Anti-nRNP anti-nuclear antibody-secreting cells are represented in the B-lymphocyte repertoire of normal and MRL/MP-lpr/lpr lupus mice.
Spleen cells from MRL-lpr/lpr, CBA and BALB/c mice were cultured in vitro and assayed for production of anti-nuclear antibodies. Spleen cells from all species produced IgM antibodies to a nRNP (U1-RNP)-specific antigen and to double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) after stimulation with LPS. The specificity of the anti-nRNP antibodies was shown, by immunoblotting, to be directed against the 33,000 MW polypeptide of nRNP/Sm. CBA mice produced more IgM autoantibody in vitro than MRL/lpr or BALB/c mice. In contrast, IgG anti-nRNP and anti-dsDNA antibody were not produced by any of the strains. Our data show that anti-nRNP and anti-dsDNA precursor B cells are part of the normal murine immune repertoire and are not confined to the MRL/lpr strain. This suggests that the spontaneous development of anti-nRNP and anti-dsDNA antibodies associated with systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE) is dependent on clonal stimulation and removal of suppressive influences.
Brennan
F M
FM
Clinical Immunology Division, Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Hammersmith, London, U.K.
Andrew
E M
EM
Williams
D G
DG
Maini
R N
RN
D000818:Animals; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D017411:Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D055517:snRNP Core Proteins
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001324:Autoantigens; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D017411:Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear; D055517:snRNP Core Proteins