IGG GLYCOSYLATION IN AUTOIMMUNE-PRONE STRAINS OF MICE

The relationship between increased levels of IgG oligosaccharide chain s lacking galactose (G0) and the development of rheumatoid arthritis i s unclear. In order to further our understanding of the observed corre lation between raised serum G0 and arthritis, we have studied G0 level s in arthritis-prone and non-susceptible (i.e. non-arthritis-prone) mi ce and the effects on G0 of mycobacterial antigens, which have been po stulated to play a role in the early events leading to the development of arthritis. We have shown that different age-matched mouse strains have characteristic 'resting' levels of G0 which (in six out of seven strains of mice) increase with age. We have also shown that these incr eases can be enhanced by immunization of arthritis-prone strains of mi ce with an adjuvant containing mycobacteria (Freund's complete adjuvan t (FCA)), suggesting that deflects in the ability to regulate these G0 changes may be related to susceptibility to arthritis.