Detection of antibodies to gangliosides using solid-phase reactants coated with carbonyl groups

Antibodies to gangliosides have been implicated in many different autoimmune neuropathies. For example, serum IgM antibodies to GM ganglioside have been found in a patient with lower motor neuron syndrome (Adams, D. et al., 56:982-987 (1993)), and are common in multifocal motor neuropathy (Kornberg, A. J. and Pestronk, A., 37:S43-S50 (1995); Komberg, A. J. and Pestronk, A., 17:100-104 (1994); Cetacea, S. A. et al., 40:1067-1072 (1990); Adams, D. et al., 32:223-230 (1991); Taylor, B. V. et al., 46:951-955 (1996)). Autoantibodies against GM- and GM-gangliosides have been found in conjunction with chronic idiopathic demyelinating polyneuropathy (CID) in conjunction with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (Sindem, E. et al., 83:399-402 (1991)). Anti-GQ1B ganglioside antibodies were identified in patients with Fisher's syndrome (Yuri, N. et al., 43:414-417 (1993)). Sera from patients with Gillian-Barr. syndrome has been found to have antibodies to various gangliosides, including antibodies to GM1B ganglioside (see, e.g., Cathouse, K. et al., 156:99-101 (1998)). Methods of detecting antibodies to one or more ganglioside(s) of interest in a sample are disclosed which comprise using a solid-phase reactant having carbonyl groups attached thereon, and the ganglioside(s) of interest linked to the solid-phase reactant by an amide bond between an amino group of the ganglioside of interest and a carbonyl group attached to the solid-phase reactant. The methods of detecting antibodies to ganglioside(s) of interest can be used in methods of diagnosing neuropathies in an individual.