SPONTANEOUS AUTOIMMUNE GASTRITIS IN C3H HE MICE - A NEW MOUSE MODEL FOR GASTRIC AUTOIMMUNITY/

Autoimmune gastritis is the underlying pathological lesion of pernicio us anemia in humans. The lesion is characterized by a chronic inflamma tory infiltrate in the gastric mucosa with loss of parietal and zymoge nic cells. It is associated with circulating autoantibodies to the gas tric H/K-ATPase, the enzyme responsible for acidification of gastric j uice. Experimental models of autoimmune gastritis have previously been produced in. mice after a variety of manipulations, including thymect omy. Here we report for the first time a spontaneous mouse model of au toimmune gastritis in C3H/He mice. The spontaneous gastritis is also a ccompanied by circulating autoantibodies to the gastric H/K-ATPase. Th e spontaneous mouse model should be useful for studies directed toward the immunopathogenesis and treatment of autoimmune gastritis.