Guillain-Barré Syndrome- and Miller Fisher Syndrome-Associated Campylobacter jejuni Lipopolysaccharides Induce Anti-GM(1) and Anti-GQ(1b) Antibodies in Rabbits

Campylobacter jejuni infections are thought to induce antiganglioside antibodies in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS) by molecular mimicry between C. jejuni lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and gangliosides. We used purified LPS fractions from five Campylobacter strains to induce antiganglioside responses in rabbits. The animals that received injections with LPS from GBS-associated strains developed anti-GM(1) and anti-GA(1) antibodies. Animals injected with LPS from one MFS-related C. jejuni strain produced anti-GQ(1b) antibodies. Rabbits that were injected with Penner O:3 LPS had a strong anti-LPS response, but no antiganglioside reactivity was observed. The antiganglioside specificity in the rabbits reflected the specificity in the patients from whom the strains were isolated. In conclusion, our results indicate that an immune response against GBS- and MFS-associated C. jejuni LPS results in antiganglioside antibodies. These results provide strong support for molecular mimicry as a mechanism in the induction of antiganglioside antibodies following infections.