Lpr gene control of the anti-DNA antibody response

The influence of the Lpr gene on the anti-DNA antibody response was investigated in MRL and B6 Lpr Lpr inbred mice. MRL +/+ mice less than a yr of age produced low levels of anti-DNA antibody, whereas older animals of this strain demonstrated levels in some instances comparable to those of the more severely affected MRL Lpr/Lpr mice. This result indicates a tendency to autoreactivity in MRL mice independent of the Lpr gene. To determine whether other mice bearing the Lpr gene would also express autoantibodies, the anti-DNA antibody responses of B6 Lpr/Lpr mice were studied. This strain was developed by matings to transfer the Lpr gene into another inbred background and allow evaluation of its action independent of other disturbances of the MRL mice. Mice of this strain produced antibodies to DNA, with female animals displaying significantly higher levels than males. This result demonstrates that the Lpr gene can stimulate autoantibody production in mice other than the MRL strain and does not require abnormalities unique to this background to potentiate autoreactivity.

Duke Scholars

Author David Stephen Pisetsky Medicine, Rheumatology and Immunology