title: Complement gene expression in hepatic and extrahepatic tissues of NZB and NZB x W (F1) mouse strains.
abstract: To study the role of local production of complement proteins during the evolution of a naturally occurring immune complex disease, C3, C4, C2 and Factor B mRNA expression was assessed in several tissues of the inbred mouse strains NZB and (NZB x W) F1 hybrid. In the NZB/W F1 hybrid strain, coincident with the development of glomerulonephritis a marked increase in kidney C3 and C4 mRNA was observed; Factor B mRNA, which is expressed as a doublet in kidney and intestine, showed an increase in expression of the smaller transcript. This alteration of kidney C3, C4 and Factor B mRNA is identical to that noted in association with lupus nephritis in the MRL lpr/lpr strain and following in vivo administration of endotoxin to the BALB/c strain. The development of systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE) in the NZB/W F1 was not associated with a marked change in hepatic complement gene expression. These findings support the hypothesis that local production of complement may play a role in the pathogenesis of glomerulonephritis and other tissue injury in SLE.
authors.affiliation: Samuel Jared Kushnick Pediatric Immunology Laboratory Sheba Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Israel.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Passwell
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Schreiner
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Wetsel
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Colten
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000276:immunology*; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000276:immunology; D007668:Kidney / Q000276:immunology; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008814:Mice, Inbred NZB; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D003165:Complement System Proteins