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High‐titre IgM anti‐sulfatide antibodies in individuals with IgM paraproteinaemia and associated peripheral neuropathy
Author(s) -
Petratos Steven,
Turnbull Victor J,
Papadopoulos Roula,
Ayers Margaret,
Gonzales Michael F
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
immunology and cell biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.999
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1440-1711
pISSN - 0818-9641
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1711.2000.00892.x
Subject(s) - antibody , immunoglobulin m , immunostaining , gammopathy , myelin associated glycoprotein , polyneuropathy , pathology , myelin , peripheral neuropathy , immunology , sciatic nerve , medicine , autoantibody , monoclonal antibody , immunohistochemistry , monoclonal , immunoglobulin g , endocrinology , central nervous system , diabetes mellitus
The common association between monoclonal gammopathy and peripheral neuropathy was studied in seven patients with demyelinating polyneuropathy and IgM paraproteinaemia. Plasma samples from these individuals were thoroughly tested for antiperipheral nerve myelin (PNM) antibodies and then screened for glycoprotein and glycolipid reactivity by western immunoblotting and thin‐layer chromatography (TLC) immunostaining. Three of the seven samples showed strong IgM anti‐PNM and antisulfatide (GalS) antibody reactivity. Two of these three plasma samples showed extraordinarily high antisulfatide IgM antibody titres, ranging from 1 × 10 4 to 1 × 10 6 arbitrary units/L. These same samples also showed intense myelin staining of sciatic nerve sections (paraffin and cryostat) and teased nerve fibres. No axonal immunoreactivity was observed. These results suggest that high titre IgM antisulfatide antibodies may play a pathogenetic role in the immune demyelination associated with IgM paraproteinaemia.