Differential induction of lupus associated antinuclear antibodies in MRL mice by monoclonal anti-Sm antibodies.

The effect of monoclonal autoantibodies on immunoregulation was investigated in MRL/MpJ-lpr/lpr mice. Passive transfer of KSm2 (a monoclonal IgG2a antibody directed against the 16 kD polypeptide of Sm) induced IgG antibodies to the other major immunoreactive polypeptides of Sm (28 and 29 kD) in all mice studied, and to polypeptides of the closely related antigen nRNP/Sm in 63% of the mice. In addition an increment in IgG anti-dsDNA antibodies, and in IgA and IgM anti-Sm antibodies, over control levels was observed. These effects were not due to polyclonal activation since anti-histone antibody levels were unaffected. Two other IgG2a monoclonal antibodies: KSm5 (directed against the 28 and 29 kD Sm polypeptides) and OX 12 (directed against an irrelevant antigen) failed to modulate the autoimmune responses of the mice in any way. These results demonstrate specific antibody-mediated connectivity between B cell clones producing autoantibodies against three distinct antigens.