The Uterus Lupus Band Test and Its Correlation with the Skin Lupus Band Test in Autoimmune Mice

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem disease, involving the kidney, skin, spleen, and other organs. In 1963, Burnham et al (4) described a band of localized immunoglobulin (Ig) deposition at the dermo-epidermal junction (DEJ) of the skin lesion in patients with SLE. The term lupus band (LB) was used to this skin lesion (20), and the LB test (LBT) is now regarded to be of diagnostic and prognostic value in SLE. However, the immunological mechanisms of Ig deposition at the DEJ are still obscure.Several strains of SLE-prone mice have been developed for studies on the pathogenesis of SLE (13,16,19,21). Recently we found that positivity of the LBT in nonlesional skin is a common feature in New Zealand, MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr (MRL/l) and BXSB mice (7,8,11). Furthermore, this LBT positivity in New Zealand mice is regulated by genetic factors (9).Recently we observed Ig deposition along the subepithelial junction of the uterine cervix (tentatively designated uterus LB) in female MRL/1 and BXSB mice. In this study, we report the age related incidence of a positive uterus-LBT and its correlation with a positive skin-LBT and the effects of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation on the skin-LBT and uterus-LBT.MRL/1, MRL/Mp-+/ + (MRL/n), and BXSB mice were purchased from Jackson Laboratories, Bar Harbor, ME, U.S.A. BALB/c mice were obtained from our colony. These mice were maintained under specific-pathogen-free conditions. All mice used in this study were virgin females.Specimens of the uterus were obtained from the caudal portion of the uterus which was considered to be equivalent to the human uterine cervix, and those of the skin from the backs of MRL mice and the tails of BXSB and BALB/c mice. All specimens were frozen immediately in a bath of acetone and dry ice, and stored at -80 C until use.The following antisera were used: FITC-labeled anti-mouse Ig, FITC-labeled anti-mouse IgG, goat anti-mouse IgM (Cappel Laboratories, Cochranville, PA, U.S.A.), FITC-labeled anti-goat Ig (prepared in our laboratory), FITC-labeled anti-mouse C3 (Cappel), and anti-Rauscher gp 70, which was kindly donated by 395

The basement membrane zone in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: immunofluorescence studies in the skin, kidney and amniochorion

“…21 Linear deposition of immunoglobulins was also reported along the subepithelial junction of the uterine cervix in lupus-prone mice. 22 In our patients, antinuclear antibodies and high background staining interfered with proper interpretation of the results of immunoglobulin deposition in placental tissues. Lupus 'flare' is more common in pregnancy and the puerperium 23 and there have been reports that women with active SLE during pregnancy are prone to preterm prelabour rupture of the fetal membranes.…”

Susceptibility to UVB Light in Cultured Keratinocytes of Cutaneous Lupus erythematosus

“…By this step immuno globulin deposits at the dermo-epidermal junction, a posi tive lupus band, are immunohistologically detected at subepithelial sites of several organs as well as the skin of the whole body. Like the skin lupus band test, uterus and oesophagus lupus band tests were also valuable in examin ing autoimmune mice [ 17]. The second step is kératinocyte damage due to anti-UIRNP or anti-Ro/SS-A antibodydependent cellular cytotoxicity triggered by stress protein induction.…”

Comparative electron and immunoelectron microscopic studies on immunoglobulin deposits in the glomeruli of the kidney, skin, esophagus and uterus of MRL/l mice.

“…The retroviral gp 70 antigen and C3 which commonly associate with Ig deposits in the glomerulus (1) are absent or rarely seen along the BMZ of the skin (10). On the other hand, esophagus LB and uterus LB are similar to skin LB in immunofluorescence studies on MRL/l mice (7,17). Our present study revealed that the Ig deposits in the glomerulus of the kidney are plain electron microscopically observed as course masses consisting of dense, 20 to 40 nm granules and fine filaments as well as amorphous material while those along the BMZ of the skin, esophagus and uterus, are associated with filamentous constituents in an electron microscopically nondetectable form.…”

“…Recently, we found Ig deposition along the BMZ of the uterine cervix and esophagus of MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr (MRL/1) mice (7,17), one of the most attractive autoimmune model animals from the point that the LB and spontaneous skin manifestations, as well as several autoimmune phenomena, are present (6,(8)(9)(10)(11)14). In this study, Ig deposits in the BMZ of the skin, esophagus and uterus were ultra-structurally compared with those in the glomeruli of the kidney of MRL/1 mice to estimate the mechanism of Ig deposition and evaluate the pathogenic roles of the Ig deposits in the skin manifestation of MRL/l mice.…”