Current Research Interests/Projects:
My laboratory is investigating the autoimmune hypothesis for the pathogenesis of a number of human demyelinating diseases including the Guillain-Barre' syndrome (GBS) and multiple sclerosis (MS). Our laboratory has reported that about 50-60% of the patients with GBS have serum autoantibodies IgM, IgG and IgA against major gangliosides including GM1 and LM1. We are currently investigating the specificity of autoantibodies in sera of patients that do not react with major glycolipids. Multiple sclerosis is a human demyelinating disease of the central nervous system of unknown etiology. Although an autoimmune basis for the pathogenesis of MS is suspected, the putative antigen(s) responsible for initiating demyelination of MS is unknown. We are currently searching for autoantibodies to protein and glycolipid antigens in both cerebrospinal fluid and sera of patients with multiple sclerosis by employing SDS-PAGE/Western blotting, ELISA and thin-layer chromatogram-immunostaining technique. We are also investigating the role of anti-glycolipid antibodies in the pathogenesis of neuropathies by sensitizing rodents with purified glycolipids such as LM1 ganglioside.

Representative Publications:
Ilyas, A. A., Mithen, F.A., Dalakas, M.C., Chen, Z.W. & Cook , S.D. (1992) Antibodies to acidic glycolipids in Guillain-Barre' syndrome and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. J. Neurol. Sci. 107: 111-121.

Mishu, B., Ilyas, A. A., Koski, C.L., Vriesendorp, F., Cook, S.D., Mithen, F.A. & Blaser, F.A. (1993). Serologic evidence of previous Campylobacter jejuni infection in patients with Guillain-Barre' syndrome. Ann. Intern. Med. 18: 947-953.

Ilyas, A.A., Cook, S.D., Mithen, F.A. Taki T, Kasama, T, Handa S., Hamasaki H., Singhal BS, Li, S.C. & Li Y.T. (1998) Antibodies to GT1a in patients with Guillain_barre' syndrome. J. Neuroimmunol. 82: 160-167.

Ilyas, A.A., Chen, Z.W., Cook, S.D., Mithen, F.A. & Singhal, B.S. (2001) Immunoglobulin G subclass distribution of antibodies to gangliosides in patients with Guillain-Barre' syndrome. Res. Com. Mol. Pathol. & Pharmacol. 109: 115-123.

Ilyas, A.A., Chen, Z.-W., and Prineas, J.W. (2002) Generation and Characterization of antibodies to sulfated glucuronyl glycolipids in Lewis rats. J. Neuroimmunol. 127:54-58.

Ilyas, A.A., Chen, Z.W., and Cook, S.D. (2003) Antibodies to sulfatide in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis. J. Neuroimmunol. 139: 76-80.