[Experimental study of pristane-induced murine lupus model].
OBJECTIVE
To establish a mouse model of systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) and to discuss the role of environmental factors in the pathogenesis of SLE.


METHODS
Thirty 10-week-old female BALB/c mice were divided into the model group and control group. The model mice received a single intraperitoneal injection of 0. 5 mL of pristane, while control mice received a single i.p. injection of 0. 5 mL of 0.9% NS. Autoantibodies and proteinuria were detected before injection and monthly thereafter. 8 months after injection, all mice were bled to death. Kidneys were excised to observe the histopathologic evidence of glomerulonephritis.


RESULTS
After pristane injection, antinuclear antibody(ANA) and anti-dsDNA antibody appeared in sera as early as 3 months and 4 months respectively. At 8 months, the incidence rates of ANA and anti-dsDNA antibody were 87.5% and 47.8% respectively. The protein concentration of urine in most mice was > or =1+ (300 mg/L). Light microscopy and immunofluorescence of kidney sections indicated glomerulonephritis. In control group, only one serum was ANA low-titer positive and another was anti-dsDNA antibody low-titer positive. The protein concentration of urine was < or = 1+. The histopathology and immunofluorescence showed no evidence of glomerulonephritis. Spearman correlation analysis indicated that anti-dsDNA antibody was correlated with proteinuria (r = 0.538, P = 0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
The murine lupus model can be successfully established in female BALB/c mouse with a single i. p. injection of 0. 5 mL of pristane and the specific autoantibody anti-dsDNA for SLE has appeared in sera of BALB/c mice.
Cui
Guang-Mei
GM
Clinical Immunologic Department, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Liu
Gang
G
Liu
Wei
W
Kan
Bing
B
Mao
Yong-Qiu
YQ
Wei
Yu-Quan
YQ
D000818:Animals; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000139:chemically induced; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013729:Terpenes
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D013729:Terpenes; C009042:pristane