INDUCTION OF DEMYELINATION BY INTRANEURAL INJECTION OF ANTIBODIES AGAINST SULFOGLUCURONYL PARAGLOBOSIDE

Sulfoglucuronyl glycolipids (SGGLs) carry the glucuronyl 3-sulfate (HNK-1) epitope which is recognized by monoclonal IgM paraproteins from patients with demyelinating polyneuropathy. We report that intraneural injections of rat anti-SGGL antibodies induce demyelination in rat sciatic nerve, along with mild to moderate clinical symptoms. Morphologically, vesiculation and loosening of the myelin sheath were observed 3 h postinjection, followed by extensive demyelination and macrophage infiltration after 4 days. Since the antiSGGL antibodies showed no cross-reactivity with other components in rat sciatic nerve, these results indicate that SGGLs alone can serve as the target antigens in demyelinating neuropathy. © 1991.