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Updated: May 6, 2026

The bm12 Inducible Model of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus SLE in C57BL/6 Mice
Published on: November 1, 2015
Major pathogenic steps in human lupus can be effectively suppressed by nucleosomal histone peptide epitope-induced
Li Zhang1, Anne M Bertucci, Rosalind Ramsey-Goldman
1Divisions of Rheumatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
Low-dose tolerance therapy with nucleosomal histone peptide epitopes blocks lupus disease in mouse models, but effect in humans is unknown. Herein, we found that CD4(+)CD25(high)FoxP3(+) or CD4(+)CD45RA(+)FoxP3(low) T-cells, and CD8(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) T-cells were all induced durably in PBMCs from inactive lupus patients and healthy subjects by the histone peptide/s themselves, but in active lupus, dexamethasone or hydroxychloroquine unmasked Treg-induction by the peptides. The peptide-induced Treg depended on TGFβ/ALK-5/pSmad 2/3 signaling, and they expressed TGF-β precursor LAP. Lupus patients' sera did not inhibit Treg induction. The peptide epitope-induced T cells markedly suppressed type I IFN related gene expression in lupus PBMC. Finally, the peptide epitopes suppressed pathogenic autoantibody production by PBMC from active lupus patients to baseline levels by additional mechanisms besides Treg induction, and as potently as anti-IL6 antibody. Thus, low-dose histone peptide epitopes block pathogenic autoimmune response in human lupus by multiple mechanisms to restore a stable immunoregulatory state.
Low-dose tolerance therapy with nucleosomal histone peptide epitopes blocks lupus disease in mouse models, but effect in humans is unknown. Herein, we found that CD4(+)CD25(high)FoxP3(+) or CD4(+)CD45RA(+)FoxP3(low) T-cells, and CD8(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) T-cells were all induced durably in PBMCs from inactive lupus patients and healthy subjects by the histone peptide/s themselves, but in active lupus, dexamethasone or hydroxychloroquine unmasked Treg-induction by the peptides. The peptide-induced Treg depended on TGFβ/ALK-5/pSmad 2/3 signaling, and they expressed TGF-β precursor LAP. Lupus patients' sera did not inhibit Treg induction. The peptide epitope-induced T cells markedly suppressed type I IFN related gene expression in lupus PBMC. Finally, the peptide epitopes suppressed pathogenic autoantibody production by PBMC from active lupus patients to baseline levels by additional mechanisms besides Treg induction, and as potently as anti-IL6 antibody. Thus, low-dose histone peptide epitopes block pathogenic autoimmune response in human lupus by multiple mechanisms to restore a stable immunoregulatory state.
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