Regulation of B cell tolerance by 129-derived chromosome 1 loci in C57BL/6 mice

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a multifactorial disease with a strong genetic component. Previous studies have shown that a 129-derived chromosome 1 interval (Sle16) on the C57BL/6 (B6) background is sufficient to induce humoral autoimmunity. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the mechanisms by which this locus contributes to the loss of peripheral tolerance.

Anti-single-stranded DNA (anti-ssDNA)-knockin transgenic mice (V(H)3H9R/Vkappa8R and V(H)3H9R) were crossed with a B6 congenic line named B6.129chr1b that carries the Sle16 locus. A parallel study of a gene-targeted animal, whose mutated gene is located within the 129chr1b interval on chromosome 1, was also performed.

The combination of V(H)3H9R/Vkappa8R with the 129chr1b interval resulted in impaired B cell anergy, and transgenic IgM and IgG anti-ssDNA antibodies were found in the circulation. The presence of IgG2a(a) anti-ssDNA and IgM(a) anti-Sm antibodies in sera indicated that the autoreactive transgenic B cells underwent class switching and epitope spreading. The 129chr1b locus appeared to have a dominant effect, since transgenic antibodies were also detected in mice carrying a single allele. The gene-targeted animals showed a similar phenotype.

The presence of a single 129chr1b locus on the B6 background impaired B cell anergy, prevented deletion of anti-DNA transgenic B cells, and induced receptor revision. The findings of this study also emphasize that the autoimmune phenotype observed in mice with targeted genes located on chromosome 1 may simply arise from epistatic interactions between the 129 and B6 parental strains.