Urtica dioica agglutinin, a V beta 8.3-specific superantigen, prevents the development of the systemic lupus erythematosus-like pathology of MRL lpr/lpr mice

Eur J Immunol. 1996 Aug;26(8):1707-11. doi: 10.1002/eji.1830260807.

Abstract

The V beta 8.3-specific superantigenic lectin Urtica dioica agglutinin (UDA) was used to delete the V beta 8.3+ T cells in MRL lpr/lpr mice. In contrast to the systemic lupus erythematosus-like pathology which progresses with age in the phosphate-buffered saline-injected MRL lpr/lpr controls, UDA-treated animals did not develop overt clinical signs of lupus and nephritis. The pathogenic T cell clones thus reside within the V beta 8.3+ T cell population, which includes an expanded T cell clone described previously. Finally, UDA alters the production of autoantibodies in a sex-dependent manner.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Epitopes / administration & dosage
  • Epitopes / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Injections, Intravenous
  • Lectins / administration & dosage
  • Lectins / therapeutic use*
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / immunology
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / pathology*
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / prevention & control*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • Plant Lectins*
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / immunology*
  • Superantigens / administration & dosage
  • Superantigens / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Epitopes
  • Lectins
  • Plant Lectins
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta
  • Superantigens
  • stinging nettle lectin