title: Fine specificities of anti-nuclear antibodies in murine models of graft-versus-host disease.
abstract: Two models of murine graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) were studied with respect to autoantibody production and development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) like disease. One model was induced by injection of (B10.A(4R) x B10.A(2R]F1 mice with parental (B10.A(4R] spleen and lymph node cells (groups I GVHD), the other by injection of (DBA/2 x C57/B16)F1 mice with DBA/2 cells (group II GVHD). Group I GVHD mice remained in a seemingly healthy condition and did not show any proteinuria, in spite of high titres of anti-nuclear antibodies including antibodies to dsDNA, anti-Sm and anti-ribosomal P protein antibodies. Measured levels of these autoantibodies as well as their isotypes were comparable with those found in MRL/lpr and NZB/W mice. Group II GVHD mice developed SLE-like disease signs, including severe proteinuria. At 4 months after induction of the GVHD, almost 50% of these mice had died. At the time nephritis was present, group II mice also produced anti-dsDNA and anti-nuclear antibodies of other (unknown) specificities, but no anti-Sm or anti-P. Furthermore, the incidence of these antibodies was lower than observed in group I GVHD, MRL/lpr or NZB/W mice. It is concluded that (high avidity) anti-dsDNA as well as anti-Sm and anti-P may be present in the circulation without giving rise to the development of nephritis.
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory of The Netherlands Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Amsterdam.
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: van Dam
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Meilof
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: van den Brink
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Smeenk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D006942:Hypergammaglobulinemia / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D017411:Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors; D055517:snRNP Core Proteins
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001324:Autoantigens; D017411:Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins; D055517:snRNP Core Proteins