Immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region genes contribute to the induction of thyroid-stimulating antibodies in recombinant inbred mice.

ABSTRACT: Graves' hyperthyroidism is an autoimmune disease occurring spontaneously in humans and caused by autoantibodies that stimulate the thyrotropin receptor. In mice, inducing Graves'-like hyperthyroidism requires in vivo expression of the thyrotropin receptor using plasmid or adenovirus vectors. However, mice with different genetic backgrounds vary markedly in their susceptibility to induced hyperthyroidism. Further, in some strains major disparities exist between the induction of hyperthyroidism and detection of thyroid-stimulating antibodies. To break tolerance, virtually all Graves' mouse models involve immunization with human thyrotropin-receptor DNA and the standard thyroid-stimulating antibody bioassay uses cells expressing the human thyrotropin receptor. We hypothesized, and now report,

SUBMITTER: Rapoport B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4108286 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature