(SWR × SJL)F<inf>1</inf> Mice: A new model of lupus-like disease

During the study of autoimmune models we found that (SWR × SJL)F1 mice (both parental strains with the V3 a phenotype) spontaneously produced immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies directed against SIn/U1 small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs). In some of these females, the presence of these autoantibodies was found as early as 10 wk of age. Their frequency increased with age i.e., 70% at 40 wk. At that time, only 10% of males developed anti-Sm/UlsnRNP antibodies. Anti-Sm/UlsnRNP antibodies from positive mice generally recognized the peptides BB', D, 70 kD, and A from RNPs. These polypeptides are known to bear the autoantigenic epitopes that are recognized by human sera containing anti-Sm and anti-UlsnRNP antibodies. Reactivity of IgG antibodies with the octapeptide sequence PPPGMRPP was also found in 30% of anti-Sm/UlsnRNP positive (SWR × SJL)F1 mice that precipitated BB' peptides. This octapeptide has been described as the most immunoreactive linear epitope in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with anti-Sm and anti-UlsnRNP antibodies. Approximately 30% of anti-Sn/UlsnRNP positive females, later produced anti-dsDNA antibodies. This fact was accompanied by the development of proteinuria due to glomerulonephritis mediated by immunocomplexes. In addition to the specific autoimmune response, (SWR × SJL)F1 females also showed other immunologic abnormalities such as hypergammaglobulinemia, and an approximately twofold increase in spleen cell number compared with control mice. These results indicate that (SWR × SJL)F1 females develop clinical and serological abnormalities similar to those observed in human SLE and constitute a novel model for the study of the genetic mechanisms that result in autoimmunity. © 1994, Rockefeller University Press., All rights reserved.