Human antibodies induce arthritis in mice deficient in the low-affinity inhibitory IgG receptor Fc gamma RIIB.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a complex autoimmune disease with a poorly understood pathogenesis. The disease is associated with polyclonal B cell activation and the production of autoantibodies (autoAbs), but there is a longstanding controversy as to whether such Abs contribute to, or are secondary to, the pathogenesis of RA. To address the potential pathogenicity of human RA-associated Abs, we developed a passive transfer model involving mice deficient in the low-affinity inhibitory Fc receptor, FcgammaRIIB. We report that plasma or serum from patients with active RA can induce inflammation and histological lesions in FcgammaRIIB-/- mice consistent with arthritis, and that this pathogenic activity is caused by the immunoglobulin G-rich fraction. Our results suggest that humoral autoimmunity can contribute directly to autoimmune arthritis, and that FcgammaRIIB-/- mice are a promising model to evaluate the arthritogenic potential of human autoAbs.
The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME 04605, USA.
Stefka B
SB
Petkova
Konstantin N
KN
Konstantinov
Thomas J
TJ
Sproule
Bonnie L
BL
Lyons
Moheeb Al
MA
Awwami
Derry C
DC
Roopenian
D000818:Animals; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000633:toxicity*; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics*
D001323:Autoantibodies; C499172:Fcgr2b protein, mouse; D017452:Receptors, IgG