be present in the following disorders:

• Miller-Fisher syndrome
• Guillain-Barré syndrome
• Paraproteinemic neuropathy
• Motor neuropathy,
• Motor multifocal neuropathy
• Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculopathy (CIDP)
• Diabetic neuropathy,
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• SLE
• Multiple Sclerosis

Structural relationships are also found in various microorganisms. Microorganisms. Thus, the frequent occurrence of immune neuropathies after certain infections (e.g. Campylobacter jejuni, cytomegalovirus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae or Epstein-Barr virus -HHV4) is explained by a cross-reaction.

1. Uncini A (2012) A common mechanism and a new categorization for anti-ganglioside antibody-mediated neuropathies. Experimental Neurology 235:513-516.
2. Yanagisawa K (2011) Pathological significance of ganglioside clusters in Alzheimer's disease. Journal of Neurochemistry 116:806-812.
3. Wang B (2009) Sialic acid is an essential nutrient for brain development and cognition. Annual Review of Nutrition 29:177-222.