Spontaneous “Autoimmune Disease” in Nude Mice

[摘要] Sera from 1- to 4-month-old congenitally athymic “nude” mice and their phenotypically normal littermates (LM) were tested for their capacity to bind double-stranded DNA and RNA. Sera from nudes bound significantly more DNA than did LM sera with no differences in RNA-binding capacity being demonstrable. Decline in the clinical state of nude mice was associated with increased serum DNA-binding capacity. Nude mice grafted with thymi at 1 month of age had reduced serum DNA-binding capacities when compared to non-grafted nudes. Immunofluorescent staining of kidneys from nude mice revealed the presence of significant amounts of IgM, IgG1, IgG2, and IgA immunoglobulins in the glomeruli of nudes but not LM mice. In some cases, immunoglobulin was associated with complement (β1c) deposition. The relevance of these findings to theories of autoimmunity is discussed.

[学科分类] 生物科学（综合）