IMMUNOGLOBULIN SUBCLASS DISTRIBUTION AND BINDING CHARACTERISTICS OF ANTI-GQ1B ANTIBODIES IN MILLER-FISHER-SYNDROME

Circulating IgG antibodies to carbohydrate determinants on GQ1b ganglioside are found in the acute phase sera of patients with Miller Fisher syndrome, a variant of Guillain-Barre syndrome. Here we report that the IgG subclass distribution of the anti-GQ1b antibodies is mainly restricted to IgG1 and IgG3 antibodies; subclasses typically associated with a T cell-dependent immune reponse to protein antigens. This is highly unusual in that IgG responses to carbohydrate determinants are typically of the IgG2 subclass. Anti-GQ1b antibodies also have a limited ability to bind GQ1b in a membrane-like environment, particularly at body temperature. These data suggest that the antigen initiating the immune response in MFS is not likely GQ1b but an unidentified cross-reactive glycoprotein antigen(s). Similar results were obtained for anti-GM1 IgG antibodies in Guillain-Barre syndrome.