NOD.DQ8 mice produce higher levels of Ab’s to self, MsII, and ChII than B10.DQ8 mice (anti-MsII: P < 0.001; anti-ChII: P < 0.05). Bars depict mean ± SD (units per milliliter) of anti-collagen Ab’s. NOD mice produced very low levels of anti-CII and anti-MsII Ab’s compared with transgenic mice (P < 0.001). (b) Only NOD.DQ8 mice produced significant levels of anti-CIX Ab’s following immunization with CII. Aβo mice were used as negative controls and are depicted as cut-off line. (c) IgM-RF was produced at higher levels in NOD.DQ8 compared with B10.DQ8 mice (P < 0.01). Sera from MRL/lpr and B6 mice were used as positive (dotted line) and negative (solid line) controls, respectively. Horizontal bar for each strain indicates mean values of IgM-RF. (d) CIX-primed NOD.DQ8 mice produce significantly high amounts of anti-CIX Ab’s compared with B10.DQ8 mice. Aβo mice, which were used as negative controls, are depicted as cut-off line. BIX, bovine CIX.