Open AccessSequence analysis of the germ‐line V H gene corresponding to a nephritogenic antibody in MRL/lpr lupus mice
Author(s) -
ONO M.,
YAMAMOTO T.,
KYOGOKU M.,
NOSE M.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
clinical & experimental immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 135
eISSN - 1365-2249
pISSN - 0009-9104
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2249.1995.tb03666.x
Subject(s) - germline , antibody , lupus nephritis , biology , gene , mutation , systemic lupus erythematosus , microbiology and biotechnology , germline mutation , immunology , lupus erythematosus , genetics , medicine , pathology , disease
SUMMARY In order to investigate the genetic origin of nephritogenic antibodies in MRL/Mp‐lpr/lpr (MRL/lpr) lupus mice, we isolated the germ‐line heavy chain variable region (V H ) gene corresponding to the nephritogenic antibody, B1, derived from an unmanipulated MRL/lpr mouse. Injection of this antibody into C.B‐17/Icr‐ scid/scid mice resulted in the generation of wire loop‐like glomerular lesions resembling those of lupus nephritis. Nucleotide sequences of this germ‐line V H gene showed no replacement mutation in the V H region of the B1 antibody. Furthermore, this gene was identical to that found in the C3H/HeJ‐ lpr/lpr strain of mice. Our results suggest that germ‐line V H genes can encode nephritogenic antibodies without somatic mutation, even in a mouse strain not prone to lupus.