OBJECTIVE

We assessed the contributions of B cell and T cell subsets to the disparate clinical outcomes in NZM.Baff and NZM.Br3 mice.

METHODS

We assessed in NZM wild-type, NZM.Baff, and NZM.Br3 mice numbers and percentages of B cells and subsets, T cells and subsets, and in vivo proliferation and survival of forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) cells by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Relationships between percentages of Foxp3 cells and numbers of CD19 and CD4 cells were assessed by linear regressions.

RESULTS

In each age and sex cohort, percentages and numbers of CD19 cells were similar in NZM.Baff and NZM.Br3 mice. Percentages of CD3 and CD4 cells were greater in NZM.Br3 than in NZM.Baff mice, with the CD4 to CD3 cell ratios being greater in NZM.Br3 than in NZM.Baff mice and percentages of Foxp3 cells in NZM.Br3 mice being lower than in NZM.Baff mice. Percentages of Foxp3 cells correlated positively with CD19 cells in NZM.Baff mice but negatively in NZM.Br3 mice. In vivo proliferation and survival of Foxp3 cells were lower in NZM.Baff mice than in NZM.Br3 mice.

CONCLUSION

Differences between NZM.Baff and NZM.Br3 mice in Foxp3 cells and their relationships with CD19 cells may have more to do with their divergent clinical outcomes than do differences in numbers of B cells. These unexpected findings suggest that B cell activating factor (BAFF)-B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) or BAFF-Transmembrane activator and calcium-modulator and cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI) interactions may help drive development of clinical systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) even under conditions of considerable B cell depletion. Insufficient blocking of BAFF-BCMA and BAFF-TACI interactions may lie at the heart of incomplete clinical response to BAFF-targeting agents in human SLE.