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Individuals with systemic autoantibody-mediated diseases such as lupus have polyclonal T and B cell activation. Yet, autoantibody production is restricted to certain autoantigens. The mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain unclear. We propose three potential mechanisms by which autoreactive helper T cell responses diversify to become polyclonal, yet are restricted to certain antigens. First, using a model where self-Ig peptides spontaneously activate T cells and modulate disease in lupus mice, we demonstrate that the numbers of autoantibody-augmenting T helper peptides increased across the Ig molecule as mice aged ("intramolecular determinant spreading"). Secondly, a single T cell hybridoma established from a (NZB x NZW)F1 mouse immunized with one self-Ig peptide recognized several Ig-derived determinants, which had little sequence homology with the immunizing peptide. Such determinant degeneracy can lead to polyclonality. To explore a mechanism for restriction to certain autoantigens, a protein database search was done for homologies with sequences of selected stimulatory Ig peptides. Identical sequences of such determinants were not found in murine proteins other than Ig. These occurred infrequently in nonautoantibody Ig, but quite commonly in lupus-related autoantibodies such as antibodies to DNA, cardiolipin, and erythrocytes. Thus, determinant spreading and degenerate recognition in T cells coupled with recurring use of T cell determinant sequences among autoantibodies result in polyclonality that is restricted to certain autoantigens.

Mechanisms that initiate and maintain autoantibody (autoAb) production in individuals with autoimmune diseases like SLE are poorly understood. Inadequate suppression of autoreactive T cells and/or unusual activation of T and B cells may underlie the persistence of pathogenic autoAbs in lupus. Here, we examine the possibility that in mice with lupus, autoAb molecules may be upregulating their own production by activating self-reactive T cells via their own processed peptides; downregulation of this circuit may decrease autoAb production and delay the development of lupus. We found that before the onset of clinical disease, lupus-prone (NZB/NZW) F1 [BWF1] (but not MHC-matched nonautoimmune mice) developed spontaneous T cell autoimmunity to peptides from variable regions of heavy chains (VH) of syngeneic anti-DNA mAbs but not to peptides from the VH region of an mAb to an exogenous antigen. Tolerizing young BWF1 mice with intravenous injections of autoAb-derived determinants substantially delayed development of anti-DNA antibodies and nephritis and prolonged survival. Thus, in such an autoAb-mediated disease, the presence of autoreactive T cells against VH region determinants of autoAbs may represent an important mechanism involved in the regulation of autoimmunity. Our findings show that tolerizing such autoreactive T cells can postpone the development of an autoimmune disease like SLE.

Antibodies to native DNA (nDNA) in sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus have been found to frequently correlate with antibodies to the A and D SnRNP proteins measured in Western blot assays. 40 of 54 SLE (74.1%) sera with anti-nDNA bound to A and D proteins, while 9 of 113 sera (8%) without anti-nDNA bound the A and D proteins, P < 10(-8) by Fisher's exact test. Antibodies to nDNA correlated closely with anti-A and anti-D in seven of eight patients followed sequentially, r = 0.7865. Nine human polyclonal anti-nDNA populations were isolated from DNA cellulose columns. Seven reacted equally with A and D, and two reacted predominantly with D. Two of three murine monoclonal anti-DNA antibodies isolated from NZB/NZW F1 hybrid mice bound A and D equally in Western blot with a titer > 1/40,000. These reactions were directed to the unfolded A and D proteins measurable in Western blot since these monoclonals (and several of the human anti-nDNA populations) failed to react with native U1RNP in ELISA or in RNA immunoprecipitation experiments. These newly recognized cross reactions of anti-nDNA may amplify the immune response to DNA and be part of the original immunogenic drive.

We have studied several monoclonal anti-double-stranded (ds) DNA antibodies for their ability to accelerate lupus nephritis in young NZB X NZW F1 female mice and to induce it in BALB/c mice. Two identified as pathogens in both strains have characteristics previously associated with nephritogenicity: expression of IgG2a isotype and IdGN2 idiotype. Both pathogenic antibodies used the combination of genes from the VHJ558 and VK9 subfamilies. Two weak pathogens failed to accelerate nephritis in young BW mice, but induced lupus nephritis in BALB/c mice. They both express IdGN2; one is cationic and an IgG3, the other is an IgG2a. Additional MAbs (some IgG2a, one IdGN2-positive) did not accelerate or induce nephritis. We have cloned and sequenced the variable regions of the immunoglobulin genes of one pathogenic autoantibody. No unique V, D, or J gene segments and no evidence of unusual mechanisms in generating diversity were used to construct this antibody. These data argue against use of unique abnormal Ig genes by systemic lupus erythematosus individuals to construct pathogenic autoantibody subsets. Instead, the major abnormality may be immunoregulatory.

Suppression of circulating antibodies to double-stranded DNA was achieved in NZB/NZW f1 female mice by repeated administration of an IgG2a monoclonal antibody to DNA. Deaths from nephritis were delayed; glomerular deposition of IgG and of the cationic IgG DNA antibodies characteristic of murine lupus nephritis were diminished. Quantities of circulating antibodies to single-stranded DNA were not reduced compared with untreated or IgG myeloma-treated control mice. Antibodies directed against the monoclonal anti-DNA appeared in the circulation of treated mice after three inoculations of the idiotype. Those antibodies did not react with another monoclonal anti-DNA of the same allotype. One monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody was obtained in hybridoma cultures derived from a spleen of a treated mouse. Cross-reactive or common idiotypes were found in 30-50% of NZB/NZW f1 sera and monoclonal DNA antibodies. Deletions of portions of the spectrotype of antibodies to DNA were found in sera containing anti-idiotypic antibodies, suggesting suppression of clones producing antibodies with isoelectric points similar to that of the immunizing idiotype. Deletions of some of the anti-idiotypic antibodies also occurred as the mice aged. Rheumatoid factors were not detectable in any sera. Therefore, administration of an antibody to DNA bearing an idiotype occurring with high frequency in NZB/NZW f1 females resulted in relatively specific suppression of the antibody response to double-stranded DNA, as well as suppression of nephritis. Reduction of anti-DNA synthesis by anti-idiotypic antibodies may have been an important suppressive mechanism. Experiments are in progress to test this hypothesis.