Guillain-Barré Syndrome: Expanding the Concept of Molecular Mimicry

Overview

Journal Trends Immunol

Specialty Allergy & Immunology

Date 2022 Mar 8

PMID 35256276

Authors

Jon D Laman

Ruth Huizinga

Geert-Jan Boons

Bart C Jacobs

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a rapidly progressive, monophasic, and potentially devastating immune-mediated neuropathy in humans. Preceding infections trigger the production of cross-reactive antibodies against gangliosides concentrated in human peripheral nerves. GBS is elicited by at least five distinct common bacterial and viral pathogens, speaking to the notion of polymicrobial disease causation. This opinion emphasizes that GBS is the best-supported example of true molecular mimicry at the B cell level. Moreover, we argue that mechanistically, single and multiplexed microbial carbohydrate epitopes induce IgM, IgA, and IgG subclasses in ways that challenge the classic concept of thymus-dependent (TD) versus thymus-independent (TI) antibody responses in GBS. Finally, we discuss how GBS can be exemplary for driving innovation in diagnostics and immunotherapy for other antibody-driven neurological diseases.

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