Isolated Bovine Spinal Motoneurons Have Specific Ganglioside Antigens Recognized by Sera from Patients with Motor Neuron Disease and Motor Neuropathy

Hiide Yoshino, Nobuyuki Miyatani, Megumi Saito, Toshio Ariga, Alessandra Lugaresi, Norman Latov, Yasunori Kushi, Takeshi Kasama, Robert K. Yu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

Abstract: The gangliosides GM1 and GD1b have recently been reported to be potential target antigens in human motor neuron disease (MND) or motor neuropathy. The mechanism for selective motoneuron and motor nerve impairment by the antibodies directed against these gangliosides, however, is not fully understood. We recently investigated the ganglioside composition of isolated bovine spinal motoneurons and found that the ganglioside pattern of the isolated motoneurons was extremely complex. GM1, GD1a, GD1b, and GT1b, which are major ganglioside components of CNS tissues, were only minor species in motoneurons. Among the various ganglioside species in motoneurons, several were immunoreactive to sera from patients with MND and motor neuropathy. One of these gangliosides was purified from bovine spinal cord and characterized as N‐glycolylneuraminic acid‐containing GM1 [GM1(NeuGc)] by compositional analysis, fast atom bombardment mass spectra, and the use of specific antibodies. Among seven sera with anti‐GM1 antibody activities, five sera reacted with GM1(NeuGc) and two did not. Two other gangliosides, which were recognized by another patient's serum, appeared to be specific for motoneurons. We conclude that motoneurons contained, in addition to the known ganglioside antigens GM1 and GDlb, other specific ganglioside antigens that could be recognized by sera from patients with MND and motor neuropathy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1684-1691
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Neurochemistry
Volume59
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1992
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • GM1
  • Ganglioside
  • Motoneuron
  • Motor neuron disease
  • Motor neuropathy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Isolated Bovine Spinal Motoneurons Have Specific Ganglioside Antigens Recognized by Sera from Patients with Motor Neuron Disease and Motor Neuropathy'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this