Effect of the B cell superantigen protein A from S. aureus on the early lupus disease of (NZBxNZW) F1 mice.

Abstract

The (NZBxNZW) F(1) mouse develops a spontaneous autoimmune disease process with striking similarities to human systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In female (NZBxNZW) F(1) mice, the production of IgG antinuclear antibodies, including antibodies to double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), is associated with the development of a severe immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis that results in death from renal failure in virtually all animals by 12 months of age. Since B-1 and marginal zone (MZ) cells represent a potential source of pathogenic antibodies and because B cell superantigens have been demonstrated to reduce B-1 and MZ cells in vivo, we tested the effect of repeated injections of the superantigen protein A (SpA) from S. aureus on the disease of this lupus model. We found that weekly intraperitoneal injections of SpA delay the progression of serum anti-DNA IgG and reduce proteinuria early in young female (NZBxNZW) F(1) mice. This superantigen also induced a specific depression in the numbers of peritoneal B-1 cells, as compared to mice treated with a control protein. These results support the role of B-1 cells in the development of the autoimmune disease in this mouse model and suggest that B cell superantigens may be useful in the management of autoimmune conditions.

• Authors: Muriel Viau, Moncef Zouali
• Journal: Molecular immunology (Mol Immunol) Vol. 42 Issue 7 Pg. 849-55 (May 2005) ISSN: 0161-5890 [Print] England
• PMID: 15829273 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Antinuclear
• Antigen-Antibody Complex
• Immunoglobulin G
• Staphylococcal Protein A
• Superantigens

Topics

• Animals
• Antibodies, Antinuclear (blood)
• Antigen-Antibody Complex (immunology)
• Autoimmune Diseases (drug therapy, immunology)
• B-Lymphocyte Subsets
• B-Lymphocytes (immunology)
• Female
• Flow Cytometry
• Glomerulonephritis (drug therapy, immunology, pathology)
• Immunoglobulin G (immunology)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Mice, Inbred NZB
• Peritoneal Cavity (cytology)
• Proteinuria
• Spleen (cytology)
• Staphylococcal Protein A (therapeutic use)
• Staphylococcus aureus
• Superantigens (therapeutic use)