Prevention of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis by ganglioside GM4. A follow-up study.

The myelin-specific ganglioside GM4, when incubated with myelin basic protein prior to inoculation, prevents experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in the guinea pig. The monosialoganglioside GM1, the predominant ganglioside of mammalian myelin, also prevents experimental allergic encephalomyelitis, whereas a mixture of neural gangliosides rich in polysialogangliosides causes enhanced disease. Guinea pigs inoculated with both myelin basic protein and GM4 develop serum IgG antibodies against basic protein, but not against GM4.