title: VH family utilization by IgG anti-DNA-secreting lymphocytes derived from autoimmune MRL-lpr/lpr mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the heterogeneity of the IgG anti-DNA autoantibody response of MRL/lpr mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  B cell clones were grown on nitrocellulose membranes. Those producing IgG anti-DNA antibodies were identified by a modified enzyme-linked immunospot assay, and their utilization of IgVH genes was determined by hybridization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four hundred sixty-eight IgG anti-DNA-secreting colonies were derived from 9 autoimmune MRL/lpr mice. Individual VH families contributed to anti-DNA production at a frequency roughly proportional to their representation in the expressed repertoire (except for the more frequent use of VH 7183 and less frequent use of VH 36-60). In individual mice, anti-DNA antibodies were encoded by 2-5 different IgVH families, with no single family constituting more than 27-65% of any animal's anti-DNA response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The IgG anti-DNA response of individual MRL/lpr mice is oligoclonal.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Retrovirus Research, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Bethesda, MD 20892.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Klinman
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Dellacqua
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Conover
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Huppi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin / Q000276:immunology; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes / Q000276:immunology; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region