Immunochemical properties of glycolipids

Lipids of the nervous system and other tissues which contain at least one molecule of a carbohydrate have been shown to exhibit haptenic properties. The specificity of the antibodies produced by the administration of these materials is directed by specific portions of the carbohydrate moiety. Examples of antibodies induced by the polyhexoside and N‐acetyl neuraminic acid portions of gangliosides will be shown. The potential usefulness of such antigen‐antibody systems for structural studies will be illustrated. Some consideration will be given to the possible role of glycolipid haptens in pathological conditions such as experimental allergic encephalomyelitis and multiple sclerosis.