Anti-ganglioside antibodies in patients with Zika virus infection-associated Guillain-Barré Syndrome in Brazil

Abstract

Zika virus infection is associated with the development of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a neurological autoimmune disorder caused by immune recognition of gangliosides and other components at nerve membranes. Using a high-throughput ELISA, we have analyzed the anti-glycolipid antibody profile, including gangliosides, of plasma samples from patients with Zika infections associated or not with GBS in Salvador, Brazil. We have observed that Zika patients that develop GBS present higher levels of anti-ganglioside antibodies when compared to Zika patients without GBS. We also observed that a broad repertoire of gangliosides was targeted by both IgM and IgG anti-self antibodies in these patients. Since Zika virus infects neurons, which contain membrane gangliosides, antigen presentation of these infected cells may trigger the observed autoimmune anti-ganglioside antibodies suggesting direct infection-induced autoantibodies as a cause leading to GBS development. Collectively, our results establish a link between anti-ganglioside antibodies and Zika-associated GBS in patients.

The Association of Anti-Ganglioside Antibodies in the Pathogenesis and Development of Zika-Associated Guillain-Barré Syndrome

“…They used the ELISA approach as well to assess the plasma of patients with ZIKV for their reactivity against different gangliosides. The assay results showed increased quantities of anti-ganglioside antibodies in patients with Zika-associated GBS than with patients who have Zika without GBS [1,8]. All these results show that the autoantibodies against gangliosides in a patient with GBS are associated with Zika too.…”

“…We also used PMC, Google Scholar, and Cochrane. After going through all these publications, we shortlisted 28 studies [ 1 - 28 ], which were the most closely associated with our topic of neuropathogenesis of Zika virus and autoimmune mechanism of Zika-associated GBS. Among these 28 studies, there were review articles (n=15), observational studies (n=6), animal model approach (n=5), and case series (n=2).…”

“…Zika virus (ZIKV) belongs to the family of Flaviviridae, which is transmitted by the Aedes mosquito (arthropod-borne) [1]. It can be transmitted sexually, in-utero and its presence is even noted in breast milk [2].…”

“…The first outbreak of this virus was in Micronesia in 2007, followed by 2014 and 2015 outbreaks in French Polynesia and Latin America, respectively. An increasing number of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) cases were noted in these patients [1,3,4]. Zika is a neurotropic virus that is neurovirulent but does not possess a neuro-invasive character.…”

Guillain-Barre Syndrome and Miller Fisher Variant in Zika Virus Disease

“…During Zika outbreak in Brazil, patients who developed Guillain-Barre syndrome secondary to Zika virus infection were found to have a higher level of antiganglioside antibodies of both IgM and IgG isotypes as compared to other patients with Zika infection in the absence of GBS [27].…”