Abstract
Successful transfer of murine Sjögren's syndrome from MRL/lpr mice into SCID mice and prevention of lesions by anti-CD 4 and -T cell receptor Vβ8 anti body treatment are described. Mononuclear cells is isolated from the inflammatory salivary gland tissues of MRL/lpr were transferred intraperitoneally into SCID mice. Autoimmune lesions resembling those seen in Sjögren's syndrome developed in the salivary and lacrimal glands of SCID mice 8 weeks after the injection. A major proportion of these infiltrating cells in transferred SCID mice were CD 4+ and Vβ8+ Moreover, we found that the lesions were prevented by administration of the isolated cells treated in vitro with anti-CD 4- and Vβ 8-bearing monoclonal antibodies. These results suggest that CD 4- and Vβ 8-bearing T cells are involved in recognizing an unknown autopetide and triggering autoimmunity in the salivary and lacrimal glands.
