Relationship of subepidermal immune complex to renal deposits in the (NZB X W)F1 mouse

In an attempt to correlate the presence of subepidermal and renal glomerular deposits in murine lupus, skin and kidney tissue from 67 (NZB X W)F1 mice was examined by direct immunofluorescence and the results tabulated. Between 36 and 43 weeks of age, deposits in both locations were detected in only 50.5% of the mice, and between 44 and 52 weeks, in only 79.0%. The titer of antibody to DNA did not correlate with the presence of subepidermal deposits even though DNA was demonstrated at the epidermal-dermal interface. It is concluded that the absence of immunoglobulin in the subepidermis does not preclude the presence of renal deposits, and it is hazardous to attempt to predict underlying glomerular deposition by performing immunofluorescence examination of skin in murine lupus.