Mouse mammary tumor virus superantigens and murine autoimmune gastritis.
OBJECTIVE
Neonatal thymectomy induces autoimmune gastritis in BALB/c (minor lymphocyte-stimulating antigen [Mls]-1b) mice, whereas DBA/2 (Mls-1a) mice are resistant. Resistance has been linked to the Mls-1a locus, which encodes a retroviral superantigen, and to superantigen reactive T cells that express V beta 6+ T-cell receptors. V beta 6+ T cells are known to be deleted in mice expressing Mls-1a superantigens.


METHODS
Neonatal thymectomized BALB/c and Mls-1a congenic BALB.D2.Mls-1a mice were analyzed to examine directly the role of Mls-1a self-superantigens and V beta 6+ T cells in autoimmune gastritis.


RESULTS
Autoimmune gastritis was detected in thymectomized BALB.D2.Mls-1a mice with high incidence. Autoantibodies to the gastric H+,K(+)-adenosine triphosphatase were present independent of the Mls phenotype in sera of gastritic mice. Severe gastritis had already appeared 1 month after thymectomy in BALB.D2.Mls-1a mice. V beta 6+ T cells were deleted in the stomach lymph nodes of 1-month-old gastritic BALB.D2.Mls-1a mice but could be detected by immunocytochemistry in the stomach lesions.


CONCLUSIONS
Endogenous Mls-1a self-superantigens and Mls-1a reactive V beta 6+ T cells are not involved in resistance to autoimmune gastritis in BALB.D2 mice.
Claeys
D
D
Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Epalinges.
Karapetian
O
O
Saraga
E
E
Schreyer
M
M
Louis
J
J
Acha-Orbea
H
H
Blum
A L
AL
Kraehenbuhl
J P
JP
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005756:Gastritis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008324:Mammary Tumor Virus, Mouse / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000378:metabolism; D018089:Superantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D013934:Thymectomy
D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D018089:Superantigens