Cholesterol-added antigens can enhance antiglycolipid antibody activity: Application to antibody testing

J Neuroimmunol. 2021 Jul 15:356:577580. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2021.577580. Epub 2021 Apr 19.

Abstract

We analysed the effect of adding cholesterol to glycolipid antigens on antibody activity with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 123 subjects consisting of 96 patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome, 25 Miller Fisher syndrome, and two Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis. The use of cholesterol-added GM1 antigens increased anti-GM1 activity in 11 out of 23 anti-GM1-positive patients and resulted in six out of 100 anti-GM1-negative patients becoming anti-GM1-positive. Enhancement of anti-GM1 activity by cholesterol addition was significantly associated with antecedent gastrointestinal infection. The use of cholesterol-added glycolipid antigens can increase the detection rate of anti-glycolipid antibodies and accurately evaluate the anti-glycolipid antibody activity in vivo.

Keywords: Antibody; Cholesterol; Ganglioside; Guillain-Barré syndrome; Lipid environment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Autoantibodies / blood*
  • Cholesterol / administration & dosage*
  • Encephalitis / blood
  • Encephalitis / drug therapy
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods
  • Female
  • G(M1) Ganglioside / blood*
  • Glycolipids / blood*
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome / blood*
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Miller Fisher Syndrome / blood*
  • Miller Fisher Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Glycolipids
  • G(M1) Ganglioside
  • Cholesterol