ANTI-T-CELL RECEPTOR THERAPY IN MURINE EXPERIMENTAL SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS

Experimental systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), similar to that obser ved after immunization with the human anti-DNA mAb 16/6 Id(+), could b e induced in mice by injection of 16/6 Id specific T-cell lines. The a bove T-cell lines were exclusively CD4(+) CD8(-) and the majority of c ells expressed the V beta 8 T-cell receptor (TCR) gene products. Furth ermore, lymph node cells of mice immunized with the 16/6 Id were enric hed with CD4(+)V beta 8(+) T-cells. The TCR used by 16/6 Id-specific T -cells showed a limited homology in their CDR3 junctional regions. Nev ertheless, mice injected with the anti-V beta 8 mAb developed autoanti body titers that were not significantly different from those found in the non-treated, 16/6 Id-injected group. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V . All rights reserved.