Variable regions of two murine antibodies that bind the SLE associated 16/6 idiotype.

Experimental systemic lupus erythematosus can be induced in naive mice of different strains using a human monoclonal antibody bearing the 16/6 idiotype and a murine anti-16/6 Id monoclonal antibody designated 1A3-2. Herein we report the isolation of a second anti-16/6 Id antibody, 3F7-8, from BALB/c mice afflicted with experimental SLE. In contrast to the previously reported (1A3-2) anti-16/6 Id monoclonal antibody, mAb 3F7-8 does not induce experimental SLE upon immunization. The variable heavy and light chains of both antibodies were cloned and their sequences were determined. The VH of mAb 1A3-2 was found to express a germ line gene from the Q52 family, with a high homology to an anti-lysozyme antibody. The VH of monoclonal antibody 3F7-8 was found to express a 7183 germ line gene, showing over 95% homology with the VH of 12 anti-Sm antibodies isolated from MRL-lpr mice. Based on sequence homology to other known antibodies, we further demonstrated that monoclonal antibodies 1A3-2 and 3F7-8 bind lysozyme and the Sm ribonucleoproteins, respectively, in addition to their binding to the 16/6 Id.