Role of Apoptotic Debris in Anti-Nuclear Autoimmunity

The identity(ies) of endogenous immunogen responsible for the production of anti-nuclear autoantibody responses in systemic autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are unknown. Nuclear antigens are found to be concentrated in surface blebs of cells undergoing apoptosis. Interestingly, clearance of such apoptotic debris in patients with SLE is defective. This study seeks to determine whether apoptotic cells are immunogenic for the production of autoantibodies to a nominal nuclear antigen, La, using a transgenic (Tg) mouse model.