Cd72c Is a Modifier Gene that Regulates Faslpr -Induced Autoimmune Disease

Abstract

Although modifier genes are extensively studied in various diseases, little is known about modifier genes that regulate autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune disease caused by the Faslpr mutation depends on the genetic background of mouse strains, suggesting a crucial role of modifier genes. MRL/MpJ-Faslpr (MRL/lpr) and AKR/lpr mice develop severe and mild lupus-like autoimmune disease, respectively, whereas this mutation does not cause disease on C57BL/6 (B6) or C3H background. Both MRL and AKR carry the same haplotype of the Cd72 gene encoding an inhibitory BCR coreceptor (CD72c), and CD72c contains several amino acid substitutions and a deletion in the extracellular region compared with CD72a and CD72b. To address the role of Cd72c locus in the regulation of Faslpr-induced autoimmune disease, we generated B6.CD72c/lpr and MRL.CD72b/lpr congenic mice. Introduction of the chromosomal interval containing Cd72c did not cause disease in B6 mice by itself, but caused development of lupus-like disease in the presence of Faslpr on B6 background, clearly demonstrating that this interval contains the modifier gene that regulates Faslpr-induced autoimmune disease. Conversely, MRL.CD72b/lpr congenic mice showed milder disease compared with MRL/lpr mice. We further demonstrated that Cd72c is a hypofunctional allele in BCR signal inhibition and that CD72 deficiency induces severe autoimmune disease in the presence of Faslpr. These results strongly suggest that the Cd72c is a crucial modifier gene that regulates Faslpr-induced autoimmune disease due to its reduced activity of B cell signal regulation.