A new model of outbred genetically selected mice which present a strong acute inflammatory response in the absence of complement component C5.
OBJECTIVE
Mice selected for a strong (AIRmax) or weak (AIRmin) acute inflammatory response present different susceptibilities to bacterial infections, autoimmune diseases and carcinogenesis. Variations in these phenotypes have been also detected in AIRmax and AIRmin mice rendered homozygous for Slc11a1 resistant (R) and susceptible (S) alleles. Our aim was to investigate if the phenotypic differences observed in these mice was related to the complement system.


METHODS
AIRmax and AIRmin mice and AIRmax and AIRmin groups homozygous for the resistance (R) or susceptibility (S) alleles of the solute carrier family 11a1 member (Slc11a1) gene, formerly designated Nramp-1.


RESULTS
While no difference in complement activity was detected in sera from AIRmax and AIRmin strains, all sera from AIRmax Slc11a1 resistant mice (AIRmax(RR)) presented no complement-dependent hemolytic activity. Furthermore, C5 was not found in their sera by immunodiffusion and, polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing of its gene demonstrated that AIRmax(RR) mice are homozygous for the C5 deficient (D) mutation previously described in A/J. Therefore, the C5D allele was fixed in homozygosis in AIRmax(RR) line.


CONCLUSIONS
The AIRmax(RR) line is a new experimental mouse model in which a strong inflammatory response can be triggered in vivo in the absence of C5.
Amano
M T
MT
Laboratório de Complemento, Departamento de Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Carneiro
A S
AS
Ribeiro
O G
OG
Cabrera
W K
WK
De Franco
M
M
Ibañez
O M
OM
Isaac
L
L
Starobinas
N
N
D000818:Animals; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D003167:Complement Activation; D003182:Complement C5 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D003170:Complement Pathway, Alternative / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006461:Hemolysis; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000099173:Natural Resistance-associated Macrophage Protein 1
D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D003182:Complement C5; D000099173:Natural Resistance-associated Macrophage Protein 1