Characterization of the spontaneous autoimmune (anti-erythrocyte) response in NZB mice using a pathogenic monoclonal autoantibody and its anti-idiotype.
A monoclonal anti-mouse RBC antibody (G-8) has been prepared that appears to represent a pathogenic autoantibody related to those that arise spontaneously in aging NZB mice and which cause autoimmune haemolytic disease (AIHD). When G-8-producing hybridoma cells were grown as tumours in BALB/c mice, the mice developed AIHD characterized by a decrease in the number of erythrocytes (haematocrit) and the development of Coombs-positivity. An anti-idiotypic antibody (E8) was prepared against G-8 and was found to recognize an idiotypic determinant present on most autoantibody-forming cells derived from old (Coombs-positive) NZB mice. The results suggest that the IgM autoantibody response of NZB mice to self-erythrocytes is restricted to a limited number of clones, most of which express the G-8 idiotype.
Caulfield
M J
MJ
Department of Immunology and Cancer, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio 44195-5123.
Stanko
D
D
Calkins
C
C
D000744:Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008814:Mice, Inbred NZB
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes