Identification of T-cell receptor V ? deletion mutant mouse strain AU/ssJ (H-2 q ) which is resistant to collagen-induced arthritis

Abstract

Our laboratory is involved in investigating the role of T-cell receptor (Tcr) in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). During these studies we found AU/ssJ (H-2 ^q ) mice to be resistant to CIA like SWR (H-2 ^q ), as compared with other H-2 ^q strains with wild-type Tcr like DBA/1 and B 10. Q. Upon screening with monoclonal antibodies F23.1 and KJ23a, AU/ssJ was found to be F23.1 negative (V _β 8 Tcr negative) and KJ23a positive (V _β 17a Tcr positive). Southern blot analysis on liver DNA using specific Tcr-V _β probes confirmed the deletion of V _β 8 gene family and also showed that AU/ssJ mice have deletions of V _β 9, V _β 13, V _β 12, and V _β 11 genes of Tcr. Further, these mice show a restriction fragment length polymorphism pattern with V _β 10, V _β 6, and V _β 17 probes similar to SWR mice as compared with 1310 mice. Since SWR and AU/ssJ are from different backgrounds, these studies indicate that specific variable region β chain genes of Tcr are crucial for susceptibility to CIA in mice. Furthermore, these studies identify an additional inbred strain which has also deleted 50% of its Tcr-V _β genes.