| First Author | Shlomchik MJ | Year | 1994 |
| Journal | J Exp Med | Volume | 180 |
| Issue | 4 | Pages | 1295-306 |
| PubMed ID | 7931063 | Mgi Jnum | J:20688 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:68763 | Doi | 10.1084/jem.180.4.1295 |
| Citation | Shlomchik MJ, et al. (1994) The role of B cells in lpr/lpr-induced autoimmunity. J Exp Med 180(4):1295-306 |
| abstractText | The primary roles of T cells and B cells in the initiation of systemic autoimmunity are unclear. To investigate the role of B cells, we crossed the Jh knockout mutation onto the autoimmune lpr/lpr background. Animals homozygous for both traits were obtained. As expected, these animals lack B cells. These animals also show no signs of autoimmune kidney destruction nor vasculitis, in spite of carrying the lpr/lpr mutation. In contrast, lpr/lpr littermates that had B cells had severe nephritis and vasculitis, as well as autoantibodies. These results demonstrate a primary role for B cells and/or (auto)antibodies in initiating several types of autoimmune-mediated tissue destruction. The implications of this finding for models and therapy of autoimmunity are discussed. |
