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Research Article Free access | 10.1172/JCI728

Genetic dissection of SLE pathogenesis. Sle1 on murine chromosome 1 leads to a selective loss of tolerance to H2A/H2B/DNA subnucleosomes.

C Mohan, E Alas, L Morel, P Yang, and E K Wakeland

Center for Mammalian Genetics, and Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610-0275, USA. mohan.pathology@mail.health.ufl.edu

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Center for Mammalian Genetics, and Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610-0275, USA. mohan.pathology@mail.health.ufl.edu

Find articles by Alas, E. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Center for Mammalian Genetics, and Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610-0275, USA. mohan.pathology@mail.health.ufl.edu

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Center for Mammalian Genetics, and Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610-0275, USA. mohan.pathology@mail.health.ufl.edu

Find articles by Yang, P. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Center for Mammalian Genetics, and Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610-0275, USA. mohan.pathology@mail.health.ufl.edu

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Published March 15, 1998 - More info

Published in Volume 101, Issue 6 on March 15, 1998
J Clin Invest. 1998;101(6):1362–1372. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI728.
© 1998 The American Society for Clinical Investigation
Published March 15, 1998 - Version history
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Abstract

One of the hallmarks of SLE is the loss of tolerance to chromatin. The genes and mechanisms that trigger this loss of tolerance remain unknown. Our genetic studies in the NZM2410 lupus strain have implicated genomic intervals on chromosomes 1 (Sle1), 4 (Sle2), and 7 (Sle3) as conferring strong lupus susceptibility. Interestingly, B6 mice that are congenic for Sle1 (B6.NZMc1) have elevated IgG antichromatin Abs. This study explores the antinuclear antibody fine specificities and underlying cellular defects in these mice. On the B6 background, Sle1 by itself is sufficient to generate a robust, spontaneous antichromatin Ab response, staining Hep-2 nuclei homogeneously, and reacting primarily with H2A/H2B/DNA subnucleosomes. This targeted immune response peaks at 7-9 mo of age, affects both sexes with equally high penetrance (> 75%), and interestingly, does not "spread" to other subnucleosomal chromatin components. Sle1 also leads to an expanded pool of histone-reactive T cells, which may have a role in driving the anti-H2A/H2B/DNA B cells. However, these mice do not exhibit any generalized immunological defects or quantitative aberrations in lymphocyte apoptosis. We hypothesize that Sle1 may lead to the presentation of chromatin in an immunogenic fashion, or directly impact tolerance of chromatin-specific B cells.

Version history
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