Induction of Experimental Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome in PL/J Mice Following Immunization With β2GPI

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Abstract
PROBLEM: Immunization with β2-glycoprotein I (β2GPI) induces antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) in normal mice and rabbits. Recently we reported early onset of autoimmunity in MRL/++ mice following immunization with β2GPI. There is a close association between aPL with thrombosis, recurrent fetal loss, and intrauterine growth retardation. In this study we evaluated the effect of β2GPI-induced aPL on pregnancy outcomes in an inbred strain of mice (PL/J). METHOD: Three groups of seven-week-old female PL/J mice (12 per group) were studied. Group A was immunized with β2GPI and group B with ovalbumin; group C was not immunized. After two booster injections, the mice were tested for aPL, anti-DNA by ELISA, and for ANA by indirect immunofluorescence. Platelet count and pregnancy outcomes were studied at the age of 14 weeks. RESULTS: The aPL and anti-DNA levels were higher at 12 and 14 weeks in group A; the optical densities (OD) were 1.72±0.6 and 0.699±0.25 for group A, 0.091 ±0.040 and 0.230±0.47 for group B, and 0.0435±0.003 and 0.119±0.026 for group C (comparing group A with groups B and C combined, PP2GPI-induced aPL in the development of experimental models of APS in PL/J mice.