Murine Lupus

In mice with lupus nephritis qualitative changes in anti-DNA antibodies occur, such as IgG switch and increased cationic charge, to render these antibodies pathogenic. Pathogenic anti-DNA idiotypes can be encoded by genes of a normal mouse strain such as SWR, where they remain dormant. When the normal mice are crossed with an autoimmune strain like NZB, the F₁ hybrids express these idiotypes owing to defects in immunoregulation, resulting in the development of lethal glomerulonephritis.