Journal of Experimental Medicine, Vol 153, 738-742, Copyright © 1981 by Rockefeller University Press
A gene linked to the Igh-C locus controls the production of rheumatoid factor in the mouse
JL Van Snick
In certain specific pathogen-free colonies, mice, upon aging, produce
autoantibodies (RF) specific for the Fc portion of their IgG. In our
colony, 129/Sv mice (H-2bvl; Igh-1a) have 10-20 times higher RF levels than
C5BL/6 (h-2b; Igh-1b). In addition, the 129 have mainly IgA anti- IgG2a,
and the B6 have mainly IgM anti-IgGl. We analyzed the genetic factors that
control these differences. The high RF-producer phenotype of strain 129 was
inherited as a recessive trait as indicated by the low RF levels of (129 X
B6) F1 mice. About 1 of 4 129 X F1 (129 X B6) backcrosses and 1 of 10 (129
X B6) F2 mice had high RF levels, suggesting the involvement of two
recessive genes in the control of this RF production. All F2 mice and all
but one backcross with high IgA anti-IgG2a levels were homozygous for the
Ihg-1a allele of the 129 mouse. In contrast, the B6-type RF was eight times
more frequent in Igh- 1bb than in Igh-1ab or Igh-1aa mice. High RF titers
of either type were suppressed in Igh-1ab mice.
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