title: The heart and antiphospholipid antibodies in MRL-lpr/lpr mice.
abstract: Our objective in this study was to determine possible associations between antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) and histologically defined heart valve lesions in the MRL-lpr/lpr mouse, a suitable model for the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). At monthly intervals, from 2 to 6 months of age, three MRL-lpr/lpr mice (two with anticardiolipin antibodies, one without) and two sex- and age-matched Balb/c mice (controls) were sacrificed for histological studies. Serum binding to phospholipids and DNA was studied at this time. We found thickened heart valves in 68% of MRL-lpr/lpr mice and in 80% of Balb/c mice, and no association with any of the antibodies tested was found. No evidence of coronary vasculitis or thrombi was found in any of the mice studied. Platelet counts in MRL-lpr/lpr mice were significantly lower (640.550 +/- 211.818 x 10(6)/ml) than in Balb/c mice (780.0 + 112.5 x 10(6)/ml) (p < 0.05), and no association was found between platelet counts and aPL. In this model of murine APS, aPL bear no importance in heart valve pathology.
authors.affiliation: Lupus & Arthritis Research Unit, Rayne Institute, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Vianna
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trotter
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Khamashta
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chikte
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Hughes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis; D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / Q000032:analysis*; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006351:Heart Valves / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010976:Platelet Count
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid; D004247:DNA