Constitutive secretion of transgene-encoded IgG2b autoantibodies leads to symptoms of autoimmune disease

J Immunol. 1995 Sep 15;155(6):3213-22.

Abstract

Anti-DNA Ab are strictly regulated, except in autoimmunity, where they are expressed and may contribute to pathogenicity. To study constitutive anti-DNA Ab secretion in nonautoimmune mice, two anti-dsDNA H/L chain transgene combinations were constructed using an IgG2b C region with secretory but no transmembrane domain exons. One H/L combination, consisting of the VH3H9 H and V kappa 4 L chain transgenes, was chosen to recreate 3H9, an autoantibody that originally arose in an autoimmune MRL/lpr mouse; the other paired a higher affinity variant of VH3H9, 56R, with the same V kappa 4 L chain. Elevated titers of IgG2b along with normal levels of other isotypes were observed in transgene-positive mice, indicating that constitutive transgene-directed Ab secretion was achieved. Sera and hybridoma supernatants from VH3H9 gamma transgene-positive animals exhibited binding to dsDNA, ssDNA, and cardiolipin. Mice expressing the 56R gamma H chain and the V kappa 4 L chain showed enhanced binding. Expression of the transgenes correlated with signs of autoimmune disease, including prolonged plasma clotting in vitro, and reduced litter size. The results suggest that even a single autoreactive H chain that escapes tolerance may suffice to induce features of autoimmune disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Antinuclear / biosynthesis*
  • Antibodies, Antinuclear / genetics
  • Autoimmunity / genetics
  • Autoimmunity / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Hybridomas
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood*
  • Immunoglobulin G / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic

Substances

  • Antibodies, Antinuclear
  • Immunoglobulin G