Serum antibodies to GM₁ ganglioside in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

We report the presence of serum antibodies directed against GM, ganglioside, a defined neural antigen, in many patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We examined serum from a series of patients with well-documented clinical diagnoses. Serum antibodies to GM, ganglioside were measured using ELISA assays. Our results showed that polyclonal IgM anti-GM₁ antibodies were present at dilutions of 1:25 to 1:2,000 in 42 of 74 (57%) patients with ALS. The anti-GM, antibodies were especially frequent in patients with prominent lower motor neuron signs (41/59; 69%). Few normal controls (2/23) and motor-sensory neuropathy patients (3/27) had similar antibodies. Anti-GM₁ antibodies did occur in patients with nonneural autoimmune disorders. However, the anti-GM₁ antibodies in these patients tended to differ from those in ALS based on an analysis of their light chain types. Further examination of the role and spectrum of serum antiganglioside antibody activity in motor neuron syndromes is warranted.