title: Hormone control of autoantibodies to calf thymus nuclear extract (CTE) and DNA in MRL-lpr and MRL-+/+ mice.
abstract: Because hormonal influences on autoimmune disease in MRL-lpr and MRL-+/+ mice have not been defined completely, we examined animals which had been castrated and implanted with the opposite sex hormone. Antibodies directed at non-DNA antigens in a calf thymus nuclear extract (designated CTE) and specific anti-DNA antibodies were increased in estrogen-treated males, testosterone-treated females, and sham-operated female controls compared to sham-operated males. Analysis by sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation revealed that gonadal hormones exerted marked differences in the distribution and nature of circulating IgM anti-CTE antibodies. Although 19 S IgM was the predominant form of anti-CTE antibodies in experimental groups showing elevated anti-CTE responses, estrogen-treated male MRL-lpr mice expressed a large additional population of anti-CTE IgM antibody released by acid dissociation of apparently cryptic complexes. An unexpected additional finding was the presence of cryptic anti-CTE IgG (7 S) in all groups of MRL-lpr and MRL-+/+ mice, revealed only in sucrose gradient analysis under acid conditions. It is suggested that sex-related factors may account, in part, for apparent differences in levels of circulating autoantibodies observed in MRL mice by influencing the degree to which autoantibody populations exist in circulating complexes.
authors.affiliation: University of Missouri-Columbia, MO 65212.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Brick
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Wise
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D002369:Castration; D002417:Cattle; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains / Q000276:immunology*; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains / Q000276:immunology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D004247:DNA