A LOCUS ON MOUSE CHROMOSOME 5 CONTROLLING TRAITS OF INFLAMMATORY DISEASE

Background: The Eae39 locus on mouse chromosome 5 was previously found to control experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in a cross between the B10.RIII (H-2r) and RIIIS/J (H-2r) mouse strains (1). In the present study we demonstrate that this locus, in addition, controls collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). From studies of CIA development in Eae39 congenic mice, we conclude that the Eae39 locus harbours at least two genes important for inflammatory disease. Homozygous RIIIS/J alleles in the entire Eae39 locus promoted CIA, whereas a protecting effect was found when RIIIS/J alleles are present only in the telomeric part of the Eae39 locus. By investigating antibody responses we have found that this region also controls anti-collagen antibody levels. In addition to arthritis and the anti-collagen response, we have investigated lymphocyte phenotypes in the congenic mice and observe that the relative numbers of CD4+- and DX5+ T cells are controlled by genes in the telomeric part of Eae39.References: 1. Karlsson, J., X. Zhao, I. Lonskaya, M. Neptin, R. Holmdahl, and A. Andersson. 2003. Novel quantitative trait loci controlling development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and proportion of lymphocyte subpopulations. J Immunol 170:1019.Citation: Ann Rheum Dis, volume 66, supplement II, year 2007, page 293Session: RA: etiology, pathogenesis and animal models