Oligoclonality of rheumatoid factors arising spontaneously in lpr/lpr mice.
Rheumatoid factors (RF) from individual mice of the MRL/lpr and C3H/lpr strains were examined with regard to target specificity and heavy chain class expression. It was found that MRL/lpr-derived RF preferentially recognize IgG2a target antibodies while C3H/lpr-derived RF exhibit a broader range of cross-reactivity. IgM RF represent only a minor proportion of the RF response in both strains. The IgG2a-specific RF produced by the lpr strains were found to consist of relatively equal proportions of IgG1, IgG2b, IgG3, and IgA antibodies. However, most of the RF produced by a single individual expressed the same heavy chain class and antigen-binding specificity. These results indicate that within an individual lpr mouse, circulating RF are derived from extensive expansion of a limited number of antigen-activated precursors.
Wolfowicz
C B
CB
Department of Microbiology, Boston University Medical Center, Massachusetts 02118.
Sakorafas
P
P
Rothstein
T L
TL
Marshak-Rothstein
A
A
D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D002459:Cell Fusion; D005260:Female; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains / Q000276:immunology*; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor