Analysis of a positive feedback mechanism in the anti-Sm autoantibody response of MRL/MPJ-lpr/lpr mice

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The mechanism of induction of anti‐Sm antibodies by passive transfer of anti‐Sm mAb in MRL/lpr mice was investigated. No idiotypic relationship was detected between the inducing monoclonal antibody KSm2 and either the induced circulating anti‐Sm antibodies or the products of anti‐Sm‐producing hybridomas derived from spleen cell fusion of treated mice. Treatment of mice with ribonucleoprotein Sm antigen, alone or as an immune complex, induced anti‐Sm and anti‐ribonucleoprotein antibodies similarly to treatment with KSm2. This suggests that autoantigen contributes to the development of the anti‐Sm response in MRL mice.