Abstract NZB/NZW F1 mice (B/W) spontaneously develop an autoimmune disease resembling human systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (1, 2). This includes LE cell and anti-nuclear factor formation, severe glomerulonephritis, and uremia. The serologic and histologic abnormalities appear earlier in the female B/W mice who generally die of nephritis by 10 months of age. The renal disease is considered a soluble immune complex type of nephritis (3). DNA, anti-DNA antibodies and complement have been demonstrated in the glomeruli of these mice (3) as well as in patients with SLE (4). Previous studies demonstrating serum anti-DNA antibodies in B/W mice have employed the techniques of immunofluorescence (3, 5), immuno-diffusion and complement fixation (3). These indirect methods are limited by variable patterns of fluorescent staining, non-precipitating antibody and anti-complementary activity. Recently a sensitive assay measuring the direct binding of radioactive DNA by immunoglobulin has been described for humans with SLE (6, 7). Based upon the Farr technique (8), this method depends upon the insolubility in ammonium sulfate of the DNA–immunogtobulin complex and the solubility of unbound DNA under the same conditions. We have used this DNA-binding assay to study the age and sex dependent formation of anti-DNA antibodies in B/W and other mice.

Steinberg, A. D., Pincus, T., & Talal, N. (1969). DNA-Binding Assay for Detection of Anti-DNA Antibodies in NZB/NZW F1 Mice. The Journal of Immunology, 102(3), 788–790.