Special Precautions/Comments:

Interferences: None known.

Additional Information:

Indication: Motor neuropathies

Patient Preparation: None

Background Information: Gangliosides are acidic glycosphingolipids in the outer layer of plasma membranes. The gangliosides GM1, GD1a, GD1b and GT1b are usually abundant in the myelin sheath of Schwann cells (peripheral nervous system) and of the oligodendrocytes (central nervous system). Ganglioside M1 (GM1) is the most abundant ganglioside in neuronal membranes. It enhances neurite outgrowth and recovery from injury but can also act as an autoantigen through the galactose-galactosamine part of its sugar moiety. GM1 antibodies are often present in multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN), Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), proximal lower motor neurone disease and rarely in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) [1]. Both the IgG and IgM isotypes of GM1 antibodies can be detected simultaneously in some of the diseases listed above, especially in MMN. The significance of IgG versus IgM isotypes is not clear. However, the determination of both isotypes helps to broaden the sensitivity and specificity of GM1 antibody testing

References: Rinaldi S, Willison HJ. Ganglioside antibodies and neuropathies. Current opinion in neurology. 2008. 21(5): 540-546. Willison HJ, Plomp JJ. Anti-ganglioside antibodies and the pre-synaptic motor nerve terminal. Ann NY Acad Sci. 2008. 1132:114-123. PRU Handbook of Autoimmunity. 4th Edition. 2007. Van Sorge NM, et al. Pathogenicity of anti-ganglioside antibodies in the Guillain-Barre syndrome. Autoimmunity reviews. 2004. 3(2):61-68. Kornberg AJ. Anti-GM1 ganglioside antibodies: their role in the diagnosis and pathogenesis of immune-mediated motor neuropathies. J. Clin. Neurosci. 2000. 7(3):191-194. Adams D, et al. Predictive value of anti-GM1 ganglioside antibodies in neuromuscular diseases: a study of 180 sera. J Neuroimmunology. 1991. 32:223-230. [Ref 1]

See Also: GQ1b (IgG or IgM)

Telephone Gateshead Lab: 0191.4456499 Option 4, Option 1