Serological study using glycoarray for detecting antibodies to glycolipids and glycolipid complexes in immune-mediated neuropathies

•Antibodies to glycolipid complexes are often detected in GBS and MMN.•IgG antibodies to antigens containing GM1 are correlated with pure motor GBS.•GQ1b/sulfatide complex may be a new identified target in GBS with ophthalmoplegia.•IgM antibodies to antigens containing GalNAc-GD1a are correlated with MMN.•Glycoarray is a useful tool for finding antibodies to numerous glycolipid complexes.

We performed a serological investigation using glycoarray in Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP), and multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN). Antibodies to 10 glycolipids and 45 glycolipid complexes were tested. Anti-GM1/sulfatide and anti-GA1/sulfatide IgG antibodies were common in GBS (20.0% and 19.0%, respectively). Anti-GQ1b/sulfatide IgG antibody was detected in 14.0% of GBS patients. IgG antibodies to antigens containing GQ1b were significantly correlated with ophthalmoplegia in GBS (p < 0.01). IgM antibodies to antigens containing GM1 or GalNAc-GD1a were in 50% and 37.5% of MMN patients, respectively. Glycoarray is efficient for detecting antibodies against numerous glycolipid complexes in immune-mediated neuropathies.

Graphical abstractDownload high-res image (175KB)Download full-size image