Dysfunctional expression of FAS antigen in MRL/lpr murine ovary

摘要

It has been well known that MRL/lpr mice spontaneously develop a human systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-like autoimmune disease such as lymph node hyperplasia, exudative dermatitis, alopecia and necrosis of the ears most likely depending on the insertion of the early transposable element (ETn) into the region between second and third exon of Fas gene 1-2. On the other hand, we have revealed that the interactive system of Fas expressed oocytes-FasL localized granulosa cells in murine ovary could play a critical role in the formation of ovarian atresia 3-9. In the present study, we found that the size, weight and number of follicles in MRL/lpr mice dramatically increased in comparison with that of MRL/+ mice and became to be progressively more severe with time. Then, the influence of this mutation in ovarian development of MRL/lpr mice was investigated. We elucidated whether the apoptosis in MRL/lpr mice could be generated in ZP-free eggs by stimulation with Sf9 cells carrying FasL in vitro, andin ovary and liver by administration of hamster anti-Fas mAb in vivo.