THE DIVERSE PATHOGENIC POTENTIAL OF ANTI-DNA ANTIBODIES FROM VARIOUS SOURCES TO INDUCE EXPERIMENTAL SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS

It has previously been shown that immunization with pathogenic anti-DN A idiotypes (Ids; e.g. 16/6 Id) leads to the induction of experimental systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in naive mice. The disease is char acterized by serological (e.g. anti-double-strand DNA), clinical (elev ation of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, leukopenia and proteinuria) a nd histological (immune complex deposition in kidneys) parameters. To determine whether the 16/6 Id carrying anti-DNA antibodies has unique pathogenic ability, in the current study we have employed diverse sour ces of anti-DNA antibodies to induce experimental SLE. An IgM anti-DNA antibody lacking the 16/6 Id was able to induce the production of the serological markers of experimental SLE, but not the clinico-histolog ical findings. Furthermore, an IgA anti-DNA (16/6 Id) derived from the serum of a patient with celiac disease was very effective in inducing the whole presentation of experimental SLE. Other anti-DNA antibodies failed to induce the autoimmune condition. Combined with our previous experience, the current study points to the diverse potential of vari ous anti-DNA antibodies to induce SLE. The 16/6 Id is only one of a li st of the potent pathogenic anti-DNA Ids. These facts may explain in p art the diversity of clinical presentations of SLE, including asymptom atic subjects who carry high serum titers of anti-DNA antibodies.