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. 1969 Aug;63(4):1102–1107. doi: 10.1073/pnas.63.4.1102

THE PATHOGENESIS OF AUTOIMMUNITY IN NEW ZEALAND MICE, I. INDUCTION OF ANTINUCLEIC ACID ANTIBODIES BY POLYINOSINIC·POLYCYTIDYLIC ACID

Alfred D Steinberg 1,2,*, Samuel Baron 1,2,†, Norman Talal 1,2,*
PMCID: PMC223434  PMID: 5307809

Abstract

Antibodies to DNA and RNA were induced in young NZB/NZW F1 (B/W) female mice following multiple injections of the interferon-inducer polyinosinic·polycytidylic acid (poly I·poly C). Despite serum concentrations of interferon adequate to inhibit the C-type murine leukemia viruses, there was an acceleration of the autoimmune disease in these animals. Anti-RNA, but not anti-DNA antibodies, were induced in B/W male mice, as well as in NZB and NZW mice. Anti-RNA antibodies were also found in 50 per cent of female B/W mice who had never received poly I·poly C and in 8 of 24 sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

These results suggest that double-stranded RNA functions as a potent antigen in New Zealand mice. Naturally occurring nucleic acids (e.g., viruses) probably act as stimuli to a genetically hyperreactive immune system. According to this hypothesis, the unusual feature in this disease is not a unique virus, but rather the unique genetic susceptibility of the B/W (particularly female) host to immunization with nucleic acids. A similar pathogenetic mechanism may be operative in some humans with systemic lupus erythematosus.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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