FIGURE 4.

NZM2328.DR3⁺AE⁰ mice develop high titers of anti-dsDNA and anti-Sm Abs. (A and B) Sera from 5-mo-old mice were tested for reactivity against dsDNA and SmD. No reactivity against dsDNA or SmD was seen in NZM2328.DR3⁺AE⁰ mice (n = 6). Both NZM2328.DR3⁺AE⁰ mice (n = 25) and NZM2328 mice (n = 11) developed anti-dsDNA; however, the titers were higher in NZM2328.DR3⁺AE⁰ mice (p = 0.02). (B) Interestingly, NZM2328. DR3⁺AE⁰ mice developed Abs to Sm, whereas other groups did not (p < 0.0001, NZM2328.DR3⁺AE⁰ versus NZM2328 mice; p < 0.0001, NZM2328. DR3⁺AE⁰ versus DR3⁺AE⁰ mice). (C) Autoantibody titers to anti-Sm were compared between NZM2328.DR3⁺AE⁰ and NZM2328 mice (n = 4–10 mice) at various time points. In NZM2328.DR3⁺AE⁰ mice, anti-Sm Abs began appearing at 3 mo of age, peaked at 5 mo of age, and remained detectable up to 9 mo of age. The asterisks denote statistical significance.