Role of the Cerebrosides and a Galactodiglyceride in the Antigenic Cross-Reaction Between Nerve Tissue and Treponema

摘要

Various authors have demonstrated an antigenic identity between nervous tissue and treponema. This report shows that this antigenic identity is due to the presence in the treponema extracts of a galactodiglyceride hapten: i.e, 2,3-di-O-acyl-1-O-(β-D-galactopyranosyl)-D-glycerol. This hapten shows a cross-reaction with the cerebrosides; moreover, the nervous tissue contains a lipid which, on deacylation, liberates a O-(β-D-galactosyl)-1-1′-glycerol (11). The part played by each of the constituents as well as the possible consequences of this antigenic community are discussed.