Causal association between major histocompatibility complex and myocardial infarction in NZW x BXSB F1 mice

The NZW x BXSB F1 male mice that a model for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) develop myocardial infarction. To determine whether the gene(s) linked to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of NZW mice are involved in myocardial infarction, we developed an H-2-congenic NZW.H-2d strain and compared the incidence of myocardial infarction in NZW x BXSB F1 (H-2z/b) male mice to that in NZW. H-2d x BXSB F1 male mice (H-2d/b). H-2z/b heterozygous F1 male mice showed a higher incidence of myocardial infarction than H-2d/b F1 male mice. This observation suggests that the myocardial infarction seen in SLE may be related to MHC.