Abstract
To analyze the characteristics of the immune deposits related to anti-DNA antibodies on the glomeruli of MRL/MP-1pr/1pr (MRL/1) mice, an elution study and an immunofluorescent study using antiultravioletirradiated (uv) DNA antisera (rabbit) were carried out. MRL/1 mice developed a high concentration of immunoglobulin G (IgG), anti-DNA antibodies, rheumatoid factors (RF), and circulating immune complexes (CIC) in the sera. In contrast, RF and IC were not significantly detected in the renal eluates in MRL/1 mice, although anti-DNA antibodies revealed high titers, while the titers of anti-dsDNA antibodies in the sera and eluates after DNase digestion did not increase significantly. Furthermore, DNA were not detected as the antigens (Ag) on the glomeruli by the immunofluorescent study using anti-uvDNA antisera which are specific to DNA Ag, though we detected anti-DNA antibodies in the eluates in MRL/1 mice. These results suggest either that other antigen-antibody systems constitute the major IC component in lupus nephritis of MRL/1 mice or that DNA Ag fixed to the glomeruli was digested with endogeneous DNase into oligonucleotide which is resistant to treatment with DNase, and dose not produce comformational changes after uv-irradiation.
