Contribution of the gene linked to the T cell receptor β chain gene complex of NZW mice to the autoimmunity of (NZB × NZW)F1 mice

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
We have investigated the contribution to the autoimmune disease of (NZB × NZW)F1 (NZB/W) mice made by the T cell receptor β (TcR β) chain gene complex, or genes linked to it, that are derived from the NZW strain. For this, we developed the NZW.TcR βNZB strain, a NZW congenic line carrying the TcR β of NZB type, and produced NZB × NZW.TcR βNZB (NZB/W.TcR βNZB)F1 mice. We compared the amounts of anti‐DNA and anti‐histone antibodies and also the severity of lupus nephritis in these mice with those in the original NZB/W F1 mice. We obtained evidence for significantly lower serum levels of autoantibodies to double‐stranded and single‐stranded DNA and histone, and a later onset and a lower incidence of proteinuria in the NZB/W.TcR βNZB F1 mice than in the original NZB/W F1 mice. These findings clearly indicate that the gene (s) within or closely linked to the TcR β chain gene complex on chromosome 6 of the NZW strain acts to intensify the feature of systemic lupus erythematosus in the NZB/W F1 strain. The significant relationship of this finding to the strict dependency of NZB/W F1 disease on the H2d/H2z heterozygosity is discussed.